Celebrity Mound

The King of Pop had a fan in the White House.

President Barack Obama described himself as a longtime follower of Michael Jackson, the legendary performer who died June 25 at age 50.

“I grew up on his music – still have all his stuff on my iPod,” Obama said in an AP interview Thursday, adding that Jackson “will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers.”

At the time of his death, the pop icon was preparing a series of comeback concerts to overcome years of sexual scandal and financial calamity – a troubled history the president acknowledged without naming specifics.

“I think that his brilliance as a performer also was paired with a tragic and, in many ways, sad personal life,” Obama said.

He expressed pleasure that the public is celebrating Jackson for his talents, instead of dwelling on his personal tragedies.

“I’m glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer.”

The president said he didn’t see any controversy in the fact that he did not issue a formal public statement upon Jackson’s death, and said he was unaware of any dissatisfaction in the black community with his response.

“I know a lot of people in the black community,” Obama said. “I haven’t heard that.”

Obama added that Thursday’s interview was the first time he had been asked about Jackson’s death.

Long before he turned his attention to stimulating the economy, Barack Obama had to take care of a few issues at home in his marriage to Michelle. During a rough patch in 2000, “There was little conversation and even less ro mance,” writes Richard Wolffe in his new book, “Renegade: The Making of a Presi dent.” “She was angry at his selfishness and careerism; he thought she was cold and un grateful,” writes Wolffe, who covered Oba ma’s White House campaign for Newsweek. “She hated the failed race for Congress in 2000, and their marriage was strained by the time their youngest daughter, Sasha, was born. Politics seemed like a waste of time to Michelle,” the book says. But the couple seem to have put any past issues behind them — “Today things are much better,” Wolffe noted on “Inside Edition” yesterday.

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A feel-good tree-planting event early Tuesday with President Obama and Bill Clinton featured some subtle digs with passive-aggressive humor the weapon of choice, The Post’s Geoff Earle reports. Clinton started things off before the first sapling was planted near the muddy Anacostia River when clean-shoed Obama complained somebody had forgotten his boots. “See? You’re light on your feet,” Clinton quipped to the small crowd, which included Michelle Obama. Obama came back with, “I think the president has pretty good shoveling skills,” which got a laugh from Clinton. Perhaps trying to nudge Clinton along, Obama looked at the hole Clinton had dug, then offered: “Mr. President, I don’t think you can do any better than that.” Clinton said goodbye but then started work on another hole. When a reporter asked why Clinton was planting twice as many trees as anyone else, the man who once mocked Obama’s campaign as a “fairy tale” responded: ” ‘Cause I got twice as much experience as everyone else.”

Check out Bill Clinton’s boots in that photo (above) Hook ‘em Horns baby!

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President Obama was spotted drinking an amber effervescent drink at the Bulls/Wizards game, and he admitted “I’m always good for a beer” after hoisting one with Sean Hannity. But filmmaker Anat Baron, whose documentary “Beer Wars,” exposing the big business of brew, opens next week, called the White House to find out just what kind of suds the President sips. After getting no response, Baron wondered if it’s a foreign lager staffers are trying to cover up. No need for a brew-haha. “It’s Budweiser,” a White House spokesman told us.

Call it puppygate!

Malia and Sasha Obama got their pooch on Saturday — but the White House was doing its best to keep the information from leaking until they planned to announce it Tuesday.

TMZ.com first reported the dog’s name as Charlie — but said the Obamas would change it. The Washington Post confirmed today the six-month-old Portuguese water dog will be called Bo.

The Post reports the girls chose the name because their cousins have a cat named Bo and because Michelle Obama’s father was nicknamed Diddley.

The pup came from the same Texas kennel from which Senator Ted Kennedy bought his three Portuguese water dogs, or Porties. The Senator helped facilitate the “re-homing” of this pooch, who was purchased and then returned by another family.

(As for the promise the Obamas made to adopt a dog from a shelter? The Post says they’ll make a donation to the D.C. Humane Society.)

“We couldn’t be happier to see the joy that Bo is bringing to Malia and Sasha. We love our Portuguese Water Dogs and know that the girls — and their parents — will love theirs too,” the Kennedys said in a statement.

The Obama girls first met their dog a few weeks ago in a visit known around the White House as “The Meeting.” The well-behaved puppy — who obediently followed President Barack Obama around the room — wore a lei to surprise Malia, 10, and Sasha, 7.

“He’s sooooo cute,” a source told the Post. “It’s very exciting. They had a great meeting.”

Sasha was excited, Malia was focused on the “responsibility issues” — Bo’s training, who will care for him.

“Malia has done extensive research,” the source said.

Feeding and walking schedules are still being settled on — a “family decision,” the source said. “They’re approaching this responsibly as a family.”

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If TV talk shows have become a battleground where hosts and newsmakers duke it out, Jay Leno and President Barack Obama didn’t get the message.

“Mr. President, I must say this has been one of the best nights of my life,” a beaming Leno announced at the end of Obama’s visit Thursday to the “Tonight” show.

Leno queried Obama about difficult issues – including AIG’s executive bonuses and criticism of Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner – but with minor exception allowed the president to answer without challenge.

It was a sharp contrast to the recent high drama of CNBC host Jim Cramer’s painful woodshed appearance on Jon Stewart’s show or David Letterman’s roasting of John McCain during the presidential campaign.

Of course, a sitting U.S. president is a different animal, and Obama was the first to visit “Tonight.” (He’d already appeared twice as a candidate.)

“I’m excited, I’m honored to introduce my next guest, the 44th president of the United States, Barack Obama,” Leno said as his studio band played “Hail to the Chief.”

Obama might have sensed from the outset it would not be a grueling exercise. Leno asked if it was fair to be “judged so quickly” after less than two months in office.

“I welcome the challenge,” Obama said. “In Washington, it’s a little bit like `American Idol,’ but everybody is Simon Cowell. Everybody’s got an opinion.”

The tone turned serious when the economic crisis was the topic, but Leno wasn’t going to make the president sweat.

Obama had appeared “angry” and “stunned” about the AIG bonuses, Leno observed.

“Stunned is the word,” Obama replied, then launched into a lengthy, wonkish description of how the insurance giant foundered and why the company bonuses symbolize the larger issue of Wall Street’s “attitude of entitlement.”

If Leno had a bone to pick, it was with federal efforts to tax the AIG bonuses out of existence.

“If the government decides they don’t like a guy, all of a sudden, `Hey, we’re gonna tax you,’” the talk show host said.

He did tweak Obama at one point, after bringing up criticisms of Geithner. As Obama defended the treasury secretary for taking the right steps against a host of problems, Leno joked, “I love that it’s all his problem.”

But the biggest dig was against Leno’s own network.

“A lot of people were surprised that the president came to NBC. You’d think by this time he’d be tired of big companies on the brink of disaster with a bunch of overpaid executives,” Leno said during his monologue.

It was a far different atmosphere when CNBC “Mad Money” host Cramer appeared on Stewart’s “The Daily Show” earlier this month and the Comedy Central host railed at him for putting entertainment above journalism. Last year, Letterman gave McCain a tough time after the GOP presidential contender canceled a “Late Show” appearance.

The White House scheduled the “Tonight” appearance as part of a broader outreach to promote Obama’s agenda – one that’s already had him on ESPN’s “SportsCenter” this week and includes a “60 Minutes” interview airing Sunday, plus a prime-time news conference Tuesday.

On “Tonight,” Obama had enough running room on to display his comedic chops as Leno delved into what he called “some personal things” with the president.

Leno pressed him on when daughters Malia and Sasha would get their pet dog.

“This is Washington. That was a campaign promise,” Obama replied to the pet question, drawing audience laughter. “No, no, no, no, no, I’m teasing. The dog will be there shortly.”

“How cool is it to fly in Air Force One?” a dazzled Leno asked at one point.

The 35-minute presidential interview was the only one on the show, which ended with a performance by Garth Brooks – and with Leno warmly applauding Obama.

It may be tough times in Washington for Obama, but not on Leno’s “Tonight.”

Pucker up, Michelle Obama – your hubby has the right to say “Kiss Me, I’m Irish” this St. Patrick’s Day – and you best oblige him!

According to Ancestry.com, our President is 3.1% Irish. His great-great-great-grandfather, Falmouth Kearney, sailed aboard the Marmion from Liverpool on March 20, 1850, with the intention of settling in Ohio (we can’t figure out that part, either). Kearney’s roots can be traced back to the villages of Moneygall and Shinrone in County Offaly, Ireland.

It’s also the luck of the Irish that our Prez picked Joe Biden for VP. Biden’s ancestors arrived in the U.S. within six months of Obama’s Irish family; both were shoemakers by trade.

So party hard today, Barack. We know you’ll do your ancestors proud — after all, the pot of gold at the end of your rainbow is what we like to call “the presidency.”

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Jordan Peele of Mad TV is back as President Obama and he’s reading a letter that former President Bush left him in the Oval Office. Personally, I think it is hilarious!

Check out all the latest at:
http://www.funnyordie.com

President-elect Barack Obama admits that he’s a bit nervous about his first day on the job.

“I’m sure I’ll have trouble sleeping the night before,” Obama tells Katie Couric, in one of his last interviews before becoming President of the United States, for a CBS News primetime special.

He adds: “[There] has been so much work on the front end that I feel Jan. 21 is not going to feel that different from Jan. 19. But having said that, I think when you’re sitting in the Oval Office, you’re very clear that these decisions count. The magnitude of it is humbling.’

In addition to the tough road ahead, what else is he nervous about at the outdoor swearing-in ceremony?

The temperature: “I get cold very easily,” Obama jokes. “So making sure I’ve got my long underwear [just] in case.”

He plans to enlist the help of family during the transition, including his wife’s mother, Marian Robinson, who will be moving into the White House with the Obama clan.

“[We] get along great,” he says of his mother-in-law. “In fact, she defends me when Michelle is too hard on me. So I want her there. She’s an ally. She can be a little bit of a buffer if I screw up.”

The special, Change and Challenge: The Inauguration of Barack Obama, will air Jan. 20 at 9 p.m. EST on CBS. It will include interviews with civil rights leaders and friends of Obama. Couric will anchor the hour-long show from the National Building Museum in Washington, D.C., which is where the Commander-in-Chief’s Ball is set to take place.

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