Jon Stewart is back with two stand-up specials airing on HBO

HBO announced Wednesday that Jon Stewart, the former host of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, will return to stand-up for the first time in 21 years.

Jon Stewart hosted Comedy Central’s late night news satire show, The Daily Show, for 16 years. He passed torch to South African comedian, Trevor Noah, in 2015 and has been relatively quiet ever since. He’s made a few rare appearances alongside former colleague, Steven Colbert, here and there, but nothing big until the announcement. Part of his deal to leave The Daily Show involved two stand-up specials for HBO. Now, those specials look like they’re coming soon.

Recently, Netflix has been dumping money into stand-up specials starring high-profile comedians, and HBO notably hasn’t. According to HBO president of programming, Casey Bloys, only 1 percent of HBOGo and HBONow viewership being stand-up.  It makes sense that HBO would be reticent to spend truck loads of money on stand-up specials. However, with a beloved performer like Jon Stewart at the center, you can expect a high number of viewers to tune in. HBO as of now hasn’t set a release date yet.

Jon Stewart is “thrilled” to return to stand-up according to a release. His last standup special, “Jon Stewart: Unleavened,” came out in 1996, so it has been a while.  Stewart’s comedy centers around his experiences as a Jewish man, politics, and culture. In the release, Stewart said, “I can finally use up the last of the Saddam Hussein jokes left over from my first special.”

Much of Stewart’s comedy prowess is inherent in his witty and precise delivery. Most notably as the host of The Daily Show. Though Stewart isn’t the greatest at impressions, his George W. Bush was always spot on.  Although that was two presidencies ago, so he probably won’t break it out for his new specials.

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Comedy Central also announced that Stewart is also slated to host “Night of Too Many Stars,” the network’s NEXT for AUTISM benefit.  The benefit goes live on Saturday, November 18.