Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

People: Obama sees Dave, dominoes in future

President Barack Obama, left, appears with host David Letterman during a taping of “Late Show with David Letterman” on Monday in New York. (Associated Press)
From Wire Reports

President Barack Obama is envisioning a future of playing dominoes with retiree David Letterman.

Obama joked about their quieter futures during his eighth “Late Show” appearance Monday, saying Americans have grown up with the 33-year veteran comedian.

“After a tough day at the office or coming home from work, knowing that you’ve been there to give us a little bit of joy and a little bit of laughter, it has meant so much,” Obama said. Letterman is filling his CBS show with prominent guests in the lead-up to his final show May 20.

Letterman returned Obama’s praise by complimenting his “very funny” performance at the White House Correspondents Dinner last month. “I’m a pretty funny guy,” Obama responded.

“You have guys writing that stuff?” Letterman said, to which Obama threw up his hands and gave a sidelong look at the audience like he couldn’t believe Letterman would ask. “No,” Obama deadpanned. “I came up with it all myself.”

Obama indicated that, like Letterman, he is looking forward to life out of the spotlight. “It does feel good not to have to be on the stump,” Obama said of the 2016 campaign.

“I was thinking you and me could play some dominoes together,” Obama said. “We could go to the local Starbucks and swap stories.”

Lauryn Hill cancels Israel show

Lauryn Hill is canceling a planned performance in Tel Aviv because she wasn’t able to also schedule a concert in the nearby Palestinian city of Ramallah.

The singer-songwriter said in a statement Monday that she originally intended to perform in both cities in hopes of being “a presence supporting justice and peace.”

She said setting up a show in the Palestinian territories “proved to be a challenge.” Not wanting to alienate fans, Hill canceled her concert in Israel that was to take place later this week.

Hill said she’s seeking a different approach to bring her music to fans in the region.

The birthday bunch

Actress Pat Carroll is 88. Comedian-actor Michael Palin (Monty Python) is 72. Actor John Rhys-Davies is 71. Singer Ian McCulloch (Echo and the Bunnymen) is 56. Newsman Brian Williams is 56. Actress Danielle Fishel (“Boy Meets World”) is 34. Singer Adele is 27. Singer Chris Brown is 26.