Q&A With Steve Carell

By Rebecca Winters

Daily Show correspondent Steve Carell plays a weatherman in Anchorman, out July 9.

This is your third role as a TV newsman. Why are you better at faking journalism than I am?

I have no idea. I have absolutely no experience. I'm not particularly quick-witted or smart. So I guess I was perfectly suited. This is for the cover of TIME, right?

How was working with Woody Allen on his next film, Melinda and Melinda?

Strange. [Allen] would be giving notes during a scene, and I would have no idea what he was saying because I was just staring at the fact that he was Woody Allen.

This fall you'll star in NBC's The Office. Are you worried about comparisons with the BBC version?

You can't help but be a little bit timid because the original is so great. I actually tried not to watch too much of [Ricky Gervais'] performance because it's so good it's hard to get out of your head.

What's your favorite Daily Show interview?

John McCain. He thought we'd be throwing him soft comedy questions, and when we hit him with a legitimate one he was taken off guard. But he apparently loved the piece and played it on his bus for the rest of the campaign.

Which political party's convention will be more fun? Last time the Republican one was more fun.

They seemed more open than the Democrats. Plus, we all stayed in these dorm rooms because they couldn't get us any hotels. I was a couple doors down from Jon [Stewart]. It was a little like camping.