and we did.

this was where my mind went to, as well. Of course, Nixon was only a candidate at the time. TV was thought to be too lowbrow for a real President to sully himself with in those days.

President Obama was raised as part of a generation that took TV for granted, and for him, it's natural to do a bit of comedy there when it makes a point.

I'm pretty sure that he was President at the time. At least that's how I remember it.

Humphrey declined the chance to appear and later said it probably cost him the election.

Memory can do funny things.

(snip)

Ultimately, that blackout with Nixon became a classic and gets re-run in retrospectives all the time. Nixon lightening up also helped him win the Presidency that November, even though he never showed a comedic side again on TV other than one more quick gag on "Laugh-In" the following March while officially President. Arguably, Nixon may have contemplated appearing on a comedy show later had he not have maneuvered the country into near chaos during the Watergate scandal and almost ruining the ability of the President to be funny again...

(end snip)

http://voices.yahoo.com/40-years-presidents-appearing-comedy-tv-shows-2916218.html

Glad to know I'm not senile yet!

I remember a skit that included Hubert Humphrey (the real Humphrey, not some actor playing him), where he was walking around outside in a parka and suddenly explained that he had to go now because his favorite show "Daniel Boone" was on. Just for fun, I changed the channel and sure enough, the opening credits of "Daniel Boone" were just starting.

Of course, the whole routine was taped, not live, but they were clever in timing it right at the start time for "Daniel Boone." That would mean (by process of deduction) that it was an hourlong show on either ABC or CBS. ("Daniel Boone" was on NBC.)

Any ideas?

Might it have been "The Music Scene"? (Just looked it up and although I can find no evidence of Humphrey's appearance, the show ran an unusual 45 minutes, which might've explained why the skit could run through the opening of "Daniel Boone." Of course, "The Music Scene" aired in 1969, so Humphrey had already lost the election.)

I think it was on ABC. He was going inside and Mrs. Humphrey brought Paulsen something to drink outside if I remember correctly.

PEACE!

Nixon's appearance on Laugh-In was a radical departure from protocol as a President but it had the effect of "humanizing" him at a time when he was being painted as a monster (which of course ...he was)

...from a pop lyric. I think "Sock it to me baby, let it all hang out" was the full phrase. For a while, if we said it at school, we got in trouble. Then student demonstrations caught on, and that policy went into the trash bin of history.

has exposed the Rethugs for who and what they are "Racist ignorant biggots, the do nothing congress and senate, hate mongers, bought and paid for (bribery taking law breakers), all for the rich and fucking the poor, gas price rigging idiots. Now the President is showing them how to be a "COOL DUDE". You go President Obama

... never seem to support anyone on the right, either. If you look at their FB pages (because many of them are dumb enough to post their vile racist crap using the FB page on yahoo news now,) everything they seem to be about is just hating on the President. There doesn't seem to be any balance at all for them, it's all about liking anti-Obama stuff, and lots of religious stuff, too. I think no one is excited about Romney outside of Wall Street and Utah.

We had no national propaganda machine then other than the usual governmental smoke and mirrors. Fox News would have been fined and put out of business. A stable healthy democracy can not survive in a society whose thoughts are twisted by a corrupt faction who is bent on their own profit over the people.

as with this audience. I just hope all those people who respond to his rock-star charisma are also willing to go to the polls for him and the Democratic downticket.

Freakin awesome, I love it

The Republicans might filibuster. The President says You'll feel it buster. lolz

Loved it.

Julie

I guess Mr. $$$$$ Romney can always show up on Leno.

I've never really liked Leno.

I got to help put him there too. And that my friends is one of my most proudest moments in my 64 years, Voting for Barack Obama. YES!

I like how he drops the mike at the end of the bit. I don't think that was rehearsed.

Compare that with "Who let the dogs out" Rmoney.

out loud even
Yes our President gets it

that man is Loved! no matter how much hate the pugs and others throw at this guy, he is Loved by most of us.

did a pre-recorded line on Saturday Night Live in 1975 or 1976.

He's the man and Fallon is too. This was great and very ...timely? Even made me laugh out loud at the seriousness of the issue. I can't wait for a second term. Damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.

Nixon and "sock it to me"?

On edit: But it was pretty cool...expecially when Obama said, "Jimmy POTUS stands for President of the United States"...

Love it.

Yeah, Mitt, let me know how that works out for you.

THE PREEZY SLOW JAMS THE NEWS!!

And GOP heads are exploding all over the country.

Bake

Jimmy at the White House promoting fitness with the First Lady:

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="

And I loved Bo's cameo, and the picture of him kissing Jimmy at the end.

Michelle Obama is too cool. So is the Prez ! Obama 2012 !

at the end had me laughing. If only the young people would actually bother to vote in decent numbers he'd roll pretty easily.

Unless he has some advisers who aren't stone stupid and who manage to talk him out of it. And it will be simultaneously hilarious and painful to watch.

Mittens is a wedge: the simplest form of tool.

Jay: How many years does the president serve?

Mitts: Six

Jay: What do they call Air Force One?

Mitts: Uh -- Delta?

Jay: How much does the average student pay for a year of college?

Mitts: You'll have to ask my accountant -- he took care of all those details.

The other side can't say too much about it as it makes them look out of step if they do. I wish I was in a meeting with Team Romney as they try to think of way to counter moments like this.

Staffer number 1: They he goes again singing...

Staffer 2: Where ...? What about ...

Staffer 1: A college campus about, student loan rates!!!

Staffer 3: Man they are a musically talented people aren't they....

Staffer 1: Not helping here Bob.

Staffer 3: Sorry.

Staffer 1: We need to book the boss on one of these shows.

Staffer 2: Yeah! How about The Colbert Report? Colbert is one of us! And the young folks love him!

Staffer 1: Uh, dude, no; he's not one of us. I don't think appearing on that show would be helpful.

Staffer 3: Obama can sing. Can the boss sing? Could he go on some kind of variety show? Like A Prairie Home Companion?

Staffer 1: He can't carry a tune in a bucket. And A Prairie Home Companion is on public radio. We're against public radio. Also, Garrison Keillor is a liberal.

Staffer 2: How about The Lawrence Welk Show? That's good, wholesome music.

Staffer 1: {facepalm} That show has been off the air for like a thousand years. And even when it was on, nobody watched it who was under 90.

Staffer 2: The demographic is perfect, though.

Staffer 3: I think he should go on a show where he can tell jokes.

Staffer 1: He sucks at jokes.

Staffer 3: So let's hire somebody to write some jokes for him. Maybe Jerry Lewis?

Staffer 2: He should do the intro on Saturday Night Live some time when they have a really famous band or singer on that the kids will tune in to watch.

Staffer 1: {sighs} Like who? Barry Manilow?

Staffer 2: Ted Nugent, of course.

Staffer 1: Yeah, like SNL is ever going to book Ted Nugent. In your dreams.

Staffer 3: He needs to do something edgy.

Staffer 1: He isn't edgy. He's the political equivalent of blancmange.

Staffer 3: What's blancmange?

Staffer 2: Maybe he should wear different clothes. Maybe a Members Only jacket? Or Dockers with one of those colorful belts with little whales on it? Or a motorcycle jacket and chaps?

Staffer 1: He'd look like one of the Village People. Or the Village People's nerdy dad.

Staffer 3: Can he get a guest appearance on one of those shows about vampires? The kids love those.

Staffer 1: {bangs head on table} You know what? We're doomed. And I quit.

Nice roll.
GAC

Very good - great job!

I almost spit out my lunch!!!!

Roosevelt and his fireside chats. Savvy politicians know which medium gives them the biggest audience.

of Mittens doing this just for comparison and of course the laughs.

These were fitting to the media of the day and incredibly effective.

Hitting college campuses shows such a human side to Barack - he loves the kids and they love him back.

Obama is finding his footing, going with his strengths and unique style, not trying to be another FDR OR Reagan or anyone else. This is where he will find his success - being himself.

His next four years will be infinitely more effective than his first.

the first 4 were a trial by fire if ever there was one. he had everyone up his ass and whining.

next 4 Should be even more productive even tho there are republicans and moaners galore out there still.

As for presidents being on talk shows. I remember Bill Clinton playing the sax on more than one show. I also remember both Clintons on the Arsenio Hall show.

Heck, even Bush Jr. appeared on occasion on talk shows. I recall seeing him on Oprah.

The Clintons on the Arsenio Hall show.

BTW, whatever happened to Arsenio?

I used to like his show. I also remember the last years of Johnny Carson, before Leno took over.

posted this in the TVchat section
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10371252#post19

What a classless thing to say about a woman.

which were aspects of the situation referenced in the OP. Also, I think he was a candidate at the tme rather than a sitting president, wasn't he?

This is not a pissing contest. Clinton was cool too. But Obama killed it this week.

*points and laughs too

I'm afraid Barack has far outpaced Bill on that cool thing.

but you don't feel bad about giving the President a hard time whenever an opportunity arises to do so.

so I hope it's all fair in love and war sort of stuff.

Besides, if everyone agreed on everything it would be a boring world.

Nothing new. What is new is the level of TV exposure that both Obamas have had the last 3 years. They have appeared on TV shows more often than any other presidential couple. The exposure will probably benefit him in his reelection efforts.

Watch this!

(and it's not something that is said right before someone wins a "Darwin Award&quot

But, going by your screen name, I can understand how that may just be your unique perspective.

Julie

God, do you spend every waking moment mumbling under your breath about Obama and how awful and evil he is? Yeesh. You must be a real pleasure to be around in real life.

I'm talking about a politician, I'm not personally attacking a DU member.

You've never said one nice thing about President Obama. Ever. In every thread about him, whether it's positive or negative, you're there to make some pathetic and vindictive remark about how Obama is a bad President. We get it. Are you honestly that bitter in life that you must hunt out Obama threads just to piss on them? Are you one of the people who screams at the television when he comes on - potentially throwing a shoe at it? Are you the type who gets beet red when his name comes up in conversation? Because if you're anything like your online persona, I'm guessing that's exactly who you are. It's sad and it's pathetic. Your hate for this man is so deep that it can't be healthy.

Can't you say one nice thing about Obama? Just one? Can't you just smile at one positive thread without walking in and turning it into a piss contest and bitching about something that is so inane that it makes you look like a total, bitter fool?

I mean, seriously, this is beyond normal. I don't think I've ever met anyone who dislikes the President more than you. Even those who I interact with that don't like him ease up somewhat and say, "you know, he seems like a good guy...and he's funny. Don't like his politics, won't vote for him, but I respect him..."

Not you, tho. No, you'd rather eat glass than say even the most mundane positive thing about the President. It's quite sad. Bitterness is not an attractive, my friend.

That was some rant. LOL!!!

In real life I hardly give him a thought, but this site is dedicated to politics. Away from the blogs I barely talk about him. I'm resigned to the fact that so far in my lifetime I actually have liked only one president. The rest were just there. I vaguely remember Carter. I grew up with Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II and now Obama.

If it makes you happy I'll say something nice about Obama, he made a politically courageous decision when he gave the go ahead to get Osama. It could have easily gone very wrong.

The only Presidents in my lifetime with the skill set needed to do the talk show format well and with dignity are this President and President Clinton. I do not recall Clinton doing so while in office. He rocked Arsenio Hall's show as candidate, of course.
I hope that the GOP nominee feels pressured to try the talk shows. Rmoney would stink up the most generous couch and fall as flat as the crepes he dined on as a young missionary in his Paris mansion.
Talk shows are hard. Obama has all the chops. There are great actors and wonderful comics who die the death on those shows and they know it. The President does them really, really well.

Least stuffed shirt in the room.

It shows they he is a regular guy. I must admit tho, liberals do tend to be more humorous than the conservatives.

American pie all the way! Multi task as well. With most of the corporate media is pushing Mittens, this just shows there are other avenues he needs to venture, i.e., talk shows and social media. Smart move I must say.

Awesome!

The Barackness Monster. So full of win.

Hitting the cues like a mutha.

I think this is one of their major campaign strategies and I think it will work.. since its so very true.

One of the first comments on the NBC site was from a woman that was very very upset that President Obama is "demeaning" the office of POTUS doing this. She said something like "the POTUS represents the PROFESSIONAL people of the USA, NOT the late night people of the USA!!" What are the "late night people of America?" and why don't they get a President, too???

Seriously, the usual crowd became quite unglued by this. And yet, the media ran a big story today about how President Obama can't count on young voters this time, that the young voters were up for grabs. Really? Like people under 60 are going to vote for Romney? I can't imagine getting anyone excited about that Wax Figure of a candidate, especially under retirement age.

Do we need to post Romney's "who let the dogs out?" video? The one where he is seen later on trying desperately to connect with the young people on the parade route by telling one of the girls in the parade what "beautiful gloves" she has on (they were basic white gloves.)

Cool points? Please...that was class on display, some need to learn the difference.

should tell you how well he hit the mark!

our candidate is ALWAYS cooler than their candidate - na na na na na na!! Suck on thatRepukes.

Nixon, Raygun and Bushie 2!