Rush Limbaugh Runs Over Al Gore (and Host Jay Leno)

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by Steve Krakauer | 10:27 am, September 25th, 2009

» 9 comments

limbaugh_9-24 Conservative radio titan Rush Limbaugh made a rare TV appearance last night, in a lengthy interview on The Jay Leno Show (#1 meets #3). As he does on his own radio show, he completely dominated the program.

But this wasn’t his show, it was Leno’s. And the host could barely get a word in.

From the very beginning Limbaugh was on offense, and he never turned the ball over. It started with an innocent compliment from Leno, to the radio host who just lost “82 pounds.” Somehow Limbaugh was able to turn his weight loss into an attack on the mainstream media.

For most of the more than eight minute interview, it was very clear that Leno’s usual audience of liberal-leaners was stacked last night with Limbaugh supporters. “If the government gets control of health care that’s the single best way they get the control of every aspect of our lives,” Limbaugh said, to whoops from the crowd, just as cheers drowned out any boo that slipped through.

In many ways, the entire interview could be summed up in Leno’s analogy about the differing political styles of the two men. “I tend to come from the ‘is it cold in here?’ kind of guy, and you’re more ‘close that damn window,’” said Leno.

It’s an analogy Leno has used before, like in his Time magazine cover story out last month. But it highlights the timidity of Leno in the face of an imposing ‘close that damn window’ guest. Even Jerry Seinfeld took over his interview on Leno’s premiere. That has always been part of the appeal of Leno – it’s about the guest, not the host, and the welcome mat will firmly be in place for a political or potentially touchy interview. But if NBC wants buzz – and viral hits – they need Leno to get tough.

If the Limbaugh interview were done on the Late Show with David Letterman, it would have tense and awkward and great TV. If it were done on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, it would have been deep and potentially argumentative, with a soundbite or two sure to get major media pick-up. If it were done on The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien, politics would largely be avoided in favor of comedy. But at least it would be funny. Instead, we’re left with more than eight minutes of an interview with a rarely seen, divisive megastar, and very little to pick out and say ‘here’s the takeaway.’

After the interview, Limbaugh drove a green car around Leno’s outside track, and hit a cardboard cut-out of Al Gore on purpose. This is supposed to be funny because Rush Limbaugh doesn’t like green cars and really doesn’t like Al Gore. This is not funny because…it’s not funny.

Here’s the lengthy (so lengthy, Hulu made it two clips) Limbaugh interview, and the racing segment after:

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sarainitaly

Leno’s program, which is taped in Malibu, CA, had an audience that appeared to side more with Rush than Leno when it came to current affairs. ~ Examiner

For most of the more than eight minute interview, it was very clear that Leno’s usual audience of liberal-leaners was stacked last night with Limbaugh supporters. ~ Mediaite

I am curious to know if you have information/proof that the audience was stacked with Limbaugh supporters?
Puter Boi

Let me preface this by saying that I don’t really care for either of the named men in the piece.
That being said….it’s kind of humorous that a guy, who now makes a living posting links to other people’s work, would then try to tell two of the most successful people in the “business” how to do their jobs…..when in actuality those guys doing their jobs is one reason the guy doing the posting even has a job.
Magister

I know this isn’t a political blog and I really try never to there, but…

Limbaugh’s lack of knowledge about even the most rudimentary things are stunning. To paraphrase: “It’s not a zero sum game. Just because one person makes $800b doesn’t mean somebody lost it”. Eh… Rush… Do you have any concept of how Wall Street works?
http://mediaite.com Steve Krakauer

Hey Puter Boi-

I wouldn’t presume to tell either of these huge stars (the reference to #1 and #3 on Power Grid shows just how big they are) how to do their job. Rush is clearly an enormous success – partially for the very reason he showed last night.

And Leno had been number one for so many years – through his very last week – at The Tonight Show. It’s just that it seems like he missed an opportunity here. He had a chance to be replayed all day on Fox, MSNBC and CNN, and viewed around the Web, for a certain part of this interview. Instead, it will be quickly forgotten. (The driving bit will probably be the most memorable part.)

If Limbaugh went on Letterman or with Jon Stewart, they would have absolutely gotten something news-worthy out of it. I think it was an opportunity for Leno to do the same.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Chris-Jones/1384303476 Chris Jones

The audience wasn’t stacked. Letterman has the total lib audience, not so much for Jay. Also, the majority of Americans despise what is happening to this country. Nobody wants what Obama is selling except a small and not very vocal minority. Also, it was hilarious when Limbaugh ran over Gore not once, but twice. It was the highlight of the show.
http://the-w.com/ CRZ

C’mon, Steve – Rush hitting Al Gore may not have been funny, but backing up in order to hit him again was QUITE funny.

Shoulda stopped there, though, – using the exact same tactic on the cardboard Ed Begley, Jr. lost him some style points with me for lack of creativity.
Billy Carter

LMAO…..great job Steve. Leno is a fair guy, who doesn’t climb all over his guests if he disagrees with them and his studio audiences tend to be the same. Thanks for including the videos. Loved the car circuit and especially Rush backing up to hit Gore twice. You are 2cool with this post & attached videos!!
rmbltmbl

Krakauer, we all know what you meant, you want Leno to be more like Letterman and Stewart. Honestly, where is the Rush Limbaugh of the Left? Why did more people watch Leno instead of Letterman? Why is Fox News dominating other cables? Why can’t you get it, too? We don’t want nonsense.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Patryck-Boberg/16900107 Patryck Boberg

I wouldn’t call Rush a megastar when he brought Leno the lowest ratings to date of his new show.