WATCH: Chris Christie and Jimmy Fallon slow-jam the N.J. special election
The New Jersey governor goes on NBC Late Night to quiet a political storm. Hey, it worked for Obama
Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) has gotten a lot of grief — including a lovingly brutal takedown from Jon Stewart — for deciding to hold an expensive, politically expedient special election to replace the late Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D), three weeks before Christie himself faces voters in his re-election bid.
Few people think the popular governor faces much risk of losing to his Democratic opponent, state Sen. Barbara Buono, but New Jersey is a blue state, and why not try to nip any potential scandal in the bud? So on Wednesday night, the media-savvy Christie took a page from President Obama's playbook and went on NBC Late Night to slow-jam the news with Jimmy Fallon and his house band, the Roots.
The result is pretty good. Christie makes his case, Fallon gets in some sexual innuendo, and Roots singer Tariq Trotter delivers some of the best lines. Fallon slips in a few fat jokes and tries to get Christie to announce his 2016 presidential candidacy, but Christie gives as good as he gets — and one of the things he gets is another viral video. Which is something Christie, no matter what you think of his politics, is better at than any living politician.
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In another part of the show, Fallon moves from local politics to local sports, resurrecting his Tebowie characters — what it sounds like, a mix of ex-New York Jet backup quarterback Tim Tebow and David Bowie — to comment on Tebow's signing by the New England Patriots. Key lyric, sung to the tune of Bowie's "Rebel Rebel":
Watch:
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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
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