Every once in awhile, iconic television shows undergo drastic changes, such as when Jimmy Fallon took Jay Leno’s spot on “The Tonight Show” in 2014. These changes often shift the dynamic of the show, which helps television evolve and grow into something new. Trevor Noah’s Monday night performance as new host of “The Daily Show,” after Jon Stewart’s 16-year run, was a breath of fresh air for the Comedy Central program.

Right from the start, Noah made it a point to honor Jon Stewart, naming him their “political dad.” The 31-year-old did not hesitate to address his South African roots, joking that “Once more, a job Americans rejected is now being done by an immigrant.” Noah’s traits certainly help him stand apart from other late-night TV hosts. His genuine appreciation for the opportunity of hosting made it apparent that Noah was excited to take over the beloved show.

Noah proceeded to discuss Pope Francis’ visit to America, House Speaker John Boehner’s resignation, and NASA’s discovery of flowing water on Mars. Despite expectations of Noah’s background offering a greater international perspective of national issues, he failed to address the issues as in-depth as Stewart often would, instead cracking unrelated jokes about Whitney Houston’s death and puns about AIDS, which tended to fall flat among the audience. Many aspects of this first episode, including the interview with comedian Kevin Hart, suggested The Daily Show is transitioning into a lighter emphasis on political issues, with an increasing focus on pop culture.

It is too early to determine what Noah will provide for the show, but he is certainly leading The Daily Show into new late-night territory.