As a rule I don’t normally watch Jay Leno or only in very small amounts. I don’t dispute that he is funny but his show and I have never clicked. Perhaps no one can ever live up in my eyes to the King, Johnny Carson. Last night, however, I did watch the president’s appearance on “The Tonight Show.” I am not a TV critic, nor a pundit, nor do I play one on TV. Nonetheless, here are some observations.
Overall I thought Obama came off remarkably well. He didn’t go super-serious or wonkish nor did he try to be too cute. Obviously, he bombed on his remark about his bowling looking like the Special Olympics. Oops.
What Obama was able to show during his appearance is his ability to talk like an adult about some very serious and complex issues, yet convey his message in an easily understood and even-handed manner.
No doubt people who hate Obama will find some reason to hate him more and ping him on his role as First Guest. After all, such people really don’t need another reason to hate him other than the fact that he is president. Still others, pundits, historians, people who have to think between the beginning of one sentence and the next, will say Obama put the presidency into the bottom rungs of that dreaded “popular culture” by appearing on “The Tonight Show.” Well, they are only partially right. Obama really should have appeared on Letterman.