Letterman will host the president

President Barack Obama will return to the Ed Sullivan Theater to chat with David Letterman on Monday. (Credit: CBS)

HAIL TO THE CHIEF: The “Late Show with David Letterman” is kicking off the new TV season on Monday with a rather high-profile guest. President Barack Obama is scheduled to sit down with Dave (10:35 p.m., CBS/Ch. 2).

It will be the president’s sixth visit to the “Late Show,” but his first since he was elected. Obama’s most recent appearance came this past September, in the midst of the 2008 campaign.

So, Jay Leno started his new show with a (painfully unfunny) fake interview with the president; Letterman will start his new season with a real one. Huh.