Trevor sheds US viewers

16 November 2015 - 02:13 By Staff reporter

Just over a month into his new job as host of the US's The Daily Show, South African comedian Trevor Noah has been embarrassed by a sharp drop in viewer numbers, according to the Nielsen ratings agency. But he has succeeded in attracting younger viewers.Critics have been quick to pounce on the 37% drop in the show's viewership, and accuse Noah of not being up to the standard of his predecessor, Jon Stewart."The question we have to ask is whether Noah can be of the calibre of political satirist that Stewart was," said Sophia McClennen, of Salon magazine.She said that Noah had driven Americans away from politics with his constant ridiculing of the Republican Party's election candidates and US government policies.But younger viewers, particularly in the 18-24 age group, disagree with that assessment and, according to the Nielsen ratings, Noah's on-demand streaming is up 44%. He is picking up younger, more diverse and more tech-savvy viewers.Noah's supporters on Twitter reflect these demographics; they are generally young, from diverse backgrounds and from all over the globe.Given Mkhari tweets: "@Trevornoah is making The Daily Show his own, without changing it completely."Mariam SVK says: "@Trevornoah totally relate to your bit about 'casual racism'. Like when some1 'jokingly' says 'don't your ppl like to bomb things."Noah's fiercest critics appear to be in the US. AoDiiNSaNe of #CGN tweeted: "Wow @Trevornoa and his 'comedy' is tragic. It's like watching @ashleesimpson's lip sync fail on a 24/7 loop. Awkward."McClennen said Noah's jokes lack the depth and gravitas of Stewart's: It's the difference between Noah's dick jokes and Stewart's biting sarcasm ... between Stewart's sincere interviews and Noah's softball questions ... it's a difference with political significance." ..

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