The Daily Show is following a path similar to SNL, in which they build and lose talent in waves. The first major exodus happened in 2005/2006 when they lost Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Ed Helms, and Rob (and Nate) Corddry. Now it looks like in the next year or two they will lose Rob Riggle, Jason Jones, and Samantha Bee (the latter two are married).

Riggle has signed a talent holding deal, which includes a development component, with CBS and sister CBS Paramount Network TV to create and star in a half-hour laffer. Riggle said he's kicking around several ideas at the moment, one of which may touch upon his background as a major in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve. "I've got a notebook full of ideas that I've been keeping for many years," Riggle said.

Deal comes as two of Riggle's "Daily Show" colleagues, married duo Jason Jones and Samantha Bee, are also busy developing a half-hour at CBS and its sibling studio (Daily Variety, Oct. 14).

That would leave John Oliver, Wyatt Cenac, and Aasif Mandvi as their main correspondents, and others who appear less frequently like Larry Wilmore, Lewis Black, and Demetri Martin as well. But they will definitely need to get some new correspondents, and it'll be interesting to see who they pick. The choice of correspondents has a big impact on the overall feel of the show.