Jane Clayson: Since making her debut in 1996, viewers have watched the very animated Daria Morgendorffer deal with the pressures of being a high school student. All of that comes to an end tonight when MTV airs its second Daria movie, "Is It College Yet?" She recently stopped by our studio for a one-on-one chat.

(Cuts to a scene from "Is It College Yet?": Daria being interviewed by Lisa Goldwin, the admissions officer from Bromwell University)

Lisa: Daria, now that you've had a chance to "drink in the campus," so to speak, what are your impressions?

Daria (voice-over): Talk about the atmosphere. No, that's frivolous. Talk about resources. No, she'll think I mean money. The campus. No, shallow. Oh no, inappropriately-long pause. Talk. Say anything.

Daria: Um, I like the campus. The dorms, and um, libraries. The learning... feeling?

(Cuts back to the Early Show studio, with JC in a chair on the right, and Daria in a chair on the left. This part of the interview was first filmed with JC talking to an empty chair, and then Daria was animated in afterwards.)

JC: Through the magic of television and technology, Daria is here.

Daria: Good morning, Jane.

JC: Nice to see you. For those that may not be familiar with all your hard work, describe who you are -- describe yourself.

Daria: I'm just your average American teenager, interested in the same things as other teenagers: reading long Russian novels, being alone for weeks at a time, and issuing a continuous stream of subtly contemptuous remarks.

JC: Mmhmm. Sounds pretty normal. Did you expect the show to last?

Daria: Not really. Our show isn't your typical MTV fare, in that the characters frequently speak in complete sentences. So I didn't expect it to have such a long life. I suppose MTV just couldn't deny its quality. Either that or MTV forgot it was on.

JC: (chuckle) This film chronicles the process of you, uh, getting into college. How difficult was that?

Daria: Not so difficult. I just slightly misspelled Morgendorffer as Rockefeller on the application and dropped a few hints about contributing a new football stadium.

JC: What was the hardest part about the process?

Daria: The hardest part about getting into college was spending four years in high school. If I had to do it all over again, I would've applied directly from kindergarten.

JC: So what did you expect?

Daria: I expected to be judged by my academic achievements and willingness to work hard. (face drops) As opposed to high school, where I was judged by my nails.

JC: (chuckle) A little bit like life, huh? Um, are you going to miss your family and friends, Daria?

Daria: I don't know. But I'm really looking forward to putting enough distance between us to find out.

JC: Once you're in college, do you think that you'll find the happiness that has eluded you for, really, all your life?

Daria: (frowns) Why do people assume I'm unhappy just because I mope around all the time, saying snide things in a deadpan voice? I find that very judgmental. (pause) But in answer to your question: God, I hope so.

JC: You made your debut, Daria, on the MTV show Beavis and Butt-head. Do you still keep in touch with those guys?

Daria: I'd like to. But first, they have to figure out that when the telephone makes that funny sound, you're supposed to pick it up and say hello.

JC: So this film is really the end of an era for you. Are you going to miss television?

Daria: I'm not necessarily leaving television. In fact, I'm talking to HBO about a project right now. It's pretty much the same as my current show, except I curse my head off and sleep around like crazy. And, oh yeah, I'm in the Mafia.

JC: Just details, details, right? Maybe a reunion show then, perhaps?

Daria: I'd say that depends on whether anyone from MTV is watching this interview. (turns to camera, pleading look) I was taken out of context, I swear. (smirks)

JC: (chuckles) Well, good luck to you, Daria. We'll look forward to the movie. Let's see if I can shake your hand. (leans forward)

Daria: (shakes hand) I've never done this with one of you three-dimensional people before. Weird.

JC: Daria Morgendorffer. Thank you.

Daria: Thank you. (smiles)