Sunrise Goodbyes

me:

Jessica Williams, one of the most popular correspondents on The Daily Show, is leaving the satire news broadcast after signing a new development deal with Comedy Central.

The network announced today that Thursday will be the 26-year-old comedian’s final appearance on The Daily Show. “I feel so many emotions,” Williams told Entertainment Weekly. “I feel like I’m growing up and graduating.”

The Daily Show host Trevor Noah told the outlet that he was just as bittersweet about the departure. “The sadness I have for Jessica leaving is only eclipsed by the joy I have for her starting her new show,” Noah said. “If her podcast is anything to go by, it’s going to be an exciting show!”

Williams joined the show when she was just 22-years-old, becoming the youngest correspondent in the show’s 17-year history. She signed the deal with Viacom back in March and will star, write and produce a half-hour scripted series. Naomi Ekperigin (Broad City, Difficult People) has also signed on to co-produce the show.

“I know that often for me, as a black woman of color, I feel like I’m supposed to represent these ideals and values that I was taught as a young lady. Like I’m supposed to carry myself in a special type of way, but oftentimes I’m, like… I’m still in my 20s, and still kind of a mess. So it’s a show about somebody in their 20s who has all these social ideas, but still does not have it together,”  Williams told EW. “And she’s goofy and silly and funny.”