Joseph Opio, a Ugandan journalist, marked history by becoming the first Ugandan to experience Emmy success. The achievement came on Monday when The Daily Show with Trevor Noah secured the prestigious Primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Talk Series.
Joseph Opio, credited with writing over 1,178 episodes of The Daily Show, played a pivotal role in contributing to Trevor Noah’s victory as the first black man to win the category in the Emmy Awards’ 75-year history. Acknowledging Opio’s significant role, Noah expressed his gratitude to the team during his Emmy acceptance speech, specifically mentioning the former New Vision journalist by name.
“This story has been so long, so crazy, so wonderful,” remarked Noah to the Emmys audience. “I want to start by thanking the crazy Africans who followed me to this country, David Kibuuka and Joseph Opio, David Meyer, my partner in crime, the writers and the team, Roy Wood Jr. from the very beginning.”
For Noah, the Emmy win serves as a triumphant farewell from The Daily Show. Having left the Comedy Central program in December 2022, the South African megastar’s departure is now crowned with this historic achievement. Opio, in a celebratory tweet, humorously acknowledged Noah’s exit, stating, “He came. He saw. He conquered. He quit.”
In an exclusive interview with New Vision, Opio expressed his joy, stating, “This is a dream come true. After writing on The Daily Show for eight years and earning multiple nominations in the past, I’m deeply honored to have reached the Promised Land that’s the Emmys.”
Securing the Outstanding Talk Series Emmy was no easy feat for The Daily Show, as it faced stiff competition from renowned late-night heavyweights, including The Late Show With Steven Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Problem With Jon Stewart, and Late Night With Seth Meyers. The victory solidifies The Daily Show’s place among the top talk series in the television industry.
