HAMDEN — With just a few months left of Jon Stewart hosting Comedy Central’s “Daily Show,” viewers are choosing who they think should replace the comedian after 16 years on the desk.
Stewart announced in February that he’s leaving the show sometime this year. His final show date has not been announced yet, but people are already talking about replacements.
In the latest Quinnipiac Poll, which also focused on trustworthiness of TV news, pollsters asked American voters who they think should entertain and inform the show’s fans.
If the position were actually chosen by voters, Tina Fey and Dennis Miller would be in a dead heat.
For 19 percent of voters, Fey is the top choice, while 16 percent are for Miller.
The two former "Saturday Night Live" cast-members are followed by John Oliver at 8 percent, a "Daily Show" veteran who now has his own show on HBO.
Fourth place is another tie between suspended NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams and "Celebrity Name Game" host Craig Ferguson. Williams and Ferguson were chosen by 7 percent of voters polled.
Former E! late-night host Chelsea Handler, who is taking her talents to Netflix, grabbed 5 percent of voters.
There is a gender gap in the battle between Fey and Miller.
Tina tops Dennis 23 to 12 percent among women, while men pick Miller over Fey 21 to 15 percent.
Voters aged 18 to 34 predominately choose Fey (27 percent), followed by Oliver (12 percent), Handler (10 percent), and Ferguson and Miller (nine percent each).
There's also a split between political parties.
"Dennis Miller is the favorite of 24 percent of Republicans," said Tim Malloy, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll. "Tina Fey, with her dead-on take on Sarah Palin, is the darling of 26 percent of Democrats."
Comedy Central is giving away tickets to Stewart's final show in a contest that benefits families and individuals affected by autism. Learn more about the contest in the video below:
