Samantha Bee is leaving Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” to host her own satirical series, which she will executive produce for TBS alongside husband Jason Jones.
The new topical comedy is still in the early stages of development, the Turner cable channel said on Thursday. While not many details of the TBS production are available, the vehicle will allow Bee to apply “her smart and satirical point of view to current and relevant issues,” the network stated.
Bee and her husband have another upcoming TBS project, a family comedy starring Jones that will debut in the fourth quarter of this year. That 10-episode order also stars Natalie Zea (“Justified”), Ashley Gerasimovich (“Louie”) and Liam Carroll (“The Neighbors”).
Production is slated to begin this summer on that project. Bee will continue to do pieces for Jon Stewart‘s Comedy Central show until then.
“We’re thrilled to have Sam join Jason at TBS and really make this a family affair. We actually have their kids coming in next week to pitch us animation,” joked Brett Weitz, executive vice president of original programming for TBS. “Like her fans around the country, we absolutely adore everything about Sam, from her straight-faced sarcasm and ruthless wit to her uncanny ability to mine comedy gold from just about any awkward situation. After watching Sam’s work for years, we knew that her distinctive humor and talent belong at the front of her own show.”
Bee began her career performing as a member of the all-female sketch comedy troupe The Atomic Fireballs. She joined “The Daily Show’s” “Best F#@king News Team” in 2003, serving longer than any other correspondent on the series.
In addition to Jones and Bee, Stewart is also departing “The Daily Show” later this year.