TVSquad

As I was watching President Obama chat with Jay Leno last night, one thought kept crossing my mind: how unusual it was to see a current president sitting in the same chair as David Spade. It's just odd and somewhat disconcerting to see the man who's the supposed leader of the free world engaging in lighthearted banter with Jay, and responding to the audience when it cheered or booed something. During the third segment, I almost expected to see the flat screen TV behind Jay pop up so they could show a clip from Obama's latest project.

And that's why the appearance was so historic. It doesn't matter how many times a president goes on a talk show before or after he's in office; while in office, pretty much all interviews go to him. It doesn't matter what show it is; it could be a Sunday morning issues show like Meet The Press or a twinkie-fest like Larry King Live. But in just about every case, the interviewer goes to wherever the president is and sits down with him for a quiet, reverent interview.

There's a moment after each World Series, when the last out is made and the winning team rushes the field, that the play-by-play folks in the booth just keep quiet. Not a word is said as the team, and the home crowd, celebrate their victory. It is always an emotional moment for those watching the events.

I personally felt the same way when Charlie Gibson announced at 11:01:01 p.m. that Barak Obama was to be the next President of the United States, and scenes of jubilation filled the screen. From that point on, the comments by Diane, George and Charlie were few, subdued and reflective. They just let the emotions of the crowds in Time Square, Harlem, Keyna, and Grant Park in Chicago flow through the screen. Just the way it was supposed to be.

The lead-up to the -- oh, hell, let's just say it -- historic announcement by Charlie was done with the build-up of tension that would have made a number of movie directors proud. You could just see him restraining the news for those 10 seconds leading up to the top of the hour. He held it well. That's why he's one of the more respected broadcasters of today.

My ABC O&O moved to local news at 11:00 P.M., so I didn't catch the McCain and Obama speeches from there. I'll provide a wrap-up of the election coverage tomorrow morning.

Here's a bit o' fun for your Sunday. I don't know how long it's been around, but I recently found the Dead Celebrity Soulmate search on the Biography Web site. You select the qualities you want in a dead lover, and the program matches you with the perfect deceased mate. One of the women it matched me with was painter Frida Kahlo. Lord knows I'm a sucker for artistic chicks with a unibrow. If I were gay, it would have matched me up with Edgar Allan Poe or Vincent Van Gogh. Either way it looks like I have a thing for artistic types. Apparently this transcends my sexual preference. I hope we all learned something about me today. Anyway, try it out and let me know who the dead love of your life is in the comments. Just stay away from Frida, she's mine.

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