After Jimmy Fallon secured last month’s appearance by President Obama on his late-night show, he reached out to some of his broadcast idols for tips.
Radio icon Howard Stern.
“Saturday Night Live” creator Lorne Michaels.
TV legend Barbara Walters.
And Jay Leno.
That disclosure led Stern – an ardent Leno critic – to explode in a tirade on last night’s episode of “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”
Stern was visiting the show to discuss his judging duties on “America’s Got Talent.”
Fallon explained how he contacted Stern prior to his presidential interview. Fallon respects Stern’s interview techniques, and wondered if the shock jock had any tips.
Stern’s first instinct was to ignore the late-night host.
“I’m a narcissist, I’m a competitive guy, I’m somewhat evil, and I go, ‘why should I help him?’” Stern said. “I mean, who the Hell wants to help Jimmy Fallon? And what’s he worried about? Nobody’s going to watch his stupid interview anyway.”
Stern ended up suggesting some interview topics, but most were too racy for Barack.
“You gotta ask President Obama, ‘how big is his penis?’” Stern said. “Did you ever ask that?”
“No, I would never ask the president … there’s a couple I skipped over, Howard,” an embarrassed Fallon responded. “I appreciate that.”
“Then I said, ‘how often do you have sex with Michelle Obama?’ I can’t tell you what a help I was,” Stern joked.
Stern then wondered if Fallon asked others for help, urging Fallon to reveal his list.
And Jimmy disclosed that he contacted Jay, somebody who Howard’s criticized for years – and a host known for his soft handling of celebrities.
“What a mistake,” Stern said. “You called Jay Leno? Jay Leno hasn’t done a good interview ever. Why would you call Jay Leno?”
“I asked him because he’s interviewed President Obama before. He’s been on his show.”
“And it was so wonderful, that (2009) interview Jay did with President Obama. I can’t tell you, the whole country’s been talking about it ever since. I never would have answered your email if I knew you called Jay.”
Jay, as it turns out, told Jimmy he should set up the president for some jokes – to “make him funny.”
Mission accomplished Jay, as Bam’s “Slow Jam” of the news was a viral hit.