On Leno, Limbaugh pretends to run Gore over

The radio host helps make the new late-night show almost funny

Published September 25, 2009 8:50PM (EDT)

Jay Leno's new show has been pretty universally panned, and is generally considered unfunny. So what better opportunity to up the humor quotient than by bringing on Rush Limbaugh and giving him the opportunity to hit a cardboard cutout of former Vice President Al Gore with an electric car?

No, seriously.

Limbaugh participated in a time trial Leno's doing with the Ford Focus, an electric car; along the course, there are certain obstacles -- like a Gore dummy. The driver is, of course, supposed to avoid hitting the obstacles, but Limbaugh went out of his way to hit the Gore obstacle. He then backed up and ran over it again. (Video below.) It's just a variation of his usual schtick, of course, but it actually is pretty funny.

The more important thing about the segment, though, which will unfortunately probably get lost behind the Gore episode, is what Limbaugh says at the end of the race: "Nobody would believe this car is electric! What a blast!" At thsi point in his career, he has to stay in character, so it's unlikely you'll hear him say anything like that on his show, but it was an interesting moment -- Rush Limbaugh admitting that doing something for the environment didn't have to be a sacrifice made by tofu-eating Birkenstock wearers.


By Alex Koppelman

Alex Koppelman is a staff writer for Salon.

MORE FROM Alex Koppelman


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Al Gore Global Warming Jay Leno Rush Limbaugh War Room