Obama to Leno: 'Stunned Is the Word' on AIG

Major flak expected for Tonight Show quip on his clutzy bowling

(NEWSER) - President Obama is expected to be zinged by critics today after a quip he made about his bad bowling and the Special Olympics during the taping of yesterday's Tonight Show appearance, ABC News reports. "I scored a 129," the president said when Jay Leno asked him if the White House bowling alley was getting any use. "I know, it sounds like the Special Olympics." More»

(NEWSER) - Barack Obama will appear on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno this Thursday during his tour of Southern California, the New York Times reports. Obama was a guest on Leno during the campaign, but sitting presidents rarely appear on late-night television. Aides say Obama will address issues related to the economy and be “as funny as the times allow.” More»

He's waiting until they're voted off the island

(NEWSER) - President Obama made his fourth visit to the Tonight Show last night, his second as sitting president, and told Jay Leno he wasn't spending much time worrying about his potential Republican rivals—because the GOP race is kinda like Survivor. “I'm going to wait until everybody’s voted off the island,” he said. “Once they narrow it down to one of two, I’ll start paying attention.” More highlights, courtesy of ABC , the Wall Street Journal , the Atlantic , and Politico :

• On his dislike for the Kardashians : “No, I have not seen the show. … I am probably a little biased against reality TV, partly because there’s this program on CSPAN called Congress that is…”
• On Moammar Gadhafi: The dictator “had an opportunity during the Arab Spring to finally let loose of his grip on power and to peacefully transition into democracy. We gave him ample opportunity, and he wouldn't do it.”

Unless, of course, he wants to appear as the musical guest...

(NEWSER) - Conan O’Brien’s new show debuts Monday, and there’s one person you should never expect to see as a guest: Jay Leno. “No, there are certain things I will not do, regardless of the price,” O’Brien tells Playboy , although he adds that Leno “can come as the musical guest, because that I want to see.” O’Brien adds that his goal for his new show is “eight months on the air. All I want to do is break my Tonight Show record.” More»

'Tonight' host still beating Letterman, though

(NEWSER) - Jay Leno is not having a good summer. In fact, he's having his worst summer ever, at least as far as Tonight Show ratings are concerned. This summer is actually the lowest-rated ever for the show—and even Conan O'Brien pulled in better numbers for the coveted 18-49 demographic last year than Leno is doing this year. Still, with an average of 3.8 million viewers, he's beating David Letterman, according to the Hollywood Reporter . More»