Obama Plans Low-Key Event for Super Bowl

(FOX NEWS) - President Barack Obama and the first lady are planning a low-key Super Bowl weekend, breaking from previous years when they invited celebrities, politicians and wounded warriors to the White House for the big game.

The president is slated to give a live interview Sunday to NBC News' Matt Lauer, whose network is airing the game. Last year, FOX television aired the game, along with an Obama interview with FOX News' Bill O'Reilly.

First Lady Michelle Obama said earlier this week on "The Rachael Ray Show" that the first family would have a "quiet" Super Bowl Sunday.

For last year's game, the first couple hosted several members of the president's Cabinet, as well as Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony and members of Congress. They had bratwursts, kielbasa and beers from the home states of the teams playing -- the Green Bay Packers and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In 2010, the first family hosted a bipartisan group of members of Congress and injured military members who served in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Three years ago, when the Steelers played the Arizona Cardinals, members of Congress from the teams' home states came to the White House to watch the game.

The White House theater was filled with game watchers, and big-screen TVs were even set up in the East Wing.

But according to "The Obamas," a recent book by New York Times writer Jodi Kantor, the event had become something the first couple did not enjoy.

The book said the president, in particular, did not seem to like playing host and would rather focus on the game.

"He was sitting up front, he was watching the game, and he didn't move," Rep. Mike Doyle (D-Pa.) is quoted as saying in the book.

The president, an avid Chicago Bears fan, told ABC's Diane Sawyer last week that he is staying neutral in Sunday's game between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots. "I can't call it," Obama said.

"When the Bears are not involved, I can't make predictions because I will get into trouble. But both are great teams. Brady's obviously one of the best quarterbacks we've ever seen. Eli Manning's playing as well as he's ever played, and it's going to be a fun Super Bowl," he said.