The Daily Show: Season 15
Season 15 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of The Daily Show Season 14.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 15 Progress Shield
Michael Pollan
Jan 4, 2010
A Nigerian terrorist tries to blow up a U.S. airliner on Christmas day. The Best F**king News Team helps Tiger Woods find a new religion, and Michael Pollan encourages Americans to
George Lucas
Jan 5, 2010
John Oliver searches for the best time in American history, and George Lucas talks about his book.
Admn. Mike Mullen
Jan 6, 2010
Obama finally responds to the Christmas terror plot, and Mike Mullen praises the U.S. military.
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Jan 7, 2010
President Obama breaks a promise, and Maggie Gyllenhaal watches scary cartoons with her daughter.
John Yoo
Jan 11, 2010
John Oliver explains the rules of terrorball, and John Yoo discusses the legal limits of torture.
Paul Ingrassia
Jan 12, 2010
Wall Street hands out big bonuses, and Paul Ingrassia talks about the auto industry bailout.
Ringo Starr & the Ben Harper Band
Jan 13, 2010
Sarah Palin joins Fox News, and Ringo Starr performs with Ben Harper and Relentless7.
Thu, Jan 14, 2010
Jan 14, 2010
Glenn Beck reads Sarah Palin a journal entry, and Tom Brokaw talks about his new documentary.
David M. Walker
Jan 18, 2010
Wyatt Cenac waits for Harry Reid's apology, and David Walker hopes to reform America's spending.
Colin Firth
Jan 19, 2010
Larry Wilmore reviews Obama's first year, and Colin Firth recalls floating naked in a fish tank.
Wed, Jan 20, 2010
Jan 20, 2010
Scott Brown becomes the new president-elect, and Jim Wallis wants to take greed out of Wall Street.
Julie Andrews
Jan 21, 2010
Keith Olbermann resorts to name-calling, and Julie Andrews talks about her new movie, "Tooth Fairy.
Bill Gates
Jan 25, 2010
John Oliver celebrates a huge victory for corporations, and Bill Gates starts Twittering.
Elizabeth Warren
Jan 26, 2010
Wall Street responds to President Obama's threat, and Jon wants to make out with Elizabeth Warren.
Ethan Watters
Jan 27, 2010
The ACORN pimp is arrested, and Ethan Watters discusses America's impact on mental health.
Doris Kearns Goodwin
Jan 28, 2010
Wyatt Cenac forgets he's black, and Doris Kearns Goodwin dares the Republicans to filibuster.
Austan Goolsbee
Feb 1, 2010
Obama joins his political rivals for lunch, and Austan Goolsbee tries to avoid Great Depression Land.
Brian Williams
Feb 2, 2010
Jason Jones speeds in his Camry, and Brian Williams remembers his prom night with Jon.
Atul Gawande
Feb 3, 2010
Sam Bee learns how hard it is to be a man, and Atul Gawande hopes to save lives with a checklist.
Rep. Anthony Weiner
Feb 4, 2010
Rachel Maddow eviscerates everyone, and Anthony Weiner fights for health care reform.
Jenny Sanford
Feb 8, 2010
Sarah Palin writes notes on her hand, and Jenny Sanford misses the inmates at the governor's mansion.
Newt Gingrich
Feb 9, 2010
Richard Shelby releases nominees, and Newt Gingrich discusses the radical Obama administration.
Willie Mays
Feb 10, 2010
Geraldo Rivera defends Haiti's children-takers, and Willie Mays buys soul food with steak money.
Lee Daniels
Feb 11, 2010
Iran launches pets into space, and Lee Daniels believes in the intelligence of the American audience.
Ricky Gervais
Feb 22, 2010
CPAC holds its conservative Woodstock, and Ricky Gervais ridicules Karl Pilkington.
Jeff Garlin
Feb 23, 2010
Wyatt Cenac looks into Bank of America's hidden fees, and Jeff Garlin discusses his food addiction.
Tracy Morgan
Feb 24, 2010
John Hodgman tries to fix the Winter Olympics, and Tracy Morgan dreams of opening Chickendales.
Rep. James Clyburn
Feb 25, 2010
John Oliver covers the bipartisan summit after-party, and James Clyburn recalls his healthy lunch.
Neil DeGrasse Tyson
Mar 1, 2010
Rick Sanchez covers the tsunami threat, and Neil deGrasse Tyson discusses life on other planets.
Robert Pattinson
Mar 2, 2010
Samantha Bee tries to find Jonah Falcon a job, and Robert Pattinson worries about over-saturation.
Lynne Olson
Mar 3, 2010
Sarah Palin does stand-up comedy, and Lynne Olson looks at the start of the Anglo-American alliance.
Scott Patterson
Mar 4, 2010
Jon tries Chat Roulette, and Scott Patterson describes the quants controlling Wall Street.
Harry Markopolos
Mar 8, 2010
John Oliver thanks everyone for the Iraq invasion, and Harry Markopolos discusses Wall Street fraud.
Marc Thiessen
Mar 9, 2010
Conservative lawyers attack Liz Cheney, and Marc Thiessen discusses the rights of enemy combatants.
Jerry Seinfeld
Mar 10, 2010
Eric Massa disappoints Glenn Beck, and Jerry Seinfeld sees the humor in marriage.
Eamon Javers
Mar 11, 2010
Obama campaigns for health care reform, and Eamon Javers exposes the world of corporate espionage.
Michael Lewis
Mar 15, 2010
Aasif Mandvi dresses up as Captain Moneybags, and Michael Lewis discusses subprime mortgages.
Jude Law
Mar 16, 2010
Chris Dodd introduces his own financial reform bill, and Jude Law discusses health care.
Snoop Dogg
Mar 17, 2010
The Texas school board votes against Oscar Romero, and Snoop Dogg discusses his GPS voice.
Gary Locke
Mar 18, 2010
Jon warns America about progressivism, and Gary Locke discusses the census form.
Ben Stiller
Mar 29, 2010
Jason Jones proves how racist basketball has become, and Ben Stiller invites Jon over for Seder.
Robin Williams
Mar 30, 2010
Sarah Palin tries to save John McCain, and Robin Williams discusses his new cow valve.
Roxana Saberi
Mar 31, 2010
A C-SPAN host takes a racist phone call, and Roxana Saberi describes her ordeal in an Iranian prison.
Liz Claman
Apr 1, 2010
CNN hires Erick Erickson, and Liz Claman compares Wall Street to a casino.
Reza Aslan
Apr 5, 2010
Insurance companies look for a way to deny kids, and Reza Aslan questions the war in Afghanistan.
Capt. Richard Phillips
Apr 6, 2010
Tiger Woods returns to golf, and Richard Phillips describes his capture by Somali pirates.
Steve Carell
Apr 7, 2010
Michael Steele plays the race card, and Jon doesn't remember Steve Carell.
David Remnick
Apr 8, 2010
Obama signs a treaty to limit nuclear arms, and David Remnick discusses Obama's ambition.
Josh Fox
Jun 21, 2010
The writer and filmmaker discusses his latest documentary about the environmental and social impact of the largest natural gas drilling boom in history.
Helen Mirren
Jun 29, 2010
The Academy Award-winning actor discusses her latest film about Nevada's first legal brothel.
Landon Donovan, Bob Bradley
Jun 30, 2010
From the U.S. soccer team, Landon Donovan and manager Bob Bradley.
Jere Van Dyk
Jul 1, 2010
Journalist and author Jere Van Dyk talks about his new book "Captive: My Time as a Prisoner of the Taliban".
Denis Leary
Jul 5, 2010
Actor and comedian Denis Leary talks about the new season of Rescue Me.
Julianne Moore
Jul 6, 2010
Actress Julianne Moore talks about technology, acting and crying on cue.
Marilynne Robinson
Jul 8, 2010
Prize winning novelist Marilynne Robinson talks about her new book "Absence of Mind: The Dispelling of Inwardness from the Modern Myth of the Self".
Jason Bateman
Aug 10, 2010
The star of "Arrested Development" and "Extract" returns to the show to talk about his new movie with Jennifer Aniston and Jeff Goldblum.
Arcade Fire
Aug 12, 2010
The band Arcade Fire plays a song from their new album "The Suburbs".
Emma Thompson
Aug 16, 2010
The Academy Award-winning actor talks about her latest movie tonight on the show.
Tim Gunn
Sep 7, 2010
The "Project Runway" co-host discusses his new book about how to "make it work" in your career, relationships and life.
Ben Affleck
Sep 13, 2010
The actor and director returns to the show to talk about his latest project.
Bill Clinton
Sep 16, 2010
Jon announces the Rally to Restore Sanity, and Bill Clinton contributes to the economic stimulus.
Jimmy Carter
Sep 20, 2010
The 39th President of the United States returns to The Daily Show to discuss his new book.
Sigourney Weaver
Sep 21, 2010
President Obama meets his kryptonite, and Sigourney Weaver remembers her high school years.
Edward Norton
Sep 22, 2010
The Senate fails to repeal "don't ask, don't tell," and Edward Norton thinks Robert De Niro is weird.
His Majesty King Abdullah II
Sep 23, 2010
Republicans unveil their new ideas, and King Abdullah II of Jordan hopes for Middle East peace.
Bill O'Reilly
Sep 27, 2010
Stephen Colbert ruins Congress, and Bill O'Reilly refuses to attend the Rally to Restore Sanity.
Rep. Eric Cantor
Oct 12, 2010
The House minority whip discusses his book promoting the new generation of Republican leaders.
Austan Goolsbee
Oct 25, 2010
Chariman, President's Council of Economic Adviser. The economist and former journalist discusses the administration's plan for restoring the economy.
Sen. Ted Kaufman
Oct 26, 2010
The former Joe Biden staffer talks about his brief term in the Senate and what will happen to the Democrats after November 2.
Gov. Rick Perry
Nov 8, 2010
Rick Perry: Author, "Fed Up!" The Texas governor discusses his new book about the failure of Washington to serve the people.
Harrison Ford
Nov 9, 2010
Harrison Ford: Actor, "Morning Glory" The acclaimed movie star returns to the show to talk about his latest film.
Marion Jones
Nov 15, 2010
The former Olympic track star talks about finding a road to redemption after her career-ending performance enhancing drug conviction.
Judah Friedlander
Nov 29, 2010
The actor and comedian discusses the most important book in karate history, which he just wrote.
Gen. Hugh Shelton
Dec 6, 2010
In this complete, unedited interview, Hugh Shelton discusses Julian Assange's threat to national security and expresses his concerns over the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell.
Seth Green
Dec 7, 2010
Creator, "Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III Special" The actor and director talks about his latest Star Wars parody.
Gordon Brown
Dec 13, 2010
John Oliver and Olivia Munn sell riot souvenirs, and Gordon Brown discusses the financial crisis.