Robert Manning, professor of finance in the Rochester Institute of Technology's College of Business, is scheduled to appear on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart at 11 p.m. tonight. The program airs on Comedy Central, cable Channel 38.

Manning, the author of Credit Card Nation, was asked to be the voice of reason during a previously recorded five-minute segment on marketing credit cards to college students on spring break.

Wearing an RIT tie, Manning tells Stewart that, for credit card companies "It's like hunting in a baited field. The students get a free gift -- something like a beanie baby with an MC (Master Card) nose -- and think it's adorable, so they sign up."

When Manning references the fact that U.S. consumers take on more debt than people in any other country, people from The Daily Show start shouting, "We're number one, weâ'e number one,"recalls Manning.

In recent years, Manning has been interviewed on news programs including CNN Headline News, Good Morning, America and 60 Minutes, and for programs on the major news networks.

"There's no comparison,â"he said. â"is is a serious news show on a comedy channel. The standards are very high."

Manning said he's looking forward to watching the broadcast tonight, to see how his two-hour interview, recorded in New York City last week, played a role in the five-minute segment, and hopes to be invited back in the near future.

"I'm expecting I will hear from many former students after this," he said.

He said the segment is scheduled to air tonight, but that could change.

Replays of the broadcast will run on Friday, April 7, at 1 a.m., 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.

VFREILE@DemocratandChronicle.com

This story ran on on April 6, 2006.