Jay Leno: a short history of a political player
Late-night talk-show hosts have long poked fun at presidents. But during Jay Leno鈥檚 watch, they鈥檝e become more than political jokemeisters. Leno et al are now part of the political process itself.
As he signs off the 鈥淭onight Show,鈥� Leno can pride himself on being a pioneer in this context. The couch next to his desk has become a must-stop for Washington鈥檚 biggest players. Look who he鈥檚 had on in recent months: , who told Leno he was too fond of wine and tobacco to run for president; , who said that being part of a political dynasty was like being a member of a mafia family; and , who said he 鈥渨as not a fan鈥� of shutting down the government last November.
鈥淵ou looked like a big fan from where I was standing,鈥� Leno replied.
President Obama was a guest last August. Ann Romney was on just prior to the 2012 election 鈥� she admitted to Leno that she used to dress her boys for church the night before and have them sleep in their clothes.
Oh, and former President George W. Bush painted a portrait of Leno and handed it to the 鈥淭onight Show鈥� icon in an appearance last November. During that show, W. displayed a keen sense of comic timing. Asked why he鈥檇 agreed to the guest spot, Bush answered 鈥渙nly because of you鈥� to Leno, drawing audience applause. Then Bush waited ... just long enough, and added, 鈥淵ou鈥檙e about to head out to pasture, just wanted to see what you look like before you go out that gate.鈥�
Look, the network news anchors aren鈥檛 getting this kind of access. Leno鈥檚 decades of hosting have coincided with a number of factors that have made politicians see him, David Letterman, Jimmy Fallon, and so forth as legitimate interviewers.
That's where the people are. The fragmentation of the American viewing public into niches, made possible by cable and Internet streaming, has left few places where politicians can appear in front of a true mass audience. There are sports (Why do you think Obama appeared in a pre-game Super Bowl interview?) and popular talk shows. That鈥檚 about it.
Humanize. Humanize. Leno appearances usually make politicians appear more likeable and human. They talk about their favorite TV shows and their families as well as public policy. That鈥檚 important in a political environment where voters make electoral choices based on their emotional reactions to candidates, as well as partisanship and proposed programs.
Who's a journalist? The line between journalist and entertainer gets more blurred by the day. Polls show Jon Stewart of the 鈥淒aily Show鈥� is rated one of the most admired journalists in the US, even though he insists he鈥檚 a comic. that Obama鈥檚 appearances on Leno cheapen the presidency, but he might be in the minority there.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think JFK went on Jack Paar to talk about the Cuban Missile Crisis,鈥� said Mr. Limbaugh on his show last August.
Also, politicians know they are not going to get blasted by late-night hosts. They can, and do, ask serious questions, but the shows thrive on an atmosphere of fun, not tension.
It鈥檚 the jokes, not the interviews, that skewer. Take Leno鈥檚 jab Monday, after the Denver Broncos got flattened in the Super Bowl.
鈥淭he team was so ineffective, today they were invited to join the Obama administration,鈥� Leno said.
Leno himself has said he鈥檚 a fiscal conservative but a social liberal. Republicans generally consider him the most even-handed of the late night hosts. Now that his gig at NBC is up, there are reports that CNN is wooing him for a show to spark their evening lineup. That alone tells you all you need to know about the new confluence of yuks and news.
