Why making Trevor Noah host of The Daily Show was a very smart choice


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When Comedy Central announced in 2015 that Trevor Noah would be taking over hosting duties on its popular late-night satirical comedy show The Daily Show from the much-loved Jon Stewart, the decision was nothing if not bold.

Stewart was an institution who, over more than 16 years as The Daily Show host, had performed the incredible feat of making progressive politics and questioning the status quo not only acceptable to mainstream US audiences, but funny and entertaining too. The show changed the face of late-night US TV, with The Daily Show correspondents including Stephen Colbert and John Oliver taking on their own series as the networks scrambled to catch up with the new world where politics was cool.

Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show for more than 16 years, was an institution in his own right. AP Photo
Jon Stewart, former host of The Daily Show for more than 16 years, was an institution in his own right. AP Photo

Now, here was Noah, who had only recently become a correspondent for the show and was virtually unknown to American audiences. Not only that, but Noah was a black man in an on-screen medium dominated by white comics and he wasn’t even American. In fact, he could hardly have been less American — while British comics such as Oliver and more recently James Corden have long been granted special dispensation to poke fun at American culture from an outsider's perspective, Noah was South African. The idea of asking an African to pour scorn on the peculiarities of a nation where even the most proactive liberal trends towards fierce patriotism was either extremely clever, or incredibly stupid.

The backlash was immediate, with Twitter in a predictable uproar. While many initial reactions to Noah’s appointment were unprintable, Tom Dick Harry from Illinois was among the Twittersphere’s less inflammatory commentators, stating: “The job requires an American perspective on current events, otherwise it’s just some foreign guy blasting Americans from a teleprompter, and John Oliver already does that job.”

Here in the UAE, too, reactions were far from universally supportive. Local broadcaster OSN dropped the show from its listings, and Kholoud Abu-Humus, vice president for programming at the time, told The National: "We did not believe that Noah will hold the show for our target audience." As Noah prepares to host his final show tonight, more than seven successful years later, it’s fair to say many of those commentators made the wrong call, and the smart money is on the appointment falling in the “very clever” category.

Television personality John Oliver is the host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. Getty Images
Television personality John Oliver is the host of HBO’s Last Week Tonight With John Oliver. Getty Images

Noah himself also falls into that category. A polyglot who speaks eight languages, he seemed to know how to position himself for US audiences from the outset. The comic set out to observe American culture rather than belittle it. Even before Donald Trump famously won the US presidency in 2016, Noah seemed to know that lampooning the very stable genius would merely set himself up as a meddling foreigner among a large section of his potential audience. Instead, he praised him, pointing out how well-suited Trump would be to running a dysfunctional African dictatorship.

As the child of a mixed marriage — his mother is Xhosa, an ethnic group that is the second-largest in South Africa, while his father is of Swiss-German ancestry — in apartheid-era South Africa, where his parents’ union was illegal, Noah was well-practised in the outsider role. There can hardly have been a more qualified commentator on hand following the murder of George Floyd and the ensuing protests and rise of the Black Lives Matter movement.

Noah had actually grown up in a country where the oppression of racial minorities was enshrined in law. That may not be the case in the US, but Noah’s astute and often deeply passionate observations shone a light on how close it might be, from a uniquely experienced standpoint. Even the most ardent apologist for police brutality would find it hard to claim Noah wasn’t speaking from a position of deep knowledge of the subject.

At a recent talk for the Culture Summit Abu Dhabi, Noah shed some light on his perspective: “How I view it is me echoing the culture I’m existing within, the people that I’ve grown up with, the world I’m living in. I grew up in a very mixed family, in a very mixed country. What happened over time is that I learnt how to transfer information between people, how to send messages between groups who don’t necessarily communicate in the same wavelength.”

The audience watches a keynote conversation with Trevor Noah on the screen at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National
The audience watches a keynote conversation with Trevor Noah on the screen at Culture Summit Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa / The National

Noah perhaps made The Daily Show even more accessible than Stewart before him. While the sharp-suited Stewart, with his thoughtful monologues and penetrating stare always seemed to be coming from within the political establishment, albeit a progressive place therein, Noah seemed more like one of us, with his often-unkempt afro, playful high-pitched voice in contrast to Stewart’s measured pronouncements, and the ability to always look slightly confused, even when breaking down the most complex political or economic matters into bite-size, audience-friendly chunks.

It was a routine he would perfect during the pandemic, when presenting via Zoom from his very normal (give-or-take the Golden Globes) flat, in an array of very average-joe hoodies and loungewear much like the rest of us were wearing during the long days on our sofas.

Noah has taken the show more global than ever. The broadcast is registering its lowest ratings in the US since the comic took over, but this is in line with most late-night talk shows, and linear TV in general.

But with more than 10 million subscribers on YouTube, Noah can reasonably claim to leave the show with a bigger worldwide audience than ever. Audiences and broadcasters are changing, and it’s appropriate that Noah hands over to a rotating roster of hosts including Hasan Minhaj and Wanda Sykes, both of whom not only continue flying the flag for diversity on the show, but have also achieved international success on Netflix.

Local audiences, meanwhile, will be pleased to hear that OSN rethought its decision, and the current season 28 is available for catch-up on OSN+ ahead of Noah’s final farewell later tonight in the US (which is 8am UAE time).

As for Noah, his plan is simply to “breathe”, he told the audience in Abu Dhabi. "I'm going to take my time. I'm going to appreciate what this moment in my life has been. It's been a chapter in my life."

LAST-16 FIXTURES

Sunday, January 20
3pm: Jordan v Vietnam at Al Maktoum Stadium, Dubai
6pm: Thailand v China at Hazza bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: Iran v Oman at Mohamed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Monday, January 21
3pm: Japan v Saudi Arabia at Sharjah Stadium
6pm: Australia v Uzbekistan at Khalifa bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain
9pm: UAE v Kyrgyzstan at Zayed Sports City Stadium, Abu Dhabi

Tuesday, January 22
5pm: South Korea v Bahrain at Rashid Stadium, Dubai
8pm: Qatar v Iraq at Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Gender pay parity on track in the UAE

The UAE has a good record on gender pay parity, according to Mercer's Total Remuneration Study.

"In some of the lower levels of jobs women tend to be paid more than men, primarily because men are employed in blue collar jobs and women tend to be employed in white collar jobs which pay better," said Ted Raffoul, career products leader, Mena at Mercer. "I am yet to see a company in the UAE – particularly when you are looking at a blue chip multinationals or some of the bigger local companies – that actively discriminates when it comes to gender on pay."

Mr Raffoul said most gender issues are actually due to the cultural class, as the population is dominated by Asian and Arab cultures where men are generally expected to work and earn whereas women are meant to start a family.

"For that reason, we see a different gender gap. There are less women in senior roles because women tend to focus less on this but that’s not due to any companies having a policy penalising women for any reasons – it’s a cultural thing," he said.

As a result, Mr Raffoul said many companies in the UAE are coming up with benefit package programmes to help working mothers and the career development of women in general. 

The specs

Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder

Transmission: 10-speed auto

Power: 300hp

Torque: 420Nm

Price: Dh189,900

On sale: now

Specs

Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric

Range: Up to 610km

Power: 905hp

Torque: 985Nm

Price: From Dh439,000

Available: Now

Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

Ticket prices

General admission Dh295 (under-three free)

Buy a four-person Family & Friends ticket and pay for only three tickets, so the fourth family member is free

Buy tickets at: wbworldabudhabi.com/en/tickets

if you go

The flights
The closest international airport to the TMB trail is Geneva (just over an hour’s drive from the French ski town of Chamonix where most people start and end the walk). Direct flights from the UAE to Geneva are available with Etihad and Emirates from about Dh2,790 including taxes.

The trek
The Tour du Mont Blanc takes about 10 to 14 days to complete if walked in its entirety, but by using the services of a tour operator such as Raw Travel, a shorter “highlights” version allows you to complete the best of the route in a week, from Dh6,750 per person. The trails are blocked by snow from about late October to early May. Most people walk in July and August, but be warned that trails are often uncomfortably busy at this time and it can be very hot. The prime months are June and September.

 

 

COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The six points:

1. Ministers should be in the field, instead of always at conferences

2. Foreign diplomacy must be left to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation

3. Emiratisation is a top priority that will have a renewed push behind it

4. The UAE's economy must continue to thrive and grow

5. Complaints from the public must be addressed, not avoided

6. Have hope for the future, what is yet to come is bigger and better than before

The biog

Family: He is the youngest of five brothers, of whom two are dentists. 

Celebrities he worked on: Fabio Canavaro, Lojain Omran, RedOne, Saber Al Rabai.

Where he works: Liberty Dental Clinic 

Global Fungi Facts

• Scientists estimate there could be as many as 3 million fungal species globally
• Only about 160,000 have been officially described leaving around 90% undiscovered
• Fungi account for roughly 90% of Earth's unknown biodiversity
• Forest fungi help tackle climate change, absorbing up to 36% of global fossil fuel emissions annually and storing around 5 billion tonnes of carbon in the planet's topsoil

DMZ facts
  • The DMZ was created as a buffer after the 1950-53 Korean War.
  • It runs 248 kilometers across the Korean Peninsula and is 4km wide.
  • The zone is jointly overseen by the US-led United Nations Command and North Korea.
  • It is littered with an estimated 2 million mines, tank traps, razor wire fences and guard posts.
  • Donald Trump and Kim Jong-Un met at a building in Panmunjom, where an armistice was signed to stop the Korean War.
  • Panmunjom is 52km north of the Korean capital Seoul and 147km south of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital.
  • Former US president Bill Clinton visited Panmunjom in 1993, while Ronald Reagan visited the DMZ in 1983, George W. Bush in 2002 and Barack Obama visited a nearby military camp in 2012. 
  • Mr Trump planned to visit in November 2017, but heavy fog that prevented his helicopter from landing.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Analysis

Members of Syria's Alawite minority community face threat in their heartland after one of the deadliest days in country’s recent history. Read more

The five types of long-term residential visas

Obed Suhail of ServiceMarket, an online home services marketplace, outlines the five types of long-term residential visas:

Investors:

A 10-year residency visa can be obtained by investors who invest Dh10 million, out of which 60 per cent should not be in real estate. It can be a public investment through a deposit or in a business. Those who invest Dh5 million or more in property are eligible for a five-year residency visa. The invested amount should be completely owned by the investors, not loaned, and retained for at least three years.

Entrepreneurs:

A five-year multiple entry visa is available to entrepreneurs with a previous project worth Dh0.5m or those with the approval of an accredited business incubator in the UAE.  

Specialists

Expats with specialised talents, including doctors, specialists, scientists, inventors, and creative individuals working in the field of culture and art are eligible for a 10-year visa, given that they have a valid employment contract in one of these fields in the country.

Outstanding students:

A five-year visa will be granted to outstanding students who have a grade of 95 per cent or higher in a secondary school, or those who graduate with a GPA of 3.75 from a university. 

Retirees:

Expats who are at least 55 years old can obtain a five-year retirement visa if they invest Dh2m in property, have savings of Dh1m or more, or have a monthly income of at least Dh20,000.

While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
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%3Cp%3EAverage%20amount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20at%20DIC%20factory%20every%20month%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EApproximately%20106%2C000%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EAmount%20of%20biofuel%20produced%20from%201%20litre%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%20%3Cstrong%3E920ml%20(92%25)%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETime%20required%20for%20one%20full%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%20used%20cooking%20oil%20to%20biofuel%3A%20%3Cstrong%3EOne%20day%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EEnergy%20requirements%20for%20one%20cycle%20of%20production%20from%201%2C000%20litres%20of%20used%20cooking%20oil%3A%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3E%E2%96%AA%20Electricity%20-%201.1904%20units%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Water-%2031%20litres%3Cbr%3E%E2%96%AA%20Diesel%20%E2%80%93%2026.275%20litres%3C%2Fstrong%3E%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs

Engine: Four electric motors, one at each wheel

Power: 579hp

Torque: 859Nm

Transmission: Single-speed automatic

Price: From Dh825,900

On sale: Now

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

MATCH INFO

Liverpool 2 (Van Dijk 18', 24')

Brighton 1 (Dunk 79')

Red card: Alisson (Liverpool)

Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

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Updated: December 08, 2022, 12:46 PM`