Laura Bush to Stay up Late with Leno

By Stephen M. Silverman

02/07/2002 at 12:15 PM EST

Jay Leno promises not to joke around too much at the expense of one of his guests next Monday: First Lady Laura Bush. "Funny without being mean" is how the NBC "Tonight" show host described to The Washington Post what his style with his guest will be. "It's a coup to get her," Leno, 51, told the paper, "and I'm grateful that (her White House staff members) understand that we will make a distinction between having fun and being mean. We try to have fun and be silly and poke fun." As an example of his brand of humor, Leno said, "The president choking on a pretzel was great fodder for us." Does he think Mrs. Bush, 55, will be an amusing guest? "I think she can be funny. Why can't she be? Obviously she seems very nice. She'll be interesting." The Post also pointed out to the TV host that he has gone easy on Laura Bush in the past, as opposed to the way he frequently targeted Hillary Clinton. "They're two different people," explained Leno. Also, he said, Laura Bush is "not running for office. And there are none of those 'trailer-park' problems." Mrs. Bush's deputy press secretary, Ashleigh Adams, told The Post that the First Lady's appearance is the result of a "long-standing request" from Leno and coincides with her visit to California. "It just makes sense to drop by and say hi." Also on the "Tonight" show Monday night: the ubiquitous Britney Spears.