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Obama praises Jackson's talent

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 3, 2009

President Barack Obama called Michael Jackson a brilliant performer whose talents were paired with a tragic personal life.

"I'm glad to see that he is being remembered primarily for the great joy that he brought to a lot of people through his extraordinary gifts as an entertainer," Obama said Thursday.

Obama said he didn't see any controversy in the fact that he did not issue a formal public statement upon Jackson's death, and said he was unaware of any dissatisfaction in the black community with his response.

The president said he grew up on Jackson's music and "I still have all his stuff on my iPod."

"I think that Michael Jackson will go down in history as one of our greatest entertainers," Obama said. "His brilliance as a performance also was paired with a tragic and in many ways, sad personal life."

Leno wins rights to domain name

Television host Jay Leno has won control of a Web address using the name of his new show.

The U.N.'s World Intellectual Property Organization says current owner Guadalupe Zambrano of Katy, Texas, will have to transfer the domain name - thejaylenoshow.com - to the comedian.

The agency says Zambrano failed to demonstrate he had a legitimate reason for registering the address five years ago while Leno was still hosting "The Tonight Show."

Zambrano used the site to redirect Web surfers to his real estate business.

Franken unsure who should parody him

Al Franken's torn over who he'd like to see turn the parody tables on him.

As a former "Saturday Night Live" cast member headed to the U.S. Senate, he could be a prime spoof target for his former show.

When asked Wednesday who'd be best for the role, Franken first said it may be Fred Armisen, who portrays President Barack Obama in SNL skits. He then said occasional guest Alec Baldwin might be a better fit.

NBC Entertainment declined comment.

Today's birthdays

Playwright Tom Stoppard is 72. Actor Michael Cole ("The Mod Squad") is 64. Talk show host Montel Williams is 53. Actor Tom Cruise is 47. Actor Thomas Gibson is 47. Actress Hunter Tylo is 47. Actress Yeardley Smith is 45. Rock musician Kevin Hearn (Barenaked Ladies) is 40.

Source: The Associated Press

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