Brian Williams: TV's Most Badass Anchorman

I've got game.

Last night on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart finally got a taste of his own medicine. It wasn't from a comedian or a politician or a Republican spokesperson or a scientist or Stephen Colbert, either. It was from Brian Williams.

Williams, the NBC Nightly News Anchor and Managing Editor, can spit some game. Behind those power suits, that clean-cut coif, and that All-American baritone is a wicked sense of humor -- although it's usually smothered by the stiff broadcast-speak he spouts every night. His bout with Stewart is just one of many instances where Williams has proven himself with witty banter and quick responses. He's not just a news anchor. He's a badass.

Williams is a frequent guest on The Daily Show, and last night's performance may have been his strongest in the chair. He was ready to defend NBC's integrity when Stewart questioned how the program courted Gov. Mark Sanford for an interview. He even threw the question right back at The Daily Show's crew, noting that NBC's "newsroom has people working in it" and pointing to the empty set behind Stewart. The laughs kept coming, even as Stewart referenced network coverage of Michael Jackson and the two engaged in a playful arm wrestle. Williams's most biting accusation, however, came during the inevitable discussion of Walter Cronkite's death; Williams compared his childhood idolization of Cronkite to Carrot Top's heroic role in Stewart's life. It was all in good fun, but for Stewart fans, the bile was unnerving.

Williams has held his own with other comedians, too. After appearing on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update in 2006, he went on to host the show in November 2007, poking fun at his news-y style and promising to loosen up for the late-night crowd. He had a guest spot on an episode of 30 Rock, too. And he's been on both of Conan's late-night shows, most recently with President Barack Obama on the second night of O'Brien's Tonight Show run.

Williams is not only the first news anchor to host SNL, he's also the only contemporary news anchor who shows us his real personality while also maintaining the trust, respect, and loyalty of his viewers. He still has a while to go before he becomes a legend like Cronkite, but Williams has already established himself as the news anchor we can relate to. In short, he's changing the face of journalism. And that face is grinning.