Lesser-known recall candidates appear on Leno
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SPECIAL REPORT
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(CNN) -- Injecting some levity into a California governor's race laced with political sniping and sporadic court battles, "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" Monday night held what amounted to a nationally televised pep rally for about 90 of the 135 candidates -- none of them front-runners.
Never letting the show slip into reality, Leno introduced candidates like a round-faced Kurt E. Rightmyer, billed as a middleweight sumo wrestler who "wants to cut the fat out of the budget so he can eat it."
Then there was Mike McCarthy -- dressed like a patriotic Rocky Balboa -- identified as a used car salesman who has "spent his whole career lying his butt off just to prepare for going to Sacramento."
Leno also took a poke at former child star Gary Coleman, known for his role on the sitcom "Diff'rent Strokes." "The Tonight Show" host credited Coleman with being "an expert in national security ... and mall security, grocery store security, parking lot security ..."
Coleman filed for bankruptcy in 1999 and has held a variety of jobs since "Diff'rent Strokes" finished its run 1986.
With introductions out of the way, the candidates' forum dipped further into the surreal, rallied by the syncopated sounds of performance artists Blue Man Group.
An announcer's voice boomed, "Your attention please. Please yell if you're running for governor. All candidates please rise."
Some of candidates jumped to their feet, howling in approval, while others stayed firmly planted in their seats, appearing a bit bewildered.
The announcer coaxed the candidates a bit more: "Your attention please. Pump your fist if you want to be governor."
With that, a member of Blue Man Group charged into the midst of the candidates -- complete with his trademark blue painted bald head -- pumping his fist.
"Looking at the group of candidates," Leno said, "I can't help but think how proud I am to be from ... Massachusetts."
