‘The Daily Show’ recap: America meets its ‘new stepdad,’ Trevor Noah

America, meet your new stepdad.

Trevor Noah made his much-anticipated debut as host of “The Daily Show” on Monday night and in his opening remarks, immediately reminded viewers that he comes to the job with very different experiences than his predecessor, Jon Stewart.

“Growing up in the dusty streets of South Africa, I never dreamed that I would one day have well, two things really: an indoor toilet and a job as host of ‘The Daily Show,”” he said. “Now I have both, and I’m quite comfortable with one of them.”

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Make that two of them: For a relatively unknown comedian taking over for one of the most revered figures in contemporary American pop culture, the 31-year-old seemed decidedly at ease in front of the camera. (And the camera loved Noah -- and his cavernous dimples -- right back.)

Noah helped alleviate any potential awkwardness by immediately addressing the elephant in the room. “Jon Stewart was more than just a late-night host,” he said. “He was often our voice, our refuge and in many ways, our political dad.”

“And it’s weird because dad has left. And now it feels like the family has a new stepdad -- and he’s black, which is not ideal.”

Noah even acknowledged the rumors about other names approached for the job. Without naming names, he said several women turned down “The Daily Show” gig because “clearly they all knew something I didn’t.” Potential American hosts likewise declined, leaving South African Noah as Comedy Central’s pick.

“So once more, a job Americans rejected is now being done by an immigrant.”

He also thanked Stewart, who was instrumental in picking his replacement, for believing in him. “I’ll make you not look like the crazy old dude who left his inheritance to some random kid from Africa,” he said, assuring viewers of “The Daily Show” that “the war on bull…” continues -- a nod to Stewart’s farewell monologue.

It was a strong start to version 3.0 of a show that has certainly been altered -- along with the new host, there’s also a shiny new set, a sleek new font and a moment of zen delivered standing up -- but whose fundamental DNA has not changed. Or at least not yet.

After his gracious opening remarks, Noah moved onto Pope Francis who, he noted, loves immigrants and hates climate change -- “like a young Bernie Sanders.” A segment with correspondent Jordan Klepper was ostensibly about the stunning resignation of House Speaker John Boehner, but was really about another guy named Jo(h)n who’d just left his job.

“Everyone’s feeling nostalgia for the old leader but maybe the new guy will surprise us and just crush it,” Klepper said.

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The episode also featured the debut of new correspondent Roy Wood Jr., who did not disappoint in a report about the discovery of evidence of flowing water on Mars. Wood, who is African American, wasn’t letting himself get carried away at the possibility of a mission to the red planet.

“Brother can’t catch a cab. You think we could catch a spaceship?” he said. “Black people ain’t going to Mars. That includes you, Trevor. You’ve only had ‘The Daily Show’ for one commercial break. These white folks ain’t decided if they like you yet.”

It was a funny reminder that, for all its acclaim, the Stewart-era “daily Show” did not have a perfect track record when it came to diversity. (That theme was reiterated by Larry Wilmore in his teaser for “The Nightly Show”: “New ‘Daily Show’ viewers, don’t be confused. I’m a different light-skinned brother late-night host. ... It’s the first time late night’s gone black-to-black.”)

Like many a first-night talk show host before him, Noah seemed less at ease during the interview. Comedian Kevin Hart came bearing a thoughtful gift (ties), which only seemed to confuse Noah, who asked questions about the star’s workout routine and ability to tell jokes in front of an audience of 50,000.

While most of the punchlines seemed like standard fare for “The Daily Show,” a few seemed to stick out -- and not just because of Noah’s accent. Riffing on Boehner’s resignation, he likened Congress to a terrible nightclub where there are hardly any women and “everyone has aid[e]s” and in another, joked that crack cocaine had “taken out” Whitney Houston.

Less jarring, but just as telling, were the references sprinkled throughout the broadcast to Instagram, emojis and viewers watching the show on their phones -- a hint of the digital focus to come under “The Daily Show’s” new millennial host.

Follow @MeredithBlake on Twitter.