Sanjaya and Jay Leno

It was a blockbuster Tonight Show.

Jay Leno actually did a Tommy Thompson joke, signaling that he is in the race for real.

I guess Thompson could consider that a good thing. It's getting his name out there.

The problem is Leno referenced Thompson's recent gaffe while addressing a Washington, D.C. gathering at the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism. Leno found great amusement in Thompson's unfortunate comments. Highlighting his statement for a national audience, being the buffoon, isn't a plus for Thompson's campaign.

After the monologue, Leno went into his American Idol post-elimination show routine. As usual, whenever a contestant gets booted from Idol, that person does a walk-on when Leno completes his monologue.

Tonight, it was the official coming out of SANJAYA. A bittersweet moment for "fanjayas," I know.

This season the Tonight Show bit has been to have Leno ask the former Idol contestant a few questions and have a celebrity or someone else translate.

Donny Osmond provided the translation for Sanjaya.

Osmond was hawking a new CD. (Can you believe that Donny Osmond has a new CD?)

Cut to commercial.

After a "Ross the Intern" segment, Jack Black was introduced. He's a big lib, but I like Black.

Then came Sanjaya.

I don't recall an Idol contestant ever appearing as a guest on the show while the competition was still underway.

It's Idol history -- the phenomenon of Sanjaya.

Leno was nice to him and Black was also very supportive.

I don't understand the Sanjaya thing. That's probably because I'm not twelve.

For all his newfound fame, he didn't act like a jerk. He was very sweet.

Now that I think about it, I'm going to miss Sanjaya on Idol. His squeaky little voice and his big smile were kind of endearing. It won't be the same without him.


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Sanjaya goes to Washington!