The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: TDS Time Machine | New Year's Resolutions
Date: December 31, 2025
Host: Jon Stewart and Comedy Central News Team

Overview

This episode of "The Daily Show: Ears Edition" takes a comedic, satirical look at the perennial tradition of New Year’s resolutions. Jon Stewart and the News Team resurrect their 2006 segment "American Resolutions," following correspondents Rob Corddry, Nate Corddry, Ed Helms, and Jason Jones as they embark on hilariously misguided attempts to improve themselves—exploring self-delusion, the difficulty of breaking bad habits, the awkwardness of personal change, and journeying into parenthood. The show wraps up with a cameo from Stephen Colbert, offering tongue-in-cheek resolutions for Jon Stewart.

Key Segments and Insights

1. Introduction: American Resolutions

• Jon Stewart introduces a new series spotlighting the News Team’s efforts to better themselves for the new year.
  • “In 2006, our correspondents will be sharing their personal challenges with our viewers in the new series American Resolutions.” (01:02)

2. Rob Corddry: Breaking the "Threesome" Obsession

Segment Start: 01:29

• Rob Corddry humorously confesses his lifelong (and troublingly persistent) dream: convincing his wife to have a threesome.

• He details seeking professional help (Dr. Stephen Lamb) to curb the obsession:

  • Is prompted to remove stimulating "cues" (i.e., canceling then immediately reinstating Cinemax).
  • Struggles, relapses, and uses comedic inner monologue revealing the depth of the challenge.

• Memorable Quote:

  • “As a young boy, I always dreamed about growing up, marrying a beautiful woman and convincing that woman to have a threesome. My dreams were almost fulfilled...but Sandy wasn't buying it. And soon my obsession started to affect our marriage.” (01:29)
  • “Yeah, hi, I would like to cancel Cinemax. And if I call back, don’t let me reinstate it…Yes, hello, I would like to reinstate Cinemax.” (02:52–03:15)

• Therapist’s advice: Remove environmental triggers, explore new sexual possibilities—with consent.

  • Dr. Lamb: “I think you need to expand the sort of sexual activity that you actually have with your wife.” (04:43)
  • Corddry: “No one’s 100% comfortable with the ass.” (04:58)

• Wraps up in-studio with Jon Stewart and wife Sandy: Corddry insists he’ll persevere, with Sandy’s support.

• Comedic callback: The infamous “threesome chair” is “put away.”

  • “Sandy will be glad to know that the threesome chair can come down.” (05:51)

3. Nate Corddry: Project "Show Them"

Segment Start: 06:47

• Nate Corddry wants to finally “show them all” after years of being overlooked, bullied, or snubbed.

  • Recalls being “small, asthmatic and not terribly bright,” harboring grudges.

• Guided by therapist Dr. Belgray, Nate starts a video diary and a semi-deranged “Project Shoenum.”

  • Initial acts: stealing neighbor’s newspaper, setting flaming bag of feces on an old boss’s porch, plotting vengeance against “How I Met Your Mother” for not casting him.

• Quote: "Okay, it's January 1st, New Year's Day, and Project Shoenum is off to an awesome start." (07:59)

• Project spirals into absurdity (mailing a deadly snake to Neil Patrick Harris, plotting with crossbows, and “bone saws”).

• Dr. Belgray’s concern rises as Nate asks about making “room in his crawlspace.”

  • Dr. Belgray: "There's some discomfort in the room right now as you ask me this question. What's this about?" (10:56)

• The segment ends with a gag about a “bowling ball” (with drilled holes) and the sense that revenge is ultimately futile.

• Standout moment:

  • Nate: “Suit yourself, Doctor. But just remember, if you’re not with me, you’re against me. Just ask Neil Patrick Harris. You sent me a dead snake.” (11:10)

4. Ed Helms: Escaping a Soul-Crushing Job

Segment Start: 12:43

• Ed Helms’s resolution: quit the Daily Show and get a new job.
  • “My job sucks, Jon. And my New Year’s resolution is to get a new one. Roll it.” (13:11)
• Visits a career counselor (Keith), hilariously misrepresents his “skills” and hobbies (collecting 3,000 ceramic shoes, pornographic embroidery).
  • “I embroider scenes from my favorite movies.” (13:57)
• Awkwardly navigates resume-building and job applications:
  • Divulges inappropriate details, debates paper colors, and presses for fireball fuchsia resume paper and matching suits.
• “Would it be a good idea if the suit that I’m wearing matches the paper that I printed my resume on?... Yeah, but it’s probably like that extra detail that’s gonna get you the job.” (15:55–16:11)
• Describes a toxic work environment (“My boss is like, if you took Willy Wonka and mixed him with Hitler”), and realizes job-hunting is its own full-time job.
• Ultimate (unachievable) goals: astronaut, Academy Awards host, kickboxer, delicious candy taster.
  • Jon Stewart: “I just don’t think those are very realistic.” (19:48)
  • Ed Helms: “Fine, shoot me down. Always shooting down, Ed.” (19:54)
• Asks for a letter of recommendation, closing his farcical journey.

5. Jason Jones: The Road to Emotional Correspondence / Fatherhood

Segment Start: 21:15

• Jason Jones aims to “catch up” with his peers by taking on Anderson Cooper’s emotionally involved reporting style.
  • “He’s not afraid to show emotion or involve himself in the story... I’m trying to show my own human side in my stories.” (21:55)
• Initial attempts at “vulnerability” on screen fall flat—until his wife brings home their baby.
  • “A baby. Our own little Katrina. I decided my New Year’s resolution would be to take viewers on the journey of discovery that is fatherhood.” (22:29)
• Hires parenting coach Julie Ross to manufacture moments of parental vulnerability.
  • Attempts to create emotional “ratings gold” by lamenting not knowing his daughter.
• Brings the baby to the office, combines world events with “dad life,” and obsessively films “enough to send to the networks.”
  • “But my journey into fatherhood isn’t just about showing I can cry. It’s about showing I can care…” (24:09)
• Memorable exchange:
  • Jon Stewart: “...you’re a terrible father.”
  • Jason Jones: “Really, John? Well, you’re in the minority because I don’t think they sell these to just anyone.” (25:22–25:36)

6. Stephen Colbert: Resolutions for Jon Stewart

Segment Start: 26:01

• Stephen Colbert checks in with typically dry wit, rattling off “resolutions”—not for himself, but for Jon Stewart:
  • “Lose that embarrassing muffin top,” “Start composting,” “Demonstrate basic human decency toward employees.”
  • Rob Corddry (as Colbert): “No, John, these resolutions aren’t for me. They’re for you.”
  • Jon resists, but Colbert pushes, “Stop undercutting the premise of these end of show chats.”
• Playful, meta banter closes the episode in true Daily Show style.

Notable Quotes

• Rob Corddry: “No one’s 100% comfortable with the ass.” (04:58)
• Nate Corddry: “God was on my ‘to be shown’ list. But I like the idea of asking for help.” (09:35)
• Ed Helms: “My boss is like, if you took Willy Wonka and mixed him with Hitler.” (15:36)
• Jason Jones: “A baby. Our own little Katrina. I decided my New Year’s resolution would be to take viewers on the journey of discovery that is fatherhood.” (22:29)
• Jon Stewart to Jason Jones: “You’re a terrible father.” (25:22)
• Stephen Colbert: “These resolutions aren’t for me. They’re for you.” (26:18)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [01:02] Jon Stewart introduces "American Resolutions"
• [01:29] Rob Corddry’s absurd sexual resolution
• [06:47] Nate Corddry’s revenge project
• [12:43] Ed Helms’ career change quest
• [21:15] Jason Jones’ emotional journey into parenthood
• [26:01] Stephen Colbert’s guest appearance with “resolutions” for Jon

Tone and Language

Consistent with “The Daily Show,” the episode is laced with rapid-fire satire, exaggerated self-deprecation, absurdist humor, and meta-commentary. Jokes land swiftly, often building on prior bits, and the news team members remain in character as both earnest New Year’s strivers and deeply flawed, hilarious cynics.

Takeaways

• New Year's resolutions are comically difficult, often setting us up for more self-delusion and absurdity than real growth.
• The quest for self-improvement offers as much rich ground for satire as it does emotional truth.
• The correspondents’ journeys poke holes in “resolution culture,” spotlighting our universal struggles with change—while lampooning both personal ambition and the media’s style of “meaningful” storytelling.

This episode is a perfect snapshot of The Daily Show’s signature approach: taking cultural rituals, skewering them, and making you laugh at your own foibles—with just enough heart behind the punchlines.