'The Daily Show' Mocks Mopey Cub Fans & Celebrates Lena Waithe

By Emma G. Gallegos in Arts & Entertainment on Oct 19, 2017 4:05PM

'The Daily Show' with Lena Waithe

The Daily Show continues its week-long stint in Chicago with an episode full of mostly earnest, stereotype-busting appreciation. The headlines that define the city for a national audience were mostly only obliquely referenced and, at one point a predictably nasty Fox clip was played. But mostly Wednesday's nights episode continued to provide a more humane counterpoint (and gentle laughs) to media hysteria about the city.

The sharpest jabs were saved for our sports teams. Trevor Noah has been enjoying his sojourn in the city, but says that he has had to restrain his joy a bit in the wake of the Cubs' disappointing streak in the NLDS series this week. (Maybe today will be a less gloomy day!)

Native daughter Lena Waithe stopped by to talk about her historic Emmy win and her upcoming Showtime series The Chi, which she says will humanize the South Side experience.

"I don't think we're always seen as human," Waithe told Noah. "I think we're still trying to make sure people see us human beings and I think sometimes the only way to really do that is to do it is to do it through art that are layered and complex and that show our humanity."

Waithe also discussed the importance of her win for an episode of Master of None, which made her the first black woman to win an Emmy for comedy writing.

"I think it's an honor to walk through that door, but the truth is the only reason why I was able to open it is that so many other funny women particularly women of color have been banging on it for years, so that way when I walked up, I was able to walk right through," she told Noah. "I think sometimes it's just about timing and the stars align and the industry kind of catches up. So you know, I'm happy to be have that honor to the first but it's my mission to make sure I'm not the last."

And finally, The Daily Show did a very sweet segment on Young Chicago Authors, and the way it is giving a voice to the next generation of Chicagoans: