Name Year Joined Year Left Notes Craig Kilborn July 22 , 1996 December 17 , 1998 The original host . Left the show because he was chosen to host The Late Late Show with Tom Snyder 's departure . Kilborn appeared on the show 16 years later on Jon Stewart 's final episode on August 6 , 2015 . Jon Stewart January 11 , 1999 August 6 , 2015 Succeeded Kilborn as the new host of The Daily Show and is the most prolific host of the show . Stewart 's final show was an hour long special on August 6 , 2015 . He returned to the show on December 7 , 2015 , to urge Congress to permanently extend a health care law for 9 / 11 first responders .

Question: host of the late show who was once a correspondent for the daily show
Answer: Craig Kilborn