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It’s no surprise that this week — during the whole “Tonight Show,” Jay Leno, Conan O’Brien, NBC debacle — “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” has seen its ratings jump more than 50 percent. Some people are watching to see if there is any news. Some people might just be watching because they’re thinking about it, thanks to the “I’m with Coco” poster that suddenly showed up in place of their Facebook friends’ profile pictures.

I’m one of the people contributing to the higher ratings. I usually go to bed before “The Tonight Show,” but now that I know I only have a few more chances to see Conan host, I’m willing to stay up late to see it. And let me tell you: It has been  worth it. If a generous money lender would pay for it, I’d consider buying a plane ticket to see him live, but I know tickets to the show have been sold out for a while.

Last night on ‘The Tonight Show’

This week, Conan O’Brien has had a string of A-list celebrities and musical acts. Tuesday, one of the most famous directors in the U.S., Quentin Tarantino, was on. Last night, Adam Sandler, arguably one of the most ubiquitous movie stars, and up-and-coming-all-over-the-place star Joel McHale joined Conan on “The Tonight Show.” Plus, Ed Helms played the piano and sang songs.

Also, talked about the fact that for the next few days (his last show is expected to be Friday), he can do whatever he wants and NBC has to pay for it. So, he said, instead of doing comedy bits that are really funny, he is going to do comedy bits that are really expensive. Then, a curtain revealed a Bugatti (one of the most expensive cars in the world) with big whiskers on the front and rounded ears on top (a mouse costume), blaring “Satisfaction.”

Tonight on ‘Tonight’

I do think the whole expensive comedy bit thing is a huge waste of money, but I appreciate the spirit. Furthermore, I am really curious about what he is going to do tonight.

Furthermore, his guest list for his final two nights includes some of the biggest stars ever. He didn’t specify which guests are on which day, but Robin Williams and Tom Hanks are on the list. Not only are viewers tuning in for their last chance to see Conan, celebrities are booking their last chances to be on Conan’s incarnation of “The Tonight Show.” As Conan said last night, “The fun is just beginning.”

Fans of late night American television over the years have heard of Ed McMahon. He was the perennial straight man, a foil for the jokes of the all-time king of late night, Johnny Carson. Now like his leader in hilarity, Ed McMahon too has died. He was 86 years old.

If you could go through life with someone announcing your entrance in much the same way that Ed McMahon would joyfully exclaim “Heeeeeere’s… Johnny!”, wouldn’t it be fun? Everybody dreams of being somebody, and having someone like Ed prepping the room for you would be a hoot.

You know what else everyone dreams of being? Financially well off. Ed McMahon did well for himself during his career, but the lavish homes and lifestyle caught up to him in his later years. His mansion was foreclosed and his credit rating took a hit. It seems he even took it upon himself to go to the homes of Publishers’ Clearing House in an attempt to reclaim the giant checks he’d delivered. Sidekick’s gotta have money. I wonder if he ever tried payday loans for fast cash?

“HEY-oooh!”

Mark Silva blogs for Swamp Politics that Ed McMahon was “a sounding board for years of good, clean fun.” In addition, his product hawking was always received with good humor. Without McMahon’s endorsement of Publishers’ Clearing House, that would never have become the national name that it did.

But the Hollywood parties deep-sixed Big Ed’s finances. Instead of living a life of champagne wishes and caviar dreams, Ed McMahon had to rap for FreeCreditReport.com to recoup his losses. Friends don’t let friends rap for money, especially when they’re drunk.

President Barack Obama’s sidekick could take a few lessons in best-supporting actorhood, perhaps. Sen. John McCain, star of countless Saturday Nights Live, could use a straight-man. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, enacted so often on SNL, could use one too. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi could definitely use one.

For the president, it seems to be the reverse. He has to keep Joe Biden in line…

“I could give him a little help”

AP television writer Lynn Elber writes in Ed McMahon’s obituary that died at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center after a hospitalization of several weeks. He was in the company of his wife, Pam, and family. Publicist Howard Bragman didn’t identify the exact cause of death, but he did say that Ed McMahon had a “multitude of health problems the last few months.” Apparently, one of the problems was bone cancer. He had also broken his neck in 2007.

This is the house that Ed lost

Illness made work difficult during Ed’s final years, and a lack of work led to financial difficulties.

McMahon and Johnny Carson had worked together on television since about 1958. He was Carson’s faithful straight man until Carson retired in 1992. In an AP interview the following year, Ed McMahon said that he was happy to have “hitched my wagon to a great star.” Graciously, he always kept his supporting role in perspective: “It’s like a pitcher who has a favorite catcher,” he said. “The pitcher gets a little help from the catcher, but the pitcher’s got to throw the ball. Well, Johnny Carson had to throw the ball, but I could give him a little help.”

You gave more than a little help. Rest now, Ed McMahon. Rest where bill collectors can’t find you. Payday loans for fast cash will be an option for those left behind.

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President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to appear on a television talk show last night when he sat down with Jay Leno on “The Tonight Show.”

Among other topics, Obama and Leno discussed bank bailouts and when lending and personal loans would be back on track again. Obama also talked about energy and technology.

Leno asks “Where is the money?”

During the interview, Leno pointed out that bailout money had been given out to many financial institutions months ago, even before Obama took office.

“I would have thought by this time it would have sort of trickled down to Main Street, to people wanting to get loans — I mean, it all went out there months and months ago. Where is it?” Leno asked.

Obama still filled with hope

Obama explained that many banks held on to their bailout money so they could maintain their capital ratios. He referred to the bailout program as “a diagnostic” that would help the government figure out which banks are ready to start lending again and which ones need more assistance.

He said he has confidence that the banking system will be fixed, along with education, health care and energy.

Shout-out to hybrid cars

On the subject of energy, the president talked about the hybrid plug-in car he had seen that day. He described it as “spectacular.” He says there is the potential and the technology out there to make cars that get 150 miles to the gallon.

Bringing it home

Obama pointed out that much of the technology that has the potential to make a big difference in energy consumption is developed in other countries. The batteries that allow cars to get 150 mpg are built in Japan. Wind power technology is mostly being developed in Europe.

“We need to bring that here, and that’s part of what my budget and part of what our Recovery Act is all about,” Obama said.

Obama also visited Leno during his campaign.

Last night on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno,” Barack Obama became the first sitting president to make an appearance on a TV talk show. Obama sat down for an interview with Leno, and the two discussed, among other things, the AIG bonuses and the new bill to tax those bonuses at 90 percent.

Obama speaks on lack of oversight

After some initial small talk, Leno quickly turned the subject to the outrage surrounding AIG bonuses, which were handed out after the government gave the company billions in cash advances. Obama explained a bit about the history of the company and blamed the inherent lack of accountability in the system for causing AIG’s downfall.

“The problem is not just what’s happened over the last six months. The problem is what was happening for years, where people were able to take huge, excessive risks with other people’s money, putting the entire financial system at risk –- and there were no checks, there were no balances, there was nobody overseeing the process,” Obama said.

Leno worried about tax bill

Obama and Leno talked about HR 1586, which is currently being revamped in the Senate. The bill would tax any bonuses handed out at bailed out companies at 90 percent. Leno said he was worried that Congress had the power to decide to tax certain groups of people, seemingly on a whim. Obama assured him that the bill is an attempt to correct the AIG situation, not to set a precedent.

Obama on taxes

Obama said he wants overall tax policy to show slow and steady progress. He emphasized that taxes should be used to pay for health care and education for everyone.

He says he’d like a system “where you and I who are doing pretty well pay a little bit more to pay for health care, to pay for energy, to make sure that kids can go to college who aren’t as fortunate as our — as my kids might be.”