The situation is a little weird as the first two seasons of the panel show certainly did not shy away from serious topics, including some reflective criticism of Apple itself. Seasons 1 and 2 included reporting on gun policy, US midterms, and Trump’s indictment, for instance.
Nevertheless, it appears Apple was uncomfortable with the direction of the show heading into the third season, but Stewart wanted full creative control. He opted to walk away.
How successful the show was for Apple in terms of viewership remains unclear. But “The Problem with Jon Stewart” inspired several viral moments, with clips spreading widely on social media. And seemingly, the accompanying podcast was reasonably popular.
Apple first agreed to an overall deal with Jon Stewart’s production company in early 2020, covering The Problem and other current affairs projects. Presumably, that deal is now canceled, too.
