Obama chats with Leno, talks about economy and “first family dog”

U.S. President Barack Obama wearing a bright red tie and an American flag pin on his lapel appeared on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Thursday. The president talks deftly from the economic crisis to the April arrival of a “First Dog” in the White House.
He also talked about family life in the White House, confirming a timetable for the First Family’s acquisition of a canine companion. He said that the dog would arrive after his planned trip to Europe in April.

“When we get back, the dog will be in place,” Obama said, adding his daughters Sasha and Malia were not the only ones looking forward to its arrival. “They say if you want a friend in Washington, get a dog,” he joked.

Obama also answered the question on how he deals with all of the criticism of his actions: Washington, D.C., he said, “is a bit like ‘American Idol’ except everybody’s Simon Cowell. Everybody’s got an opinion.”

Obama’s unconfortable joke

Leno also asked about life at the White House, and whether the president has used the bowling alley. He bragged about rolling a 129-point game and Jay Leno congratulated him but the president responded like (”It’s like — it was like Special Olympics, or something.”). Just watch the msnbc video report below:

Update

Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said the president’s remarks were not meant to poke fun of the Special Olympics.

“The president made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics, Burton said. “He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world.”

In case you missed the interview you can watch the video of Obama on Leno and the Special Olympics comment below:

M Leno: Now, are they going to put a basketball — I imagine the bowling alley has been just burned and closed down.
Mr. Obama: No, no. I have been practicing all — (laughter.)
M Leno: Really? Really?
Mr. Obama: I bowled a 129. (Laughter and applause.)
M Leno: No, that’s very good. Yes. That’s very good, Mr. President.
Mr. Obama: It’s like — it was like Special Olympics, or something. (Laughter.)
M Leno: No, that’s very good.
Mr. Obama: No, listen, I’m making progress on the bowling, yes.

Jennifer Love gets push on Leno

Jennifer Love Hewitt paid a visit to NBC Studios and gave Jay Leno 10 push-ups—keeping her promise from her last visit.

The 29-year-old “Ghost Whisperer” star dropped to the floor and flashed the flesh as she accomplished the chest-enhancing exercise.

In the interview, Jen revealed that she’s turning 30 this weekend. She also talked about ‘hot pants,’ fashion week, Valentine’s Day, her directorial debut and…SEX!

VIDEO: Jennifer Love Hewitt on “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno”

American Idol Without Simon Cowell?

How close is Simon Cowell to exiting American Idol? What's the difference between Jimmy Fallon and Conan O'Brien? And what would make Tyra Banks' head explode (with happiness)?

The answers—and more questions—in the latest TV ratings pop quiz:

1. If Cowell has said he doesn't want to do Idol when it slips from No. 1—and he has—then how more much time should we give him and his T-shirt collection? Quite a few more wash cycles, probably. Right now, Idol is about as dominant as it's been since the Tuesday edition became TV's most-watched show in 2005. Last season, the franchise's average audience lead over the next-biggest show was 29 percent; this season, it's 27 percent. In adults 18-49, Tuesday's and Wednesday's Idol is in its own league entirely.

2. Did Cowell already miss his best exit opportunity? Perhaps. To go out on the toppest of tops, Cowell arguably should have left after the 2006-07 season, when Idol's Sanjaya-swayed audience led the next-biggest show by more than 9 million viewers, or a whopping 45 percent.

3. Where did Idol finish last week? No. 1, of course, Tuesday's disco Idol scored the biggest audience (24 million), per the latest Nielsen rankings. It was followed by Wednesday's Idol (23.9 million), natch, Monday's Dancing With the Stars (20.5 million), Tuesday's DWTS (14.7 million) and CSI (14.6 million). In the demo, Wednesday's Idol took the top spot over Tuesday's Idol, Grey's Anatomy, Monday's DWTS and Desperate Housewives.

4. How can you tell Fallon and O'Brien apart? Fallon's the one who is a smidgen more popular as a talk host. With Fallon at the desk, Late Night has widened its lead over Craig Ferguson's Late Late Show, and averaged 2.2 million weekly viewers versus the 2 million O'Brien's Late Night was drawing earlier this season. (The two's ratings among adults 18-49 are virtually identical, although Fallon has the slight edge there, too.) O'Brien, who departed Late Night on Feb. 20, takes over The Tonight Show on June 1, at which point he and his ratings will be interminably compared to Jay Leno's.

5. How can you tell CBS and the CW apart? On the CW, a 41st-place finish would make Tyra Banks' head explode, in a good way. On CBS, a 41st-place finish, and another time-slot loss to Southland, gets Harper's Island exiled to Saturday night, pronto.

6. Why should Banks' head be pretty big, as is? Because her America's Next Top Model is the one CW show consistently doing what the CW wants its shows to do: Score chicks. Last week, Model finished 13th among women 18-34, ahead of Fringe (14th) and Tuesday's DWTS (15th), and way ahead of One Tree Hill (27th) and Gossip Girl (33rd).

7. What's the new SpongeBob SquarePants? Nick's Penguins of Madagascar continues to try to wear the short pants in the cable family. Last week, the new toon placed five daytime and prime-time broadcasts in cable's Top 60. Not to be outdone yet, SpongeBob placed 13.

8. What's more entertaining than watching young men with thick necks take phone calls, and thank their agents? Oh, not much. Saturday's ESPN coverage of the NFL draft was cable's third biggest overall show, with 5.1 million enthralled viewers. WWE Raw (5.3 million for back-to-back episodes), Sunday Night Baseball (4.6 million), iCarly (4.5 million) and the season finale of For the Love of Ray J (4.2 million) were the top prime-time shows.

9. How did Patrick Swayze's The Beast close out its first season? Not at all like it began it: from 2.4 million for January's premiere, to 849,000 for last week's finale.

Special Olympics bowling champ challenges Barack Obama

Kolan McConiughey wasn’t offended when President Barack Obama called his own 129 (tops) bowling game “like the Special Olympics or something” on Jay Leno’s show. But this Special Olympics bowler would like to show his talent to the president.

TMZ reports that Kolan wants to go to the White House to challenge President Barack Obama.The Special Olympics champion, who averages 266 points per game and can finish a 300 game.

Kolan said:

He’s cool, but he can’t beat me.”

Video: Watch Kolan McConiughey in action:

The White House are still not commenting about the challenge but I think Barack Obama should accept it. Just for fun!