By MICHAEL POPE
Last updated: 11:12 am
August 28, 2008
Posted: 3:04 am
August 28, 2008
YOU win this round, Mr. Leno.
Michael Phelps - 14-time Olympic gold medalist - will appear on "The Tonight Show" before appearing on David Letterman's "Late Night."
The two late-night talk show hosts have been scrambling to book as many Olympic competitors as they can, but Leno came out on top, snagging the first TV interview with the games' biggest star on Sept. 8.
A CBS representative who asked not to be named conceded they'd expected to lose.
"Phelps has strong ties to NBC, so it's not surprising for us," the official said.
No matter, Letterman has landed his fair share of Olympic champions as well, including: gymnastics gold medalist Shawn Johnson and beach volleyball gold medalists Kerri Walsh and Misty May-Treanor.
"The Tonight Show" won't be the only appearance Phelps will be making on the peacock network. He is also hosting the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" on Sept. 13.
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