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Comedy Stimulus: Obama on Jay Leno Focus on AIG, Economy, Layoffs

by Tina Kells | March 19, 2009 at 05:07 pm

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President Obama will make history with an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno tonight. In the prerecorded segment Obama and Leno will discuss the economy, AIG, the recession/depression debate, and the President's stimulus and recovery plans.

A preview of things to come when Leno hosts his April 7 benefit, Jay's Comedy Stimulus Plan, in Detroit, the Obama interview is uncharted territory for both host and guest. While campaigning presidential hopefuls often appear on late night talk shows tonight will be the first time a sitting President has been in the hawt seat.

With temperatures rising in middle America over AIG.'s multi-billion dollar bailout - and fat-cat bonuses being paid out to many of the same corporate executives who got the insurance giant into the mess it's in - Obama hopes to defuse an already volatile situation and convince disaffected voters that his way is the right way.

Obama's interview with Leno will be filmed after the President leaves a town hall style meeting in LA and the White House hopes that more than 10 million people will tune in when it airs. The historic appearance should come as no surprise from a President who has embraced non-traditional media from the very start of his journey to the White House.

Barack Obama ran the most unconventional, and tech savvy, presidential campaign in history. He took his message to the streets using social media, YouTube and bloggers to be heard, and continues to use new media to communicate with Americans every week.

White House press spokesman Robert Gibbs said the show provided a 'unique audience' for the President to get his message across.

'We don't look at it as a process of demonstrating the President's sense of humour,' he said.

Rather, it was a chance 'to explain the economic situation we are in'.

Mr Obama has attempted to use various outlets to get across the importance of his $787 billion stimulus package.

He has given a live TV address to the nation, regular press conferences and even broadcast messages on YouTube.

Leno's show has five million viewers each night, but NBC executives are hoping to double that figure for the 10-minute appearance of the President.

It should be no surprise that Obama would turn to Leno, and the world of "intelligent humor" to reach a broader audience. Although critics of Obama's decision to aopear on Leno have argued that he is some how degrading the office of the President, many people disagree.

The Tonight Show will allow Obama to reach a different audience than the more traditional presidential media interactions. The psychology behind Obama's decision to speak with Leno is very interesting. By appearing on an entertainment show Obama will be able to address the very difficult economic situation with build in comic relief.

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Pythiian1

at 19:29 on March 19th, 2009

I think the Jay Leno's show will give the President an opportunity to promote his economic, educational, and health care packages directly to the American public.