“The Daily Show” is making its first vertical series, and it is aiming its satire at both Washington and the microdrama format itself.

Comedy Central announced that the late-night franchise is producing “The Daily Show Presents: Two Billionaires Fight to Dominate the Country… And My Heart!,” a scripted vertical series shot for phones. The Hollywood Reporter first reported the news in an exclusive.

The show follows Alonka, described in the official logline as the “beautiful daughter” of an aging president who would rather sleep than run the country. Two tech moguls, Egon Husk and Jiff Davos, compete to build an artificial intelligence president capable of taking his place, while also competing for Alonka. “But their lust for power, and Alonka, leads to dangerously hot complications,” the description reads.

The character names lean into the parody. According to Mashable, Alonka evokes Ivanka Trump, while Egon Husk and Jiff Davos combine elements of Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, with Davos also nodding to the Swiss town that hosts the annual World Economic Forum gathering.

Comedy Central has not yet disclosed a release date, distribution platform, or cast for the series.

The project is “The Daily Show’s” first entry into microdramas, a genre of short, cliffhanger-driven scripted series built for vertical viewing on apps like ReelShort and DramaBox or on social platforms including TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. The format typically borrows from soap operas, leaning on heightened dialogue, forbidden romances, and rapid plot twists.

“The Daily Show” already produces original digital segments, including “Jordan Klepper Fingers the Pulse,” alongside its linear broadcast hosted by Jon Stewart on Mondays and rotating correspondents through the rest of the week, plus its “Daily Show: Ears Edition” podcast. As Mashable noted, the series enters the microdrama space on the strength of a notable run: it posted its highest-rated second quarter among adults 18 to 49 in nine years, ranked as cable’s most-viewed program on social platforms in 2026, and picked up seven Emmy nominations this year, including best variety series.

The U.S. microdrama industry generated an estimated $1.3 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach roughly $1.5 billion in 2026, with ReelShort and DramaBox each pulling in close to $140 million in global in-app revenue during the first quarter alone. Other entertainment players are moving in parallel: BuzzFeed Studios and MuVpix announced a deal this week to produce more than 100 microdrama titles over two years, and producers Alon Shtruzman and Scott Einbinder unveiled a new platform, New Short Media, built around partnerships with established Hollywood talent rather than a proprietary app. Actor Taye Diggs has also launched Microhouse Films, a platform giving creators a larger financial stake in the vertical series they make.

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Check Out Our Podcast