Comedy Central Renews Stewart Through 2010

By Jon Lafayette

Comedy Central and Jon Stewart agreed to a contract extension that will keep the comedian at “The Daily Show” anchor desk through 2010.

Mr. Stewart’s contract was set to expire at the end of 2008.

“Jon Stewart is an extraordinary talent, and Comedy Central is extremely fortunate that he will continue to lead ‘The Daily Show’ team through 2010,” said Michele Ganeless, president of Comedy Central.

In addition to hosting “The Daily Show,” Stewart is an executive producer and writer on the show; he’s also the principal behind Busboy Productions. Comedy Central has a first-look television agreement with Busboy, and the first series produced under the arrangement was “The Colbert Report.” Another series, “Important Things With Demetri Martin,” is scheduled to premiere next summer.

“I love doing this show. I feel like I work with and for the best in the business,” Mr. Stewart said in a statement. “I look forward to using this extension to having great fun at President Colbert’s expense.”

Steven Colbert, the former “Daily Show” reporter now hosting “The Colbert Report,” earlier this week announced he would run in the presidential primary in his home state of South Carolina.