Michael Kosta
About Michael Kosta
Michael Kosta, born September 27, 1979, is an American stand-up comedian and former professional tennis player. He is an Emmy award-winning rotating host and senior correspondent of The Daily Show, where he was hired as a correspondent in 2017 and was the most-watched guest host in 2023. He has also hosted The Comment Section for the E! Network with producer Joel McHale and co-hosted Fox Sports 1's Crowd Goes Wild. His one-hour stand-up special for Comedy Central debuted in 2020.
Kosta was born and raised in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and went to Huron High School before attending the University of Illinois, where he played on four Big Ten Championship tennis teams. After earning a bachelor's degree in Speech Communications in 2002, he played tennis on the ITF and ATP tour for two years and was once ranked #864 in the world before being hired as the Assistant Men's Tennis Coach for the University of Michigan. While coaching, he began to explore stand-up comedy, and in 2005 he began a full-time job as a stand-up comic based in Los Angeles.
Kosta has had major appearances on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Conan, Chelsea Lately, and Late Night with Seth Meyers, as well as a half-hour Comedy Central Presents special in January 2011. In 2015, he released his first comedy album, Comedy For Attractive People, on Comedy Dynamics Records, and in 2022 he released his one-hour Comedy Central special Michael Kosta: Detroit. NY. LA. He has been a rotating co-host of The Daily Show since 2024. He hosts his own podcast, Tennis Anyone, and in 2025 released a memoir, Lucky Loser: Adventures in Tennis and Comedy, published by Harper Influence. He is married with two children.
Videos (492)
Videos 289 to 312 of 492.
28:11Tennis Anyone w/ Michael Kosta | Watching Wimbledon Live
735 views
48:46Tennis Anyone w/ Michael Kosta | Conor Niland Talks "The Racket" & Playing Against Kosta Years Ago
734 views
0:21It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
727 views
0:45What’s your go-to holiday tip? Here’s mine.
726 views
1:00Funny Seattle memory. Tickets are live!
725 views
0:05How complicated can it be?
708 views
0:30Merry xmas from the greatest city in the world!
706 views
0:44Michael Kosta on The Big Beautiful Bill
698 views
0:57Coming Back Home
693 views
0:20Kosta is not afraid of controversial topics! Phoenix you in? Sep 22-23
693 views
30:09Tennis Anyone w/ Michael Kosta | Marriage Advice, Instagram Face, ATP and WTA Rankings
691 views
0:17Recording ‘Lucky Loser’ audio book. Book comes out March 11th.
691 views
0:55Pete B is G, K?
688 views
0:41Excited to announce my book Lucky Loser comes out March 11th, but you can pre-order now!
684 views
0:07#Comedy #MichaelKosta #Men
683 views
0:53We're less than a month away from my Lucky Loser book launch and comedy show at NYC City Winery!
682 views
1:29One of the stories I cut from my new book Lucky Loser- which comes out March 11th
678 views
1:01We are LIVE tonight after the vice presidential debate and your boy is hosting… @TheDailyShow
677 views
0:37Roddick was tired of playing nice and he gave me the dropper.
676 views
0:52Enjoying a speedie on the way to Rochester @carlsoncomedy213
672 views
0:35Here’s something to watch on loop this weekend once the edible kicks in.
656 views
1:01Lace ‘em up. Comedy Club on State in Madison this weekend Jan 10-11! Get your tix!
655 views
0:42Former Supreme Court Justice Souter warning us 12 years ago. Did you take civics in school?
654 views
0:57Haters: Don’t step to me unless you want to get melted smelted and delted.
645 viewsGuest appearances (109)
Videos on other comedians' channels featuring Michael Kosta.
Guest appearances 1 to 24 of 109.
42:18Jon Stewart on Trump's "Enemy Within" Threat & Michael Kosta on Election Overload | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
4.5M views
44:38Jon Stewart on Trump’s Zelenskyy Smackdown & Michael Kosta on Trade War Chaos | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
3.3M views
45:51Jon Stewart & Michael Kosta on Elon's White House Crash and Feud with Trump | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
2.8M views
34:51Jon Stewart on Trump's Alternate Reality & Michael Kosta on Mamdani's "Penghazi" | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
2.5M views
37:46The Best of Michael Kosta in the Field | The Daily Social Distancing Show
Jon Stewart
2.2M views
2:27Michael Kosta on how Trump and four former U.S. presidents reacted to the shooting of Charlie Kirk
Jon Stewart
1.8M views
46:38Jon Stewart on Trump's Negotiating Game & Michael Kosta on the White House UFC Ring | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
1.6M views
37:07Jon Stewart on Assad Regime's End in Syria & Michael Kosta on Luigi Mangione | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
1.4M views
12:28Michael Kosta on UHC CEO Shooting Suspect Luigi Mangione | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
1.3M views
2:11MAGA's anti-Muslim hysteria is so bad, it has Michael Kosta missing George W. Bush
Jon Stewart
1.2M views
24:50Michael Kosta Conquered Trump’s Feuds, Pardons & "Groceries" Obsession in 2025 | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
1.1M views
3:49Michael Kosta and Nate Burleson vs. Intel's AI-Powered Robot Quarterback | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
1.1M views
24:00Michael Kosta Covers RFK Jr.'s Bizarre Bear Story & GOP Reaction to Tim Walz | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
1.1M views
1:37Michael Kosta, Desi Lydic, and Troy Iwata on Steve Carell’s bus interview with John McCain
Jon Stewart
942.1K views
6:44Is Duluth, MN a Climate Change Safe Haven? Michael Kosta Investigates | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
928.5K views
6:31How Do RFK Jr. Supporters Feel About His VP Pick? Michael Kosta Investigates | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
906.2K views
25:09Jon Stewart's Israel-Gaza Update & Michael Kosta on Trump's Latest Abortion Stance | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
885.6K views
10:30Leslie Jones, Michael Kosta, & Desi Lydic Help You Survive Thanksgiving | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
841K views
20:25The Best of Michael Kosta - Saving the Lakes, A Statue Tour & Looking Like Don Jr. | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
831.1K views
6:41Luke Iseman's "Planet-Cooling" Balloons Have Michael Kosta Breaking Bad | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
819.1K views
1:36Michael Kosta shows solidarity with a billionaire who's fighting the scourge of anti-rich hate
Jon Stewart
770.5K views
1:39Michael Kosta addresses America's political violence problem following Charlie Kirk's assassination
Jon Stewart
769K views
9:54Michael Kosta's Israel-Palestine "Solution" & Taylor Swift's Fans Flock to Theaters | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
674.9K views
6:19Michael Kosta Meets the No. 1 Book Banner in Florida | The Daily Show
Jon Stewart
645.4K viewsChannels on this page: Jon Stewart
Frequently asked questions
What is Michael Kosta best known for?
He is an Emmy award-winning rotating host and senior correspondent of The Daily Show, where he was hired as a correspondent in 2017.
Was Michael Kosta a professional athlete?
Yes, he is a former professional tennis player who played on the ITF and ATP tour and was once ranked #864 in the world.
Where did Michael Kosta play college tennis?
He attended the University of Illinois, where he played on four Big Ten Championship tennis teams, and earned a bachelor's degree in Speech Communications in 2002.
What memoir did Michael Kosta write?
In 2025, he released a memoir titled Lucky Loser: Adventures in Tennis and Comedy, published by Harper Influence.
What are Michael Kosta's Comedy Central specials?
He had a half-hour Comedy Central Presents special in January 2011 and released his one-hour special Michael Kosta: Detroit. NY. LA. in 2022.
Comedians similar to Michael Kosta
Same comedic style, across countries
