by Randee Dawn

Could Jon Stewart be any more different from Craig Kilborn?

Let's not even mention the abdicating Comedy Central host's hair. Or height. (Stewart's a mere five-foot-seven.) Or jerky arrogance.

Unlike his ex-sportscaster predecessor, Stewart--a self-professed hairy-all-over mensch who played soccer in college, knows how to tap dance and is nicknamed "Poochy"--is an actual comedian. He even has a comic's résumé:

Stewart has hosted his own acclaimed one-hour talk show on MTV and in syndication, subbed for Tom Snyder on The Late Late Show, had several scattershot appearances on The Larry Sanders Show, written a book (Naked Pictures of Famous People) and appeared in a slew of films--most recently The Faculty and Playing by Heart

Now the 36-year-old, New Jersey-born Stewart has not only been awarded the task of manning television's self-proclaimed "most important show ever," he's been given a reported $1.5 million a year to do it. Comedy Central has even squeezed his name into the title--the mock newscast/celeb chatfest is now called The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.

And what'll Stewart bring to the table that Kilborn didn't?

Well, for one thing...a new table.

the interview