by Mark Silva
The presidential debut on comedic TV tonight carries certain risks and rewards - the risk of immersing in levity in the midst of economic calamity, the reward of piercing the bubble of the presidency to communicate directly with a very large audience.
President Barack Obama's taping of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno carries on a modern tradition of TV politicking that Bill Clinton once trademarked with his saxophone set on Arsenio Hall's show.
But unlike Clinton's appearance as a candidate, or the many appearances that Republican John McCain has made on comic shows - the Arizonan was the first sitting senator to appear on Saturday Night Live - Obama is not simply a candidate for president.
He is the president - and apparently the first president, we must concede here (after confusing the campaign-year appearance of candidate John F. Kennedy on the Tonight Show with Jack Paar in 1960 as the first of its genre) to make a comedic TV show appearance.
So what are the real risks?
"No sitting president has every appeared on any comedy show," U.S. News & World Report columnist Mary Kate Cary, a former speechwriter for the first President Bush, has written.
"The president sets the tone of the conversation in America,'' she says. "As much as President Obama would like to be a man of the people, a 'regular guy,' he's not anymore.. Doing Jay Leno lessens the stature of the office."
And what are the real rewards?
"The most provocative journalism of this whole recession has been done on a comedy show -- that fact is not lost on President Obama and his advisors," Hollywood publicist Howard Bragman says. "When you look at the reasons for doing Leno you need to look at what President Obama gets and what he gets to avoid. "
What he gets is a great audience of 5 million-plus people -- nothing to sneeze at; he gets someone he already knows and is comfortable with; he gets a warm reception."
The White House was asked this week if the president has prepared any "zingers'' for his TV host tonight. There'll be some opportunities for those, for sure, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs allowed, but this will also be a venue for the president to seriously discuss the enormity of the problem that the nation confronts.
"I anticipate that a large amount of the discussion will center around the president's economic plans, and the president's economic ideas," Gibbs said. "And I think the president believes it's a unique audience with which to explain those challenges and the decisions that he's made."
Asked how funny the president will be, his aide said, "As funny as the times allow."
The pool of photographers and reporters who cover the president isn't laughing, however. The pool of a dozen or so who follow the president will be held in a separate "pool hold,'' viewing a live feed of the taping from the studio. NBC, calling its set too small for a crowd, will release its own publicity photo.
Photographers had argued for the right to independently document the taping, a rare -- and perhaps unprecedented -- appearance by a sitting president on a late-night comedy show and an event billed primarily as a news event, not entertainment.
The three news agencies with photographers in the pool, The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse, have in the past refused to distribute some White House-provided photos.
The appearance arrives at a tough time.
"It is a tense moment," says Robert Thompson, director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture at Syracuse University. But "nothing has rattled this guy yet, and Jay Leno's not going to be the one to do it."
The A.P. contributed to this report.
Comments
Ringing Bros.. Circus would be much more enjoyment.
Posted by: Inky | March 19, 2009 10:28 AM
Nice the Prez is spending over $100K of tax payers money to fly Air Force One out to CA to laugh it up with Jay Leno. "Change we can beleive in, eh???
Hopefully, Leno will be well prepared, ask tough questions re the bailout bonuses, Geithner's incompetence (recall Geithner set up the "rules" for the bonuses) and how the Prez expects to respond to the freaking ludicrous Fannie/Freddie bonuses...
Posted by: Fat Rat | March 19, 2009 10:39 AM
First Sportscenter and now Leno. Obama sounded knowledgeable on Sportscenter. Probably will do fine on Leno. I love him as a guest on Oprah, as well. As President, he is clueless, though. It is frightening that he recognizes his limitations and is more comfortable picking NCAA brackets than meeting with the British Prime Minister.
Posted by: Steve Fallon | March 19, 2009 10:56 AM
Barry fiddles while Rome burns.
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"Somebody said that we're not in President Obama's Final Four, and as much as I respect what he's doing, really, the economy is something that he should focus on, probably more than the brackets," Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski said from the Blue Devils' first-round site in Greensboro, N.C.
Posted by: dale | March 19, 2009 11:06 AM
What risk? President Teleprompter gets mllions of dollars worth of free air time, then will get milions more dollars of free space from his allies in the dead tree media. Free space + no "equal time" given to the other side--how can he lose?
By the way, Mark, the president's teleprompter has started its own blog, and it's hilarious. See http://baracksteleprompter.blogspot.com/ for more.
Posted by: Bruce | March 19, 2009 11:20 AM
No risks as long as Bama has his TelePrompter with all the lines written by someone else...as usual. Heaven help us if he ever has to start talking on his own.
Posted by: Dumbo | March 19, 2009 11:32 AM
No risks as long as Bama has his TelePrompter with all the lines written by someone else...as usual. Heaven help us if he ever has to start talking on his own.
Posted by: Dumbo | March 19, 2009 11:32 AM
"Lessens the stature."?? What BS. The President is an elected official. He is not a holy man or prince. It is only good that he present himself as in-touch with everyman while the trough feeders on Wall Street still try to suck down the cash that they simply do not deserve.
Posted by: Allen Braun | March 19, 2009 11:44 AM
I'm looking forward to it! President Obama has shown dignity, grace and style despite all the attacks from those eagerly hoping he falls on his face. It will be enjoyable to watch.
Posted by: Reader in Houston | March 19, 2009 12:41 PM
Wow, you people are downers. The president hasn't even appeared on the show and you are tossing out insults of every stripe. This is the first I've heard that he has an opinion about the NCAA, but isn't the man allowed to have an opinion or a brain that thinks about a few things other than his job? What next? You'll fry him for taking an interest in his daughters' education because it isn't related to the economic crisis? Sheesh. Sour grapes Republicans, methinks.
Kudos to Mr. Obama for exploring new avenues to speak directly to the American people. I find it refreshing that he isn't insulating himself within the walls of the White House as so many previous presidents of both parties have done. And I can't believe how much this administration has accomplished in so short a time. I am convinced we elected the person best qualified to lead our country through these incredibly difficult times. I cringe at the thought of how a "More tax-cuts for the rich!"-obsessed Republican party would have dealt with this disaster. We tried it your way. Now go away long enough to give this administration a fighting chance. The Bush administration would have called your off-topic criticisms "UnAmerican." I just find them classless and distasteful.
Posted by: DemsDeBreaks | March 19, 2009 1:00 PM
Will 'the OBAMA' do his choreogrphed cake-walk for LENO??? Will 'the OBAMA' showcase his NCAA picks for basketball??? Or will PREZ BARACH'incurably-dishonest'OBAMA tell us more demonstrable LIES??? Who will be funnier/more-entertaining - LENO-the-late night-jokester or 'the OBAMA' without a teleprompter trying to be cogent/sentient while the economy and bonuses are given out to ILLEGALS that he wants to fast-track to citizenhip???!!! SHOULD BE A LAUGH RIOT AND GREAT TV!!! Ugh.
Posted by: Zyskandar A. Jaimot | March 19, 2009 1:17 PM
Infra dig.
As they say cross the herring pond.
Posted by: ornery | March 19, 2009 1:25 PM
He might as well be on the road, do you actually think that Rham, Nancy, Harry and Dodd want him around - he's just in the way. Obama has never run a thing. The only thing this man has done his whole life after Harvard is campaign, he has no other expertise. I'll bet he's already bored with the job and that's why he's out on the road. He would much rather be the rock star and it shows. Before this 4 years is up he will be a global joke.
Posted by: vla | March 19, 2009 1:58 PM
No risks as long as Bama has his TelePrompter with all the lines written by someone else...as usual. Heaven help us if he ever has to start talking on his own.
Posted by: Dumbo | March 19, 2009 11:32 AM
Of course "Dumbo"...This is how the Obama is a Muslim crap gets started. A few people jump on the rabid partisan bandwagon with an obvious lie, than repeat over and over till bozos like this actually believe it. While mainstream America knows quite the opposite, the ankle biters snicker and send e-mails about Obama to each other believing they are the "real" Americans. But don't stop on my account Dumbo....you and the rest of the Disney crowd keep on a snickering!!!!!
Posted by: bill r. | March 19, 2009 2:28 PM
"Nice the Prez is spending over $100K of tax payers money to fly Air Force One out to CA to laugh it up with Jay Leno."
It IS nice, isn't it!!
:-)
Posted by: David | March 19, 2009 2:50 PM
Is he going to bring his teleprompter with him!!!
Posted by: Voice of Reason | March 19, 2009 3:46 PM
"Lessens the stature."?? What BS. The President is an elected official. He is not a holy man or prince. It is only good that he present himself as in-touch with everyman while the trough feeders on Wall Street still try to suck down the cash that they simply do not deserve.
Posted by: Allen Braun | March 19, 2009 11:44 AM
Doubtful he'll "lessen the stature" any more than when Dick Nixon allowed his moosh to be included on "Laugh-In". "Sock it -- to ME???????"
Posted by: Op109 | March 19, 2009 4:20 PM
Unpresidential. Obama the Unqualified is fast becoming Obama the Clown!
Posted by: Darkwater | March 19, 2009 4:54 PM
Obama runs the risk that wing nutz will criticize him...oh wait, I forgot...they will criticize him regardless of what he does.
Posted by: Quippy | March 19, 2009 5:09 PM
"Nice the Prez is spending over $100K of tax payers money to fly Air Force One out to CA to laugh it up with Jay Leno."
He's not. He's already in California.
Posted by: mort | March 19, 2009 5:16 PM
And you wonder why the rest of the world is laughing at us. We look like a bunch of freaks and deservedly so.
Leno and Obama deserve each other. They are ruining our country.
I for one will not watch Leno and I will attend the Tea Party in Daley (crook) plaze on April 15th.
Posted by: Lou | March 19, 2009 5:28 PM
What a pathetic display of leadership. Supposedly people voted for change and real change we can believe in. Is this it people? Actually, this is incompetence and lack of leadership at its finest. His approval ratings are falling and he must take his arguement or campaign to the ignorant crowd. More and more everyday, I hear of buyers remorse which people are indicating over wasting their vote on the community organizer. He didn't even do that job very well. Where's that fabulous botanical garden on the south side of Chicago? Gone is the money and the garden never got planted. Corruption and greed the epitomy of the Obama administration and the Democrats. Great job!
Posted by: Jo | March 19, 2009 6:10 PM
If the CHANGE gets any deeper we'll need boots!
Posted by: schildgen | March 19, 2009 7:14 PM
I am another one who will NOT being watching Leno.. While watching Leno after the nightly news for a few laughs to get the edge of my anger off before bed the source of that anger OBAMA and his sales job for his BS will be on.
I was to a Leno show once, they hold up applause signs and if you don't applaud loud enough they cut and tell you to applaud louder.. the show and in itself is a dog and pony show.. I do however take exception with the President of the U.S.A. getting on a show and acting like a USED CAR SALESMAN for yet another give away of our tax dollars.. Some people have no class and sorry to say OBAMA is one who doesn't.
Posted by: Independent Voter Joliet | March 19, 2009 8:05 PM
OK, Lou. I'll bite. Please explain how Leno is ruining the country. Who did he torture?
Posted by: rupert | March 19, 2009 10:40 PM
He has hurt many families in America. He needs to say he is sorry in the public, not to an organization.
In addition, someone who claims to have experienced prejudice and stereotypes throughout life, and has written about them in great detail, should be more sensitive and refined from life's lessons.
Furthermore, Obama claimed he was going to have the world think 'highly' of America again. Will this joke help?
For someone who spoke of equality as a creed. Does this joke match that philosophy?
For someone that said he would stand for all people. Does this stand up for those that participate in the Special Olympics?
The fact is Obama claimed a higher standard. To much is given, much is required.
Obama has just showed us that 'yes we can' destroy what a campaign stands for with a single joke.
During the campaign for the White House in 2008, the media criticized Palin for being ‘common,’ 'not-polished,' 'not-compassionate' and ‘not presidential.’ However, compare Sarah Palins attitude in this video created three weeks ago for the Special Olympics in Boise, Idaho.
You decide the more ‘presidential’ among them. Watch: http://tinyurl.com/ccz6nj
Posted by: jordan | March 21, 2009 2:37 AM