Apple cancels Jon Stewart’s show after creative differences, Cook’s China trip

Oct 20, 2023

Shannon Longworth Anchor/Reporter

By Shannon Longworth (Anchor/Reporter), Ryan Tiedgen (Video Editor)

Apple has reportedly decided to cancel its show, “The Problem with Jon Stewart,” just weeks before it was set to begin shooting its third season. The comedy-news program aired on Apple TV+ and featured unfiltered critiques of current affairs.

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According to The New York Times, Stewart told staff on Thursday Oct. 19, that “potential show topics related to China and artificial intelligence were causing concern among Apple executives.”

There were allegedly disagreements over guests, as well.

The Hollywood Reporter’s sources said Apple told Stewart they needed to be “aligned” on the show topics. When Stewart wanted full creative control, the company threatened to cancel, so the former “Daily Show” host walked away.

Apple did not respond to requests for a statement.

This situation is not the first time that an American entertainment project has made adjustments with Chinese in mind. The 2012 remake of “Red Dawn” initially featured Chinese villains. However, due to pushback in Chinese state media, MGM digitally altered the villains to be North Korean and replaced all related flags and symbols.

Apple’s reported decision to cancel the show coincides with CEO Tim Cook’s second visit to China this year. The tech giant has been facing sluggish iPhone 15 sales in the country. Cook met with the information technology minister following a recent announcement regarding new regulations for app stores.

Tags: apple, Artificial Intelligence, China, Jon Stewart, Tim Cook

APPLE HAS REPORTEDLY SCRAPPED ITS SHOW “THE PROBLEM WITH JON STEWART” WEEKS BEFORE SHOOTING ITS THIRD SEASON.

THE COMEDY-NEWS SHOW ON APPLE TV FEATURES UNFILTERED CRITIQUES OF CURRENT AFFAIRS.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE NEW YORK TIMES, STEWART TOLD STAFF ON THURSDAY THAT TOPICS RELATED TO CHINA AND AI CONCERNED APPLE EXECUTIVES. THERE WERE ALLEGEDLY DISAGREEMENTS OVER GUESTS, AS WELL.

THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’S SOURCES SAID APPLE TOLD STEWART THEY NEEDED TO BE “ALIGNED” ON THE SHOW TOPICS. WHEN STEWART WANTED FULL CREATIVE CONTROL, THE COMPANY THREATENED TO CANCEL. SO THE FORMER DAILY SHOW HOST WALKED AWAY.

APPLE DID NOT RESPOND TO A REQUEST FOR COMMENT.

AMERICAN COMPANIES HAVE ADJUSTED ENTERTAINMENT WITH CHINA IN MIND BEFORE–OFTEN TO HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING MEDIA IN FRONT OF THE COUNTRY’S MASSIVE AUDIENCE.

IN THE 2012 REMAKE OF RED DAWN, MGM INITIALLY FILMED THE MOVIE WITH CHINESE VILLAINS. STATE MEDIA PUBLISHED PUSHBACK. SO MGM REPLACED THE CHINESE VILLAINS WITH NORTH KOREANS–DIGITALLY ALTERING EACH FLAG AND SYMBOL.

APPLE’S DECISION FOR ITS STREAMING PLATFORM COMES AS CEO TIM COOK VISITS CHINA FOR THE SECOND TIME THIS YEAR. IPHONE 15 SALES ARE SLUGGISH THERE AND COOK IS MEETING WITH THE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY MINISTER AFTER THE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCED NEW REGULATION FOR APP STORES.

WHILE THE POLITICAL TIES BETWEEN THE US AND CHINA ARE DELICATE, APPLE IS WORKING TO DEVELOP A STRONGER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COUNTRY AS IT COMPETES WITH HUAWEI IN THE SMARTPHONE MARKET.