Obama still thinks Kanye West is a jackass

President Barack Obama didn't mince words back in 2009 when he called Kanye West "a jackass." Now he's done it again.

Writer David Samuels got the president to speak on the record about West for an article he wrote about the polarizing hip-hop star for the May issue of Atlantic magazine. At a January fund-raiser, Samuels asked Obama: Jay-Z or Kanye West?

The president answered, "Jay-Z" before adding, "although I like Kanye. He's a Chicago guy. Smart. He's very talented."

That's when Samuels went back to the 2009 interview Obama did with ABC's "Nightline" during which the president said the rapper was rude for interrupting Taylor Swift's acceptance speech at the MTV Video Music Awards.

"He is a jackass," Obama told Samuels. "But he's talented."

West, probably busy keeping up with his Kardashian (that would be Kim), hadn't responded to Obama's comments as of Thursday afternoon.

To read Samuels' article, go to www.theatlantic.com.

Sawyer to interview Romneys

On Monday's edition of ABC's "World News with Diane Sawyer," Sawyer will have an exclusive interview with presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, the network announced Thursday.

In the wide-ranging interview, Romney will talk about his Democratic rival, President Barack Obama, and many of today's hot-button issues, including the economy and health care. Sawyer will also talk with former Michigander Ann Romney, the candidate's wife, in their first joint network interview this election year.

The interview from Boston's Fenway Park will air on "World News" at 6:30 p.m. and an extended version will air on Monday's edition of "Nightline" at 11:35 p.m. The interview will also be featured on other ABC News platforms, including "Good Morning Am! erica," and www.abcews.com.

Fey addresses '30 Rock' future

Despite Alec Baldwin's suggesting that he's done with NBC's "30 Rock," (see today's quote at left), series creator and star Tina Fey says her costar isn't leaving.

Still, on Thursday's edition of ABC's "The View," Fey acknowledged that the end of the show is coming.

"As far as I know, he's not leaving the show. We're all in this together till the end," Fey said. "I think that he just maybe means that the end of the show -- we're in six years -- that the end of the show is visible on the horizon. We're all still on the show."

Both Fey and Baldwin have signed contracts with NBC to return for a seventh season of the show if NBC renews the acclaimed comedy. According to www.ew.com, "30 Rock" will likely get a green light for a seventh and final season.

"We can't do this for 35 years," Fey said. "We'd love to keep going and see where everybody ends up, right? But you don't want to see me with a gray stripe, eating a slice of pizza, going on dates."

Briefly

Melissa Gilbert says via Twitter that she's trying to get back into rehearsals after enduring a concussion and whiplash Monday on "Dancing With the Stars." The star is expected to perform on next week's shows.

Tickets ($39.50, $59.50 pavilion, $23 lawn) for Jason Mraz's Aug. 29 concert at DTE Energy Music Theatre go on sale at 10 a.m. today.

Buzzed-about boy band One Direction will headline a concert at the Palace of Auburn Hills on July 12, 2013, promoters announced Thursday. Ticket prices haven't been announced yet, but the show will go on sale at 10 a.m. April 21. Meanwhile, One Direction will play the Fox Theatre on June 1 -- this year!

COMPILED BY B.J. HAMMERSTEIN, FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER. CONTACT HIM AT 313-223-4528 OR BJHAM MERSTEIN@FREEPRESS.COM.