As the outlets for book publicity shrink, The Daily Show has become a coveted interview spot for writers of all stripes.
Over at The Rumpus, author and journalist Ethan Watters listed ten insider tips for surviving underneath the glare of The Daily Show lights. He includes advice about the contents of the show’s boozy gift bag, cracking jokes with Jon Stewart, and the step-by-step backstage journey.
Here’s an excerpt: “Do not laugh too hard at his zingers. They are for people watching at home. If you start giggling the interview is going to grind to a halt…Bask in the post interview handshake. This is the moment when they are cutting away to commercial and the host leans in to shake your hand and say something just between the two of you. I can’t tell you what Jon said to me during those five seconds except to say that it was of a highly personal nature.”
Intrigued? You can judge Watters’ performance in the video clip embedded after the jump.