John Mulaney on Being Approached About Replacing Jon Stewart on ‘The Daily Show,’ but ‘It Wasn’t the Right Thing’

John Mulaney is answering questions about being asked by Comedy Central executives if he was interested in hosting The Daily Show when Jon Stewart bowed out in 2015.

During a recent appearance on Doug Herzog and Jen Chaneys Basic! podcast, Herzog who was president of Viacom Music and Entertainment Group, which oversaw Comedy Central, until 2017 asked Mulaney if he recalled the conversation he had with then-president of Comedy Central, Kent Alterman, about potentially taking over. I think we were floating your interest in that and you were very lukewarm as I remember, Herzog said.

Mulaney explained that he ultimately passed because, in part, his Fox sitcom Mulaney had just been canceled after only one season.

It was shortly after the SNL 40thanniversary. I had a sitcom on Fox. They aired all 13 [episodes] but it was canceled. It didnt do good numbers, Mulaney said. I remember going to dinner with Kent. I was extremely flattered that yall were asking me about it. I sensed they would be big shoes to fill.

Mulaney continued, I think I also was gun shy from putting myself out there at that moment after the Fox run and I sensed all eyes would be on whoever came after Mr. Stewart It wasnt the right thing at the moment. I remember saying to Kent, I wish it was five years from now. He went Yeah, but its not. Kent had a great tone of, I hear you. Ill hear out anything you have to say, but its now and were asking you about it. We cant talk hypothetically for that long at this dinner, John.

Trevor Noah, who succeeded Stewart, left The Daily Show earlier this year. A rotating group of guest hosts have been filling in on a weekly basis since Noahs departure.

Mulaney is currently promoting his most recent Netflix special, Baby J, streaming now.