Top 10 people to replace Jon Stewart on 'The Daily Show'

After Jon Stewart unexpectedly announced his retirement as host of The Daily Show, speculation ran amok on the Internet.

It's not entirely clear why Stewart decided to leave the position he's kept for the past 17 years, but it's apparent he wants to do other things. You can't blame the guy, and it seems the station feels the exact same way and only wish their colleague the best. They also admit this is a decision in the works for some time. To put things into perspective, Stephen Colbert started out as a correspondent on Stewart's show before headlining his own and then ended his run there to fill David Letterman's shoes when he retires — all while Stewart was on-the-air in his same job.

Comedy Central apparently has a shortlist of who they think should take Stewart's chair on The Daily Show. They haven't released their names yet, so it's hard to say who they want exactly. If we may, however, we'd like to offer some names for inspiration.

Keep in mind: some people would be perfect but just won't take the job. John Oliver has his own show already, Tina Fey is too busy, Colbert, of course, has his own show too, Steve Carrell is a big, Academy-Award nominated actor and so on. But there are some people — even some big names — who could be perfect candidates for the job, if they wanted it.

Without further ado, here are 10 people the station should place on their shortlist, or at least consider the notion if they weren't already.

Honorable mentions: Matt Walsh, Dave Gorman, Jessica Williams, Patton Oswalt

Image courtesy of Peter West/ACE/INFphoto.com

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10. Dave Attell
Quite possibly one of the most underrated well-known comedians working today, Dave Attell is furiously funny comedian in the best manner possible. His stand-up, and also his short period of time on The Daily Show from 1999 to 2002 as the contributor of "The Ugly American," is biting, timely and consistently unforgiving in its approach. Attell is the confident, pounce-ready kind of comedian who could easily shake up the formula a bit and give some tepid politicians the verbal punch to the face they so deserve.

The only big question mark about Attell is his interview capabilities. He's great at committing his thoughts by himself, but if he can work well in interviews and host an honest discussion with important guests are a bit in question. You have to admit, though, those monologues would be absolutely killer.

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9. Paul F. Tompkins
Paul F. Tompkins, more so than a majority of his comedian peers, has an elegance and class to his appearance — both in terms of attire and material — that's also not afraid to occasional dabble into some crass territory. These all are the traits which made Stewart not only respected but affable, and its not hard to see Tompkins taking the throne with grace, wit charm and good timing. In terms of presentation, the switch would be as fitting as a glove. He's also got a popular podcast which proves he can hold his own in conversations.

Additionally, although he only appeared for one year (1998), he is not completely unfamiliar with The Daily Show. Of course, Tompkins is not at all known for his politics, which could make for some interestingly evenhanded commentary — as even though Stewart tried to be neutral at times, it was always clear he favored the liberal side of things — but it could also make more some milquetoast reporting. There's no doubting Tompkins is funny, however, and his wide accessible, well-suitable personality could attract audiences of all adult groups.

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8. Jason Jones
Jason Jones is a man many people likely know from The Daily Show, but don't recognize by name. A member of Stewart's show since 2005, Jones continues to strive in the late show segment-after-segment, staying on point and makes sure he gets the best out of each comedy moment. He's also has a character which is not too dissimilar than Stewart's. In fact one could argue his character is just a dumber version of Jon Stewart's character as the host. Although, out of character, it's clear evident he's a very clever and thoughtful comedian ready to pounce to his next move.

The only problem, however, would be that he doesn't quite have the personality to make himself stand out. Some could argue Stewart doesn't have a distinct one either, though, and Jones is such a natural and easy performer that he could throw himself into the series without problem.

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7. Rob Corddry
A fan favorite during his correspondent stint 2002-2006, Rob Corddry is easily one of the best parts of The Daily Show when he was on. He was naturally funny, well-cultured and knows how to both work well with himself and also be funny with others. He also, on his time on the show, produced some great interviews. While certainly more crass than Stewart (usually) is, Corddry's personality could attract the younger crowd who likely have tampered off now that Colbert is off the air and also express a more serious side to his personality that audiences haven't seen before.

The biggest problem here, of course, is Corddry has already established himself pretty well as both a film and TV star. He's the creator of his own Adult Swim series Children's Hospital, which he also stars in, and also has been seen in a variety of movies of late, including the upcoming Hot Tub Time Machine 2 later this month. That said, however, Corddry has still found time over the years to be a recurring correspondent, so perhaps he'd put down everything and headline The Daily Show for good.

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6. Rob Riggle
By now, Rob Riggle is likely best known for his supporting roles in nearly every comedy Hollywood produces these days. Don't forget, however, that Riggle was one of the naturally funny correspondents to walk The Daily Show stage. His timing, delivery and enthusiasm are always immediately noticeable, no matter what he does, and his drive to bring everything he does to the next level is endearing and constantly likable. If anything, it's shocking — and to his credit — that he can make this always work and never have it be grading.

His commitment and charm would easily give The Daily Show the energy and stride it could never quite capture as well as The Colbert Report. Not only is he instantly recognizable and extremely accessible, but he'll be an easy and confident transition into The Daily Show position. Should he decide to step away from playing second fiddle in all these comedies, he would easily make himself a great fixture in American culture.

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5. Norm Macdonald
Now granted, he's not one's first choice, and has no history on The Daily Show, but hear me out on this one. For years, Norm Macdonald has proven himself a hilarious, down-to-Earth figure who natural persona and "I-don't-give-a-s**t" attitude is undeniably likable in its relatable and agreeably breezy manner. Plus he's got experience talking politics, as he spent his time at Saturday Night Live mainly at the Weekend Update desk and also has been a professional roaster for a President or two along the way.

Plus, while it wasn't quite able to get the audience it needed at the right time, Macdonald's recent Comedy Central series Sports Show was punchy, ballsy and, more than anything else, showed he's still got it. With a show that has a built-in audience like The Daily Show, this could very well be the big comeback Macdonald so desperately deserves.

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4. John Hodgman
Although most Americans still know him best as the PC Guy, Hodgman, a tenure of The Daily Show since 2006, has continuously proven himself a seasoned and consistent performer multiple times, especially on Stewart's program. He's a classed, versatile figure, who can act as both a perfect straight man and also a driving comedic force on his own. He's the kind of performer who always has had to stay on the sidelines for no particular reason, but he could change that later this year.

Hodgman, you see, is a comedian on the verge of getting his own property for years, much like Andy Daly before he got his own show, the fantastic Review — which is the only reason why he's not on this list. With this job, Hodgman could finally rise to his full potential and let people see what he's capable of. Many already know he's a great, withstanding comedic force, so now it's time for the rest of America to see that too.

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3. Samantha Bee
As a member of The Daily Show family since 2003, Bee is easily one of The Daily Show's greatest remaining aspects for over a decade. Her style, both unflinching and subdued, is thoughtful, intelligent, clever and dryly hilarious. She dominates most of her interview segments, and continues to impress and surprise despite how long she's been on the program.

It would only be fitting if she were to take over the job. Hiring her for the position would not only be a game-changer, it would also be a firm step in the right direction as far as making late night comedy accessible to more than the male gender. She's got the wit, charm and drive to keep The Daily Show as one of the most important talk shows on the air right now.

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2. Aasif Mandvi
One of The Daily Show's longest withstanding correspondents, Aasif Mandvi has quickly become one of The Daily Show most consistent, clever, relevant and memorable correspondents. He's never afraid to push opinions, but he also has a natural class and grace to his comedy which could see him bouncing back and forth between monologues and interviews.

Mandvi continues to prove he's got a lot of clever and funny things to stay, and it always seem like he just barely gets his opinions out in a weekly basis. To give him the host position would finally let him unleash his full potential. Whether its his fast-paced delivery, smart interview segments or passionate segments, Mandvi would have The Daily Show main chair in good hands.

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1. Lewis Black
In my opinion, Lewis Black is the absolute perfect choice for replacing Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. He contains all the great qualities to make him a hit: he's got experience on the show, since 1996 in fact, he's politically driven to hell, he's got a voice and a great personality and he's also got the wisdom and age to make sure he knows what he's talking about. He's also got a great, vocal fanbase ready to cheer him on if he were to take over. Although the man is in his 60s, he's still got the stride and ferocity of comedian 20 to 30 years younger than him.

Plus, Black wouldn't need to force himself to become molded into The Daily Show format. He knows what he's doing, but he also has a clear, firm grasp of what the Comedy Central show is and what it accomplishes. Plus, if you check him out, he's great in interviews and knows how to calm down if need be. He can be a nice, humble guy, so not ever episode would be a shouting match. But when he does get angry, get ready for the laughs to roll.