Sight, Sound & Story: Behind the Edit of The Daily Show
Go behind the edit of The Daily Show’s Emmy-nominated RFK Hospital episode with editor Nikolai Johnson.
Join Nikolai Johnson, editor of The Daily Show, for a behind-the-scenes look at his work on the Emmy-nominated episode RFK Hospital. Johnson will share insights into the creative and editorial process, from shaping story and performance to finding the precise rhythm, pacing, and comedic timing that bring a piece to life.
The conversation will explore the unique challenges of editing for late-night television, where news, comedy, and storytelling come together on a tight deadline. Johnson will offer a glimpse into the decisions and techniques that transform raw material into a finished segment.
The panel will be moderated by Amy Leland, TV director, writer, and editor.
Featuring: Nikolai Johnson, Editor, “The Daily Show”
Moderator: Amy Leland, TV Director, Writer & Editor
Where: Online
When: Thursday, August 13, 2026
Time: 8:00 PM ET / 5:00 PM PT
General Admission: FREE!
All attendees who register for this event will receive a link and a password before the event begins. This will provide free access for attendees. This will also give free replays for 48 hours.
PANELISTS:
Nikolai Johnson is an Emmy-nominated film editor from Brooklyn, New York, with over 15 years of experience in commercial, television, and documentary filmmaking. His television credits include “The Daily Show” and HBO’s “Murder in Boston: Roots, Rampage & Reckoning,” which was nominated for a Peabody Award. His commercial work spans a range of brands including Verizon, McDonald’s, Smirnoff, and DirecTV.He is currently an Editor and Voice-Over Artist at “The Daily Show.”
Amy Leland is a film and TV director, writer, and editor. She has been an editor for CBS Sports Network since 2013. She was an editor at NBC Sports for the 2024 Summer Olympic Games, for which she received a Sports Emmy Award. She returned for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games. She was an editor for “Football Town: Barrow, Alaska” on the NFL Network. She spent 3 seasons as the assistant editor on “Inside the Actors Studio”. Her short film “Echoes” is now available on Amazon Video. She has served as director or editor for numerous web series and short films, and edited the feature film “Sundown”. She has served as an industry expert, panelist, and contributing writer to post-production websites including postPerspective.com and AVIDBlogs. She is a stage director with 20+ years of experience and received her MFA from the Actors Studio Drama School. Amy is a certified trainer for Apple, AVID, and Autodesk.