Indian American comedian Hasan Minhaj will be hosting a weekly talk show for Netflix.
“I’m thrilled to be joining the Netflix family as the country braces for another election season — and like you, I cannot wait to find out who Putin picks this time,” said Minhaj.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, the show will be an “opportunity for the comedian to explore the modern cultural and political landscapes with depth and sincerity.” The not-yet-named show is expected to debut later this year.
Minhaj, 32, will be standing on rare ground as one of the few Indian Americans with his own show on American television. He is a seasoned comedian whose accomplishments include performing at the 2017 White House Correspondent’s dinner and releasing his first stand-up special, Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King, on Netflix.
The streaming service has already committed to 32 episodes of the talk show, an indication of Netflix’s confidence in the success of the new show. The news comes shortly after word that Netflix nabbed another of The Daily Show’s correspondents, Michelle Wolf, for a late-night series.
Minhaj was born and raised in California. His parents, Najme and Seema (née Usmani), immigrated to Davis, Calif. from India.
Minhaj joined the The Daily Show back in November of 2014, and will transition off of the show sometime this summer.While Minhaj will be gone from The Daily Show, the comedian still has one more gig with Comedy Central that includes his four-man comedy ensemble Goatface.
Netflix’s vice president of content Bela Bajaria—who is also reportedly the highest-ranking Indian American executive in the entertainment industry—is just as excited as I am. “I’ve been a big fan of Hasan’s for many years,” she said. “He’s a phenomenal writer with a distinct point of view [and] he is a brilliant performer, who is hilarious both onstage and off. And more importantly, he isn’t afraid to share his thoughtful voice and unique perspective.”
