The Arts/Q & A: Jon Stewart;

By Joel Stein; Jon Stewart
Time 01-18-1999

Jon Stewart takes over as host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show
on Jan. 11.

Q: So, are you dating some model?

A: Oh, yeah. Ivanka Trump.

Q: She's like 12, isn't she?

A: Yeah, but she's very mature. I don't know if you've ever
really talked to her, but she's very Dawson's Creek. No, my
girlfriend is going back to school, actually. We've been together
for 3 1/2 years.

Q: This is a bad time to have a girlfriend. Your stock is going
up.

A: You think? I checked my rotisserie standings. I still look
like a utility player.

Q: How do you compare to Larry King?

A: Nobody scores more points than King. The only one who can
challenge him is Al Roker, only because he scores in so many
categories. If Roker ever puts out a music album, it's over.

Q: Why didn't you take over Larry Sanders?

A: That was just the plot line.

Q: But there was no reality to that?

A: Every now and again, we'd think, "What if we did do that?"
You're in that After M*A*S*H scenario. Guys are in a meeting
saying, "I think people would care about Radar and Klinger in
Iowa." We saved ourselves from that.

Q: Your talk show was canceled by Paramount, the company that
went on to distribute Desmond Pfeiffer and Homeboys in Outer
Space. That's got to hurt.

A: No. It doesn't have to hurt. You're a bitter man for 27. I am
shocked at your level of bitterness for 27.

Q: It's been tough.

A: I was going to say, it sounds like you've had a hard life: a
suburban kid from Jersey. Who hurt you? Did Carson hurt you? Did
Cavett say something mean? What happened to you, boy? Look,
there's a kibbutz I know. Honestly. You'll get your head
straight. Come on out there, knock down some halvah. You'll have
yourself a time.