FEUD Carlson beckons Stewart

Most of Comedy Central's 1,200-plus e-mails support 'The Daily Show' host.
By GAIL SHISTER
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
CNN's Tucker Carlson wants to continue his feud with Comedy Central's Jon Stewart.
On PBS.
This week, Carlson, an authentic conservative commentator on "Crossfire," invited Stewart, a faux newsman on "The Daily Show," to be the featured guest Friday on his weekly PBS interview show, "Unfiltered."
That's doubtful
Comedy Central executive Tony Fox predicts it's not going to happen.
"I seriously doubt Jon will appear. He has nothing further to add to the conversation."
The boys squared off on "Crossfire" Friday. Firing the first shot, unsmiling guest Stewart labeled the high-decibel political romper-room "partisan hackery," and said it's done zilch to advance the public discourse of democracy.
Why, he even insulted Tucker's bow tie!
Carlson fought back, accusing Stewart of having lobbed softball questions to Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry on "The Daily Show" last month. He also demanded that Stewart be funny. Stewart called him a naughty word that rhymes with "tick."
Stewart, who's keeping his pie hole zipped in public, "regrets using that word," says Comedy Central's Fox. "I've never seen him react like that before. Tucker was baiting him. Jon's usually pretty cool under those circumstances."
Another chance
No hard feelings, Carlson insists.
"I have a low opinion of the things Jon said, but I'd like to give him a chance to explain it in an environment where he can talk." (As opposed to, say, "Crossfire"?)
Stewart "didn't hurt my feelings. I just thought he was lame and out of his depth. Completely banal. He didn't tell me anything I haven't heard from drunk people in airport bars."
Carlson travels a lot.
After Friday's show, Stewart stayed for 90 minutes "and lectured me and my poor producers about how we're destroying America," says Carlson. "It was bizarre. I had to leave after 45 minutes for a dinner engagement. He just kept on yakking."
Meanwhile, Comedy Central has logged more than 1,200 e-mails, the vast majority of them backing Stewart, according to Fox. On an average day, the network receives about 100 e-mails on a variety of topics, he says.
Carlson has never been on "The Daily Show," but Fox "wouldn't be surprised" if he gets an invite. "Jon's not the kind of guy who holds a grudge. He's into spirited conversation."
As for returning the favor on "Crossfire," "odds are good that I would ask him back," Carlson says. "He wouldn't have to be funny, but he'd have to promise to be a lot more interesting than he was last time."