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Sports, Edgier Fare Dominate the White House TiVo

Sports channels are expected; edgier fare may surprise you

By Katherine Thompson, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 8, 2009 10:15 AM CDT

(Newser) – If you judge a man by the channels he turns to, then President Obama is sporty, but with a hip edge. There’s no chance he passed up a replay of Monday's NCAA men’s basketball championship on his flight home from Iraq, sources tell Politico, but Obama is equally likely to clear his schedule for Entourage or the Daily Show.

Obama admitted last year that his favorite character on The Wire was Omar, though he stressed that it was “not an endorsement” of Omar’s criminal ways. On the other end of the spectrum, the president watches Hannah Montana and SpongeBob SquarePants with his daughters. What programming does he usually skip? The news.

[Images (4)]

[Quotes (2)]

During the campaign, then-candidate Obama would reschedule conference calls if they interfered with his viewings of Entourage. (AP Photo)

Omar Little, Baltimore's most-feared stickup artist, was Barack Obama's favorite character on "The Wire." (HBO)

President Barack Obama looks at Washington Wizards forward Caron Butler during the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls, Feb. 27, 2009. (AP Photo)

Barack Obama was sure to watch Jim Cramer, host of CNBC's "Mad Money" show, get grilled on Comedy Central's "The Daily Show with Jon Stewart," March 12, 2009. (AP Photo)

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On the campaign trail, as soon as we would get on the bus, the first thing he would do is turn the channel to sports channels. - Valerie Jarrett, illustrating Barack Obama's love for ESPN and SportsCenter

Sports would not be her first pick. - Valerie Jarrett, revealing one difference between Michelle and Barack Obama's TV viewing preferences.

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Sports, Edgier Fare Dominate the White House TiVo