Entertainment TV Leslie Jones 'Definitely' Wants to Be Considered to Host 'The Daily Show' : 'This Suit Looks Nice on Me' Jones, who kicked off a star-studded roster of guest hosts after Trevor Noah's exit, tells PEOPLE she wants the job, but if it's not her, she thinks "it's time" to see a Black woman at the desk By Dory Jackson Dory Jackson Dory Jackson is a Staff Editor for PEOPLE's TV News team. Upon joining the brand in March 2021, she has had the opportunity to interview a long list of celebrities, from Kate Hudson to Pierce Brosnan to Billy Porter. She has also helped recap popular TV shows like 'The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills,' 'Sister Wives' and 'Vanderpump Rules.' The New York-based Maryland native graduated from Randolph-Macon College in May 2016 with a focus on Communication Studies and Journalism. She came to PEOPLE in March 2021 after working at a number of major news companies, including Newsweek and Us Weekly. People Editorial Guidelines Published on April 5, 2023 03:04PM EDT Close Photo: Comedy Central Leslie Jones would be more than thrilled to add Host of The Daily Show to her résumé. Following Trevor Noah's departure from the role in December 2022 after seven years, Jones was the first star to step up to the plate and guest-host the Comedy Central series. Her three-episode run in January was succeeded by Chelsea Handler, Wanda Sykes, D. L. Hughley, Sarah Silverman, Kal Penn and Hasan Minhaj. But Jones, 55, exclusively tells PEOPLE she "definitely" hopes that her brief time as host could turn into something more permanent. "It was one of those in-the-pocket fits. You know how when you get fitted for a suit and you're like, 'Yeah, this suit looks nice on me. Yo, I don't mind wearing this style on me.' The Daily Show was [that]," she says. "I would say my writer, Lenny Marcus, said to me we have been trying to find the place that actually is going to be a fun and efficient place to work at. Everybody calls themselves world-renowned, and they've done this and done that. But we haven't ever had totally good experiences on productions a lot of times," she continues. "A lot of times, people are s--- that's floating, or just not as good as what they think they are, or messy. But [on the] Daily Show, everybody there was good at their job and everybody there was staying in their lane and did their job." Leslie Jones Prepares to Share Untold Stories in Revealing New Memoir, Says Writing Was 'Very Therapeutic' Jones also described her experience working with The Daily Show team as "not chaotic" and "not stressful," adding that it was "like talking to old friends." "Even when we were editing jokes and bits and stuff, they were so respectful, and then they were very good at what they did. There were lines that I was like, 'OK, how am I trying to say this?' And I'm telling you, them writers would say it, and I'd be like, 'God damn. Are you in my head?' They were good," she concludes. "And Jen Flanz, the showrunner, a dream. I remember telling Lenny, 'Holy s---, if Jen Flanz was the showrunner for anything I was on, we would probably still have that show. To me, she was the epitome of someone who can do their job without being an asshole. And that's real talk. I will say that about Jen Flanz. She was awesome. And her support team, the head writers and stuff, they were just freaking incredible." Abbott Elementary's Janelle James on Her 'Huge Learning Experience' Touring with Chris Rock: 'Just Surreal' Before hitting the studio, the Saturday Night Live alum for sound advice from Chris Rock on how to approach her time in the role. "I remember asking Chris Rock, I was like, 'Yo, is there any advice?' And he was like, 'First of all, I'm never worried about you. And second,' he said, 'Don't try to be Jon Stewart. Don't try to be Trevor. Be you. Be who you are,'" she recalled him saying, referencing some of the previous hosts. "I already kind of knew that, but you know how you just need maybe a little permission to do that? So that's really what it was." Grand Central Publishing Jon Stewart Crashes Roy Wood Jr.'s Hosting Gig in Surprise Appearance on The Daily Show Since the show's 1996 premiere with Craig Kilborn as host, The Daily Show has not had a woman lead the show. And not only does Jones want that to change, but she would ultimately like to see a Black woman take the reins. "It definitely should be a Black woman," she says. "Now, I'm not s----ing on White women or whatever. I'm just saying it would be great to have a Black woman on late night. It's time. I think people are ready for that." In the meantime, Jones is gearing up for the launch of her debut memoir, Leslie F*cking Jones, this September. The book features stories about her upbringing and career's journey, but she also says that "it's just a lot of moments that equal up to what became Leslie Jones." "Everybody's life is a story. Everybody's life has had moments and trials and mistakes and things that you go to to make you who you are today," she explains to PEOPLE. "And I want everybody to read that and go, 'Holy s---. She didn't just fall into comedy. She had to work for that s---.' I want people to learn that if you have an inspiration and a desire to do something, that's f---ing great, but you got to work." Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Leslie F*cking Jones will be released on Sept. 19, and The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11 p.m. ET on Comedy Central.