In the week leading up to the most divisive, risky and exhausting presidential election in modern American history, Ronny Chieng spent three nights on duty there Daily Show anchor table. A politics buff and longtime correspondent for the Comedy Central institution, he’s more than game when it comes to hosting. But he also recognizes how much the business has changed since Trevor Noah approached him for the gig in 2015. “I was there long enough to get the rhythm,” says the Malaysian stand-up and actor. “But it’s a bit like an emergency room, we watch car accident victims come in every day. You’re just becoming desensitized.

Luckily, it’s not all comedy triage for the 38-year-old actor. The show keeps him busy for long periods of time and allows him to take frequent breaks from touring (his most recent stand-up special is I Love to Hatehits netflix on December 17) and tackle a growing number of acting gigs (Hulu drama) Inner Chinatown premiered November 19). He is modest about the offers he receives, but there is nothing to argue about in terms of volume. Featured scene-stealing roles Crazy Rich Asians, Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings, M3GAN And joy ridein rapid succession, to name a few. That’s why, despite his frustration with the “showmanship” of US politics and the continuing decline of Hollywood, the one-time law student and his wife have not changed course. Speaking via Zoom in early November, before Election Day, Chieng delved into the issue. Daily Show‘s transition from Noah’s departure to Jon Stewart’s return, and why his comedy goal hasn’t changed since he first returned to the stage while at university in Australia.

Compared to the previous famine, Hollywood has commissioned more Asian and Asian American work in the last seven, eight years. And by my count, Michelle Yeoh, Stephanie Hsu, and you are in the vast majority of them.

Sorry about that! I’m planning a nice little career. If you need an Asian man willing to work for minimum wage, I’m number eight on the list. It just so happens that the first seven turn down roles and I’m desperate enough to do them. (laughing.) I’m kidding, but it’s not that far from the truth.

I think you’re higher on this list.

I think you’ll be surprised. Nothing will get done for me as a tool, but I think I’m in a place where if I have a good idea and I push hard I can get it done. I never think of it, but someone said “Ronny?” I think people say: “Oh, yeah. Ronny. That man is good.” As a stand-up, my profession naturally lends itself to counterculture figures. I’m not angry about this. I think stand-up should be a little bit outside the system.

But isn’t the goal of every comic book to be mainstream?

“Mainstream” is a bit of a misnomer because Hollywood is still its own system. Stand-ups intersect, of course. Could I be this lucky too? But being an outside voice helps me right now. That’s why Jimmy (O. Yang) and I are working on this project. We’re still the guys who show up on the red carpet and have to tell photographers who we are. We’ll be there with Gemma Chan or Awkwafina and they’ll say, “Get out of the picture.” this is it! Inner Chinatown It’s about these guys wanting to come out of the background.

You weren’t well known in America when Trevor chose you for this job. How did this run change your expectations for your career?

Before Daily Show – A gift from Buddha! Thank you Trevor Noah – I laugh at how naive I was. Did I think I was going to come to New York unemployed and solve the problem? One job was hard enough. But I was in Australia, doing well, playing in theaters with maybe 1000 people. It was a decent life. I would use Aziz Ansari as a career model. Frankly, it’s not the best example anymore. But since he was an Asian comedian who caught everyone’s attention in America at the time, that was the goal. Being a comedian of color who doesn’t fall into an ethnic pigeonhole has always been the goal.

You were on set the day Trevor announced he was leaving on air. How did you digest that?

I had no idea. We were doing a normal episode. He would usually say: “Thanks, Ronny. “We will be right back.” Instead, he said he would leave. There was no sign of this before the show and we were side by side in the makeup chairs. But he gave me my chance in America and I owe everything to him. So I just took it at face value. He was exhausted. And now that I’m hosting, I’m thinking: “Ooooh, I get it. This thing is crazy.” Why have you wanted to do this for seven years?

Some do! Before Jon returned, there was a public preparation for a full-time job. Roy Wood Jr. that’s why he left. Looks like Hasan Minhaj almost got the job. Have you ever wanted to?

First of all, they didn’t offer it to me. But I thought I wasn’t talented, so I never thought of asking. I really felt that way. “Now is my chance!” I wasn’t like. “What’s going on in the show?” I thought. Daily Show It is an institution. To be great, it needs a host who understands satire, has a point of view, and understands what America needs, whether they like it or not. One of the reasons Jon is so great is that he’s still a countercultural figure. He doesn’t say things that would be expected from his tribe.

What do you think of Jon’s return? This was another big surprise.

Jon was a morale booster. This isn’t an indictment on anyone else who hosts it, but he is the one who founded the institution. On the first day, he said: “We want to address the climate, not just the climate of politics.” When you’re following the weather, you’re on to something. Climate is the big picture. So he comes up with a portrait of what’s going on and why it’s stupid, and we have the freedom to comment on day-to-day events. This format saved us from being an ordinary political clip show.

You hosted three nights in a row. Do you feel capable now?

It took me a while to get into this. And now that I’m hosting, yes, it’s an extremely difficult job. Nobody can do this. I think I feel a little more fearless when I host because Jon is always saying things that get him in trouble. Nobody comes after me.

I won’t spoil the punchline, but your new special has a little bit of insight into how you can make fun of people in power in America in a way you can’t in Malaysia. How does that joke hold up now, after an election in which a candidate (and now the president-elect) reportedly suggested “punishing” late-night hosts who make fun of him?

One of America’s founding ideals is to protect its citizens from the government. Anyone who suggests this is illegal and borderline fascist.

I argue that this is not borderline.

Of course, yes, I will go there. Nobody cares what I say about this anyway. My point of view
Americans living in Singapore and Malaysia; countries where you can’t really say anything about the government. I think Americans don’t know what it feels like to not have freedom of expression, so they sometimes exaggerate that lack. I don’t think this will change in America either. So if we have four more years of Trump, we’ve fucked up and will continue to shit on him every day.

Let’s end on a lighter note. Your only product is socks that look like you. There must be a story there.

My wife’s family makes socks in Australia (Melbourne’s Bruce Goose). We sell out after shows, but I’ll stop. The way commercial products work in America, everyone is experiencing a lot of disruption. It’s not worth it. I asked Bill Burr about this, and he doesn’t sell products anymore. And if Bill Burr can’t figure it out, what hope is there for any of us?

This story appeared in the November 13 issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. Click here to subscribe.