There was once a time when I waited in line for hours for the privilege of watching Vladimir Putin speak live from a monitor in an adjacent room. (Oh, idealism!) But apparently if I wanted to get information out of the former Russian president and current and former prime minister, all I needed to do was routinely blog about how hot and manly he is and send him some softball questions.

That's what worked for a columnist for Outdoor Life from Fredericksburg, Texas, who recently published a rare long-form interview with Putin. While the Russian prime minister and a Texas hunting blogger seem like an odd pair, it's hardly the first time a politician has agreed to an interview or appearance that might be considered beneath them.

Whether it's George W. Bush catching bass or Obama's time on the talk show circuit, here are our favorites.

Bush goes Fishing with Roland Martin

Just so there's no confusion, this video shows the first time President Bush appeared on a show about fishing while in office. I can't even work up any real outrage over Bush's January 2008 appearance on ESPN2's Offshore Adventures, when the president joined hosts Chris and Melissa Fischer angling for striped bass in Chesapeake Bay.

At least for that appearance he managed to tie in policy, as much as an executive order to protect the striped bass and red drum fish populations qualifies as policy. Also I'm pretty sure that my mid-2007 Bush was phoning it in anyway.

But the 2004 appearance on Outdoor Life Network's Fishing with Roland Martin was initiated by the White House and took place on Bush's ranch in Crawford — during the week that 40 Marines died in the failed siege of Fallujah.

Clinton gets a little too personal on MTV

Sure, a special focusing on addressing young voters about violence in America sounds like a great idea, even if it's on MTV and moderated by Tabitha Soren. But after long discussions on gun crime, Bosnia, prisons and violence on television, the natives got a little restless.

And then, following a question about Pearl Jam coming to the White House, a girl stood up and asked the President of the United States whether he wore boxers or briefs.

It's a shame the video doesn't seem to be on the internet, because I'm pretty sure that query marked the beginning of the pre-screened question and the end of any modicum of spontaneity in town hall-type addresses. Thanks a lot, underwear girl.

Obama sits down with Tyra Banks

Obama has made some history with his television appearances while in office — he became first sitting president to go on a late night talk show when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and the first to appear on a daytime talk show when he hit The View.

But of all his talk show couch appearances, his appearance on The Tyra Banks Show during his 2008 campaign just feels the most cringe-worthy. Not because Tyra manages to make his historic appearance be about her first time voting in 1992, or because she invites herself to stay in the Lincoln Bedroom, or because she talks over his answers, or because she brings out a crystal ball — OK, never mind. It's all those things.

Jimmy Carter's Playboy interview

I realize there was a time when men could say they read Playboy for the articles and not be laughed across the street. But was there ever a time when a presidential candidate could give an exclusive to a skin mag without it causing a sensation? Apparently not.

Maybe Carter was trying to downplay his reputation as a highly religious Baptist, or maybe he was trying to reach a segment of the voting population that tends to vote Republican — men. Either way, by the presidential debates, even Carter himself had to admit the interview — in which he confesses to committing "adultery in his heart" — was a mistake