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Jon Stewart reveals post-'Rosewater' plans: 'I'm just going to do a folk album'

With "Rosewater," Jon Stewart's directorial debut, the "Daily Show" anchor really stepped out of his comfort zone. First off, he's never been behind the camera before and second, the film's about the detainment and torture of a journalist in Iran (who was accused of being a spy after an appearance on Stewart's Comedy Central show). Translation: Definitely not a comedy.But that didn't stop Stewart

With "Rosewater," Jon Stewart's directorial debut, the "Daily Show" anchor really stepped out of his comfort zone. First off, he's never been behind the camera before and second, the film's about the detainment and torture of a journalist in Iran (who was accused of being a spy after an appearance on Stewart's Comedy Central show). Translation: Definitely not a comedy.

But that didn't stop Stewart from keeping things light during his visit to TODAY Wednesday — here are four times he made everybody laugh even as he talked about the challenges of making his first movie:

1. His anchor crush (part 1) 
The sight of Al Roker on a newspaper page led Stewart to a very special pre-interview kiss. It's what we all want to do, really.

Jon Stewart
Wonder if he got ink on his lips.Today
\"Rosewater\" book
Today

2. His next big project
Stewart's "Daily Show" contract is coming up for renewal, and now that he's branching into other areas the question is, will he leave? "I'm going to break the news on the TODAY show ... something about the orange couch that is like a truth serum to me," he said. "I'm just going to do a folk album..... A little klezmer, a little folk."

3. His biggest fears
Echoing a question he asked Stephen King Tuesday, Matt Lauer wondered what scared Stewart. "I'm Jewish," he said. "I'm mean, literally — this coat is made of Purell. Everything scares me, that's how I roll."

4. His anchor crush (part 2)
Stewart's love for TODAY anchors isn't limited to Roker: Just after his interview wrapped up he was caught giving the fuzz on top of Matt Lauer's head a gentle rub. Aww.

Matt Lauer and Jon Stewart
We see you!Today

"Rosewater," which is based on Maziar Bahari's memoir "Then They Came for Me," opens in theaters on Nov. 14, 2014. Fathom Events will broadcast a special theatrical screening of the film with a live Q&A of Stewart being interviewed by "The Colbert Report's" Stephen Colbert on Thursday, Nov. 13.

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