Jay Leno

AP's Russ Bynum Covers Up Obama's 'Gulf Ports' Gaffe
By Tom Blumer | August 7, 2013 | 11:10 PM EDT

What's a little Justice Department spying between friends? Or, more accurately, between a master and his lapdogs?

In May, Obama administration Attorney General Eric Holder admitted to obtaining phone records involving 20 business, residential, and personal lines used by over 100 reporters and editors at the Associated Press during April and May 2012. After some lawyerly whining for appearances' sake, the wire service more appropriately known as the Administration's Press is back to its old tricks, and then some. On Wednesday, as will be seen after the jump, reporter Russ Bynum disgracefully covered up a geographic gaffe by President Obama during his Tuesday appearance on Jay Leno's show.

NBC's Chuck Todd Plays Obama on Leno Falsely Claiming Putin Ran the KGB -- With No Correction
By Tim Graham | August 7, 2013 | 10:45 PM EDT

NBC White House reporter Chuck Todd hotly dismissed on Twitter the planned NBC docudrama on Hillary Clinton: “NBC News has nothing to do w/Clinton mini series on NBC entertainment. So save your complaints.” Todd also tweeted: “Can already imagine how either Clinton lovers or haters will assume some sort of NBC News involvement. Trust me, we have day jobs.”

But there was Todd on the day-job on Wednesday’s Nightly News, playing three clips of Obama on ...NBC Entertainment’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Without any correction, Todd aired a clip of Obama falsely claiming Putin “headed up the KGB,” which was buried with the Soviet Union in 1991. (Leno and the morning shows didn’t challenge Obama on his error, either.) Todd promoted Obama as “buttoned-down, measured” while Putin was “famously flamboyant” in photo-ops: 

ABC, CBS and NBC Overlook Obama's Gaffe-tastic Performance on Leno
By Geoffrey Dickens | August 7, 2013 | 5:33 PM EDT

Barack Obama delivered one gaffe after another in his August 6 interview with Jay Leno, but the networks that usually mock every mistake or slip of the tongue made by Republicans ignored the President's verbal mishaps.

ABC's Good Morning America, CBS's This Morning and NBC's Today show, on Wednesday morning, all bypassed the chance to criticize Obama for: downplaying the threat of terrorism; falsely claiming Vladimir Putin once ran the KGB; placing the Atlantic coast cities of Savannah, Charleston and Jacksonville on the Gulf of Mexico; confusing the Winter Olympics with the Summer Olympics. (video after the jump)

More People Killed in Cars Than by Al Qaeda, Obama Laments
By Jack Coleman | August 7, 2013 | 3:35 PM EDT

At best, what President Obama said last night about terrorism was brought about by muddled thinking and possibly fatigue. At worst, it was a Freudian slip with troubling implications. I'll give the man the benefit of a doubt, something liberals were rarely able to do when his predecessor was in office. After all, we're at war.

Making his fourth appearance on "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," Obama was asked by Leno about severity of the threat from al Qaeda after his administration evacuated nearly two dozen embassies and consulates in response to intelligence warning of an imminent attack. (Video after the jump)

Leno: 'I'm Conservative Fiscally and I'm Probably Liberal Socially'
By Brad Wilmouth | August 7, 2013 | 2:44 PM EDT

Appearing as a guest on Tuesday's The Last Word on MSNBC to preview his interview with President Obama, NBC's Tonight Show host Jay Leno described his political views as "conservative fiscally" and "probably liberal socially" after host Lawrence O'Donnell asked him if he tries to hide his political views from the audience.

The comedian had positive words for President Obama, Bill and Hillary Clinton, and Mitt Romney, but was cool on Texas Governor Rick Perry and former Senator Fred Thompson.

Leno Wimps Out, Becomes Obama’s Willing Accomplice Again
By Noel Sheppard | August 7, 2013 | 12:47 PM EDT

When it was announced a week ago that Barack Obama would be appearing on NBC's Tonight Show Tuesday, NewsBusters asked if he would be interviewed by the tough Jay Leno who's been hard on the President for the past year, or the "willing accomplice" that tossed him nothing but softballs when he appeared on the show in 2011.

Sadly, Obama once again faced the willing accomplice.

Poor Obama? CBS Touts Study Showing Obama Most-Joked About; Skips Decades of Anti-GOP Barbs.
By Jeffrey Meyer | August 6, 2013 | 12:04 PM EDT

On Tuesday, CBS This Morning pounced on a new study by the Center for Media and Public Affairs (CMPA) showing that President Obama is now the butt of more jokes on late night TV than any other politician.

"Since his re-election, late-night comedians have aimed 300 jokes at the President," CBS's Jeff Pegues announced. "That's only 100 fewer than all of those directed at Republican politicians combined."

Leno: Brian Williams Getting Knee Surgery Now 'Before ObamaCare Kicks In'
By Noel Sheppard | August 6, 2013 | 10:17 AM EDT

It was announced last week that NBC Nightly News anchor Brian Williams will be taking medical leave to have surgery to repair a knee he injured years ago playing high school football.

NBC Tonight Show host Jay Leno marvelously said Monday, “I guess he wants to get it done quickly before ObamaCare kicks in” (video follows with commentary):

Leno on Congress's ObamaCare Exemption: Should Be the 'Do As We Say, Not As We Do Act?'
By Noel Sheppard | August 3, 2013 | 2:53 PM EDT

Jay Leno took a comedic swipe at ObamaCare Friday.

After informing a somewhat stunned crowd about the exemption members of Congress were given from the Affordable Care Act, the NBC Tonight Show host said, "Why don't they call it what it really is - the 'Do As We Say, Not As We Do Act?'" (video follows with transcript and commentary):

Meredith Vieira: ‘If My Husband Was Sexting I’d Cut It Off’
By Noel Sheppard | August 3, 2013 | 2:22 PM EDT

Former NBC Today show host Meredith Vieira channeled her inner Lorena Bobbitt Friday night.

Appearing on NBC’s Tonight Show, in a discussion about embattled New York mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner, Vieira said, “If my husband was sexting, I’d cut it off” (video follows with commentary):

Bob Costas on Joe Paterno: ‘I Don't Buy the Idea That He Was Actively Involved in a Cover-up'
By Noel Sheppard | August 1, 2013 | 10:44 AM EDT

Emmy Award-winning NBC sportscaster Bob Costas said Wednesday concerning the ongoing investigation of the Jerry Sandusky/Penn State sex scandal, “I don't buy the idea that [late head coach Joe Paterno] was actively involved in a cover-up.”

Such happened on the NBC Tonight Show (video follows with transcribed highlights and commentary):

Obama to Appear on Tonight Show August 6: Will He Face Tough Leno or 'Willing Accomplice?'
By Noel Sheppard | July 31, 2013 | 4:47 PM EDT

It was announced Wednesday that Barack Obama will appear on NBC's Tonight Show next Tuesday for the fourth time since he's been President. Jobs and the economy are to be the focus.

As NewsBusters has been reporting, despite host Jay Leno having been very hard on the White House resident in recent months, particularly on the economy, he has offered nothing but softballs to the Commander-in-Chief in his previous appearances.