'Tonight Show' has a heckler - Angelides objects to Schwarzenegger booking.

Sacramento Bee ^ | 10/11/6 | Kevin Yamamura

[SmithL]

After jousting with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in a debate full of one-liners, Democratic challenger Phil Angelides thinks he's ready for late-night television.

The state treasurer complained Tuesday that NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" booked Schwarzenegger as a guest for tonight's show without giving him equal time as required by federal law.

The Austrian-born governor is scheduled to appear alongside another German-speaking celebrity, supermodel and television host Heidi Klum, who is not running for office.

Schwarzenegger blurred the line between news and entertainment three years ago when he declared his candidacy in the gubernatorial recall on Leno's show.

The Republican incumbent stands to receive at least several minutes of free national airtime tonight during a critical stretch in his race against Angelides, not to mention promotional blurbs during primetime shows. Californians voting by mail have begun to receive ballots, while less than four weeks remain until the Nov. 7 election.

Angelides is trying to overcome Schwarzenegger's double digit percentage-point lead in recent polls. In the final campaign month, reaching voters through television is crucial, either through paid commercials or free airtime on news shows.

The Federal Communications Commission requires electronic media outlets to give equal time to political candidates, but grants exemptions to bona fide news programs.

"Consistent with 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno's' previous practice, NBC is following the news guidelines for interviewing a political candidate," said "Tonight Show" spokeswoman Tracy St. Pierre in a statement. "Under the news guidelines, the scheduled appearance of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on the Oct. 11 broadcast is not subject to the FCC's equal-time provisions."

[SmithL]

In 2003, Arnold Schwarzenegger announced his candidacy for governor on Jay Leno's Tonight Show. The governor is due back on the program tonight.

[ErnBatavia]

Californians voting by mail have begun to receive ballots, while less than four weeks remain until the Nov. 7 election.

Along this line, we usually have received our voter handbook that explains the propositions, candidates, and application for absentee ballot, etc. long before now...nobody we know has gotten theirs yet.

[Redcloak]

The state treasurer complained Tuesday that NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" booked Schwarzenegger as a guest for tonight's show without giving him equal time as required by federal law.

Yo! Phil! It's a STATE race; not a Federal race. And the reason you're not going on the Tonight Show is because you're about as exciting as a slice of toast.

[massgopguy]

Heidi, wollen zie gebehen mein heinemacherfrau?

[mainepatsfan]

Yeah the Democratic candidate for governor will be a huge audience draw nationally. /s

[Enchante]

Hey, Phil, the show is about ENTERTAINMENT and you're just about as entertaining as a dead squid..... stop whining you loser!!

[siunevada]

The state treasurer complained Tuesday that NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" booked Schwarzenegger as a guest for tonight's show without giving him equal time as required by federal law.

Okay, the Tonight Show writers have to be able to do something with that. That's low hanging fruit.

[Carry_Okie]

The state treasurer complained Tuesday that NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno" booked Schwarzenegger as a guest for tonight's show without giving him equal time as required by federal law.

Go for it Phil. That way Republicans can demand equal time after every evening "news" show.

[Borges]

The 'Dancing Angelides'?

[Squeako]

Let Angelides be the musical guest.

[shankbear]

Does anybody get equal time to rebut Woodward on Letterman last night.? He is the biggest puke yet.

[Rockitz]

Big surprise- Philth EatYerWheaties whining again.

[CAWats]

I got my voter handbook last week

[Redcloak]

We got ours last week. It's the size of a small phone book. It's more information than I need. I start out by looking for the "B-word" in the summaries. If I see "bond" anywhere, it gets a NO vote. Next, for the ones that survive that test, and there aren't many that do, I dig a little deeper. For each, I ask myself "Would this make a liberal cry if it passed? Would they shed the tears of infinite sadness?". If so, that gets a YES!

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Leno...

[willgolfforfood]

Don't we have some rules on this forum? Who's posting some Heide Klum pics???

[longtermmemmory]

PLEASE this is a fake set up in order to get a little more PR for the faultering Angelides campaign.

They don't even play Ahnold movies during campaign season, OF COURSE THEY KNOW ABOUT THIS.

[Signalman]

Make sure you vote "yes on 1A. That's the one that will force all funds designated for transportation to be used only for roads etc.

Guess who's against it. "Hurricane" Jackie Goldberg, extreme leftist from SOCAL who wants to make sure that money can be siphoned off to use for her favorite pet socialist projects.

[Inspectorette]

Heheh - I just look at the Voter Guide and decide by who is for or against a ballot measure. If it's the Sierra Club, or the usual leftist suspects, i.e., labor unions, etc., I don't even have to read the measure to know how to vote.