LOS ANGELES  —  Sen. John McCain will make his first post-election TV appearance on the "Tonight" show next week, NBC said Friday.

The Republican presidential candidate is set to join "Tonight" host Jay Leno on Tuesday in honor of Veteran's Day, the network announced. McCain is a former Naval officer and prisoner of war in Vietnam.

Picking a talk show over a news show for his first TV interview guarantees McCain a more lighthearted experience after his loss to President-elect Barack Obama.

That McCain chose "Tonight" instead of David Letterman's "Late Show" on CBS may have its roots in the campaign. Letterman repeatedly roasted McCain for canceling a September guest shot because of the economic crisis, finally relenting when McCain came on and said he had "screwed up."