The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: After the Cut 2025 - Part 2
Date: December 19, 2025
Host: Jon Stewart & The Daily Show News Team

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, hosted by Jon Stewart and the extended Daily Show news team, delivers a mix of trending news stories, behind-the-scenes anecdotes, staff banter, and audience Q&A. The conversation oscillates between lighthearted office humor — including a segment on the show's own Pedro Pascal lookalike — and deeper reflections on fame, comedy, faith, artificial intelligence, and maintaining hope during turbulent times in America.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Pedro Pascal Lookalike Contest & Daily Show Crew Antics

[00:58-07:02]

• The news team discusses a Pedro Pascal lookalike contest in New York City with surprising Daily Show relevance: their own lighting designer, George Gundis, participated — and won a year of free burritos.

• George recounts how he got involved, guided by his wife and a neighbor (a stylist), and describes the surprisingly whirlwind experience of instant viral fame, including upcoming press with CBS News and the New York Post.

• The segment is heavy on in-studio camaraderie and good-natured roasting, especially by crew member "Philly Phil."

  Notable quote:

  • George (as Pedro #5, to Pedro Pascal):

    "It would be a great, great, great gift if you could meet my wife, Jenny. It would mean the world to her." ([04:46])

  Memorable moment:

  • Jon Stewart jokes about George's lighting prowess:

    "You should see what I look like without his lighting. It's some Crypt Keeper shit." ([05:48])

2. Recognition and the Experience of Fame

[08:11-10:59]

• The panel responds to a listener question: "How has hosting on The Daily Show affected your daily life? Are you often recognized?"
• One correspondent describes the uniquely humble, sometimes confusing forms of public recognition (e.g., random subway encounters):

  "The way I get recognized is I will be on the train and someone will walk up and be like, 'You do stuff, right?' Which is like a description of every living person on the planet..." ([08:21])

• They touch on the emotional impact of fans sharing how much comedy can help during tough times, and the humility inherent in sometimes being mistaken for another Black comedian ("I did not have the heart to tell this man I was not Michael Che...").

3. Jon Stewart’s Comedic Influences

[11:07-12:32]

• Jon reveals his comedic roots, citing National Lampoon, Monty Python, Steve Martin — but especially George Carlin.
• Recounts an anecdote of climbing stairs in Aspen with Carlin, post-heart attacks, joking:

  “He stops and he turns to me and he gives me... ‘What the [bleep] are we doing here, man?’” ([12:28])

4. Mistaken Identity: Josh Johnson vs. Josh Johnson the Quarterback

[12:40-13:56]

• Comedian Josh Johnson shares a hilarious story about being confused with NFL quarterback Josh Johnson after a bad football game — and weathering Twitter abuse as a result:

  "It wasn't until another writer was like, 'Did you see the game last night?' I was like, 'What game? No.' And he's like, 'There's a guy with your name that, like, fumbled or whatever.' And I was like, oh, thank goodness..." ([13:52])

5. Hobbies, Drumming, and Mindfulness

[15:49-18:03]

• Jon Stewart discusses picking up drumming at age 62 and joining a band with older friends — sharing how music and woodworking help quiet his overactive mind.

  “I like them for the same reason. They are mind quieting experiences. So if you have a relatively destructive, overactive mind, now it's, let's play along to Nirvana. And it works out beautifully.” ([17:18])

6. Reflections on Faith

[18:14-20:59]

• A question on the role of faith leads to honest, humorous takes:
  • Jon Stewart admits he’s "not a belief guy," highlighting the tension between wanting spiritual comfort and being bugged by religious specifics.

  “I'm not against religion. Religion has given the world a tremendous amount of comfort in a world torn apart by religion, mostly. But the important thing, I just. I'm not a believer.” ([18:54])

  • With typical Stewart edge, he riffs on the logic of religious traditions:

    “God doesn't make mistakes. And I'm like, have you seen a scrotum?” ([19:41])

7. AI and Comedy: Threat or Tool?

[20:59-24:01]

• Responding to AI concerns, a correspondent posits that while AI can change work processes, meaningful human connection and live performance are irreplaceable.
• Points out that it’s not AI replacing people, but companies choosing to use AI over humans:

  “The AI didn't come in the room with legs. You know what I mean? Like, AI doesn't have legs to then walk in and be like, I think I'm better...” ([21:21])

• Also highlights a deeper issue:

  “Having all of the human history that has been digitized and stolen only reveals to you how few ideas you really have...” ([22:35])

8. Hope, Activism, and Humor Amid Chaos

[24:42-27:58]

• The closing segment gets more serious: How do you maintain hope given the deluge of negative news?
• The team shares a hopeful story from a special about protests in Portland against ICE, where community members held a naked bike ride protest in cold rain — using vulnerability, humor, and visibility to counteract apathy and government cruelty.

  “The idea behind this protest was... people there who were so upset by this narrative... decided to do the most embarrassing thing possible in the worst possible conditions and be naked to show that they have absolutely nothing to hide.” ([26:16])

• Reflection on the power of collective action, joy, and humor as resistance, even when the world feels dark:

  “Apathy is all that administration wants right now. And it's so easy to become apathetic by all of the chaos that is out there. But seeing a little bit of what was happening there in Portland about people who are like f*** it, I'm showing up. That's half the battle.” ([27:34])

Notable Quotes

• George Gundis (Lighting designer / Pedro Pascal lookalike):

  "Her position is. I'm cool with you getting all this attention, if I can meet Pedro Pascal." ([04:15])

• Jon Stewart:

  “You should see what I look like without his lighting. It's some Crypt Keeper shit.” ([05:48])
  “I'm not against religion. Religion has given the world a tremendous amount of comfort in a world torn apart by religion, mostly. But the important thing, I just. I'm not a believer.” ([18:54])

• Correspondent on AI:

  “The AI didn't come in the room with legs... someone who wants to save the money that they think that you are wants to replace you.” ([21:21])

• On activism and hope:

  “What you see outside of that ice facility is people organically using humor and joy as a way to show an image of peace and life outside of the cruelty...” ([27:05]) “But seeing a little bit of what was happening there in Portland about people who are like f*** it, I’m showing up. That’s half the battle.” ([27:34])

Important Timestamps

• Pedro Pascal Lookalike Segment: [00:58-07:02]
• Audience Q&A - Recognition & Fame: [08:11-10:59]
• Jon Stewart on Comedic Influences & Carlin Anecdote: [11:07-12:32]
• Josh Johnson Mistaken Identity Story: [12:40-13:56]
• Drumming, Woodworking & Mindfulness: [15:49-18:03]
• Faith & Belief Discussion: [18:14-20:59]
• AI & The Human Experience: [20:59-24:01]
• Hope, Protest & Comedy’s Role in Dark Times: [24:42-27:58]

Tone & Atmosphere

The signature irreverent Daily Show wit surfaces throughout — self-deprecating, improvisational, and sharply observational, especially in segments helmed by Jon Stewart. The balance between humor and sincerity is palpable: while much of the episode is marked by gags, roasts, and crew banter, its heart lies in moments of reflection on the importance of comedy, human connection, hope, and activism in an increasingly challenging world.