Obama's Top 10 List for Dave

The president sums up his thoughts on health care, and more from the interview

(NEWSER) - Yes, there was that whole potato thing. But President Obama’s stint on Letterman included more funny moments, and Time runs down the top 10:

• During Dave’s Top 10 list, the No. 2 reason why Obama agreed to appear on the show: “Said yes without thinking, like Bush did with Iraq.”
• After Obama mentioned his daughters goofed off all summer “which I couldn’t do,” Letterman responded, “Ha, ha, ha. Others have!”

Obama and Letterman tackle the tough topics, including potatoes

(NEWSER) - President Obama's media blitz continues tonight on The Late Show With David Letterman, where he'll remind the host, "I think it's important to realize that I was actually black before the election." Snippets CBS released after this afternoon's taping reveal lighthearted moments and more serious stretches, as well as an interaction with an audience member who arrived at the Ed Sullivan Theater toting a heart-shaped potato. More»

From racism to favoritism, comedians explain lack of jokes

(NEWSER) - John McCain has been skewered by late-night comics throughout the presidential campaign, but Barack Obama has escaped relatively unscathed. As this week's New Yorker cover flare-up made clear, satirists are struggling to find an angle on the Democratic nominee. The New York Times speaks to half a dozen late-night hosts and writers, who cite everything from fear of racism to their own favoritism to explain the silence. More»

David Letterman asks: 'Has it ever been messed up?'

(NEWSER) - David Letterman started it, when he couldn't resist giving John Edwards' perfectly coifed hair an exploratory tousle. Letterman did get permission, asking “Could I just mess your hair up a little bit? Has it ever been messed up?" Edwards was game. “You want to? Go ahead,” the candidate said, taking a swipe at Letterman's head in return. More»

She collected cool $260m; second-place Seinfeld nabbed $60m

(NEWSER) - Talk show diva Oprah Winfrey continues her reign as the Queen of Media, topping Forbes' list of 2007's 20 highest earning TV stars with a whopping $260 million. Jerry Seinfeld came in a distant second with $60 million—mostly from residuals. They were followed by Simon Cowell ($45 million), David Letterman ($40 million), Donald Trump ($32 million) and Jay Leno ($32 million). More»