LOS ANGELES , California ( CNN ) -- President Obama mixed jokes with serious discussion Thursday during an appearance on `` The Tonight Show with Jay Leno . '' President Obama chats it up with Jay Leno on `` The Tonight Show '' on Thursday . While presidential candidates have used comedy shows for campaigning as far back as Richard Nixon 's performance on `` Rowan & Martin 's Laugh-In '' in 1968 , Obama became the first sitting president to appear before a late-night talk show studio audience . Obama complimented guitarist Kevin Eubanks on his suit , and he cracked jokes about the Secret Service and `` American Idol '' host Simon Cowell . Obama also remarked on his poor bowling skills , which were evident during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania . He told Leno that he bowled 129 in the White House bowling alley and said his bowling skills are `` like Special Olympics or something . '' Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton said the president 's remarks were not meant to poke fun of the Special Olympics . `` The president made an offhand remark making fun of his own bowling that was in no way intended to disparage the Special Olympics , '' Burton said . `` He thinks that the Special Olympics are a wonderful program that gives an opportunity to shine to people with disabilities from around the world . '' Obama later moved on to topical discussions of the economic crisis and the AIG bonus scandal . Watch some of Obama 's appearance » . `` The problem with AIG was that it owed so much and was tangled up with so many banks and institutions that if you had allowed it to just liquidate , to go into bankruptcy , it could have brought the whole financial system down . So it was the right thing to do to intervene in AIG , '' Obama said . Obama said earlier this week that he 'll `` take responsibility '' for AIG executives receiving those controversial bonuses -- roughly $ 165 million -- while the company took $ 173 billion in government bailouts . Congress is looking for ways to recoup all or some of that money . `` The larger problem is we 've got to get back to an attitude where people know enough is enough , and people have a sense of responsibility and they understand that their actions are going to have an impact on everybody , '' he said . `` If we can get back to those values that built America , then I think we 're going to be OK. '' Obama also said he was confident in his embattled Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner . `` I think Geithner is doing an outstanding job . I think that we have a big mess on our hands , '' he said . `` It 's not going to be solved immediately , but it is going to get solved . '' Obama taped the show Thursday afternoon during a two-day swing through the Los Angeles area for town hall meetings focusing on the economy . iReport.com : Nice to see the `` real '' Obama . Obama also discussed the `` life in the bubble , '' musing over how Secret Service agents would not let him walk 750 yards from Air Force One to the Costa Mesa fairgrounds , where some of the day 's activities were to take place . Obama said flying in Air Force One is `` pretty cool , '' especially because `` they give you the jacket with the [ presidential ] seal on it , '' he said . The only time Leno appeared to stop Obama in his tracks was when he asked the president whether he thought people intentionally lose basketball games when they play with him . `` I do n't see why they would throw the game , except for all those Secret Service guys with guns around , '' he said . There 's some political risk for Obama , according to Washington Post media columnist Howard Kurtz , who also hosts CNN 's `` Reliable Sources . '' AC360 blog : Laughing through the pain . `` He has to be very careful about his tone , because if he yuks it up too much and seems to be having too good a time , it will be quite a contrast there with the pain the people are feeling with the crumbling economy , '' Kurtz said . CNN 's Suzanne Malveaux contributed to this report .
President compliments Kevin Eubanks ' suit , pokes fun at Simon Cowell . Obama on more serious topic : `` The problem with AIG is it owed so much '' He says bonuses are problem , but larger issue is people feel lack of responsibility . President must be careful not to trivialize economic pain , media observer cautions .