Obama Makes Commercials For NBC – With Videos

Jun 3, 2009 3 Comments ›› Pat Dollard

The Caucus Blogs:

NBC was clearly thrilled to have enough access to President Obama to base a two-part, prime-time special on it all this week (Part II runs Wednesday night.)

Mr. Obama, however, went even one step further for the network – participating in a spoof interview segment for “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” during his formal question-and-answer session with the NBC News anchor Brian Williams at the White House.
In the segment, shown on “Tonight” late Tuesday, Mr. Williams asked Mr. Obama whether he almost canceled his overseas trip this week “to stay and watch” Mr. O’Brien’s “first week as host of ‘The Tonight Show.’’’

Mr. Obama was fully game and, referring to Mr. O’Brien’s succession this week of the former “Tonight” host Jay Leno, joked, “This is something we discussed several times in the Oval Office, how to manage this transition between Leno and Conan. And I think he’s up to the task. But I just want him to know that there is not going to any bailout coming out from Washington if he screws it up.”

There was a time when such cross promotion between a network news division and its corporate entertainment sibling – during a presidential interview, no less — would have caused rebellion in the newsroom. It will be interesting to see what reaction, if any, there will be to this bit of stunt programming at NBC News.

It will also be interesting to see if there is any political blowback, especially from those who believe that some in the news media are too chummy with the president and his administration.

From The TV Zone:

Hmmmmm.

I wonder.

You all know about the (what I think was fairly harmless) bit that was used on last night’s “Tonight Show” – see below. Brian Williams asks the Prez about the “transition;” the Prez plays along.

But, there’s more!

During the “Inside the Obama White House” – parts of which aired last night and it wraps tonight – there was also a plug by BriWilli for “Saturday Night Live.” And top White House correspondent Chuck Todd just coincidentally happens by, while cameras are rolling, to grill a White House press official.

(Oh yes, a plug for “The West Wing,” but it’s been off the air forever, so that doesn’t count.)

It’s a good broadcast, all in all – interesting and viewers do learn where to get a good burger in Washington. A powder-puff show? Big time, but in fairness, the tradition of these inside-the-W-H telecasts on all three major commercial networks going back decades has been the same – they’re softies and meant to be and probably always have been.

So this was one was perfect to form. But these little in-show NBC plugs do, I think, push the ol’ envelop.

See if you agree: Here’s BriWilli asking about “SNL:” It’s about three minutes and change into this clip…

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