The White House Correspondents Dinner is my favorite thing ever! Ever since Stephen Colbert roasted George W. Bush a few years back, I look forward to this like CHRISTMAS. Two years ago Wanda Sykes was the guest comedian, last year it was Jay Leno, this year was Seth Meyers.
If you’re unfamiliar with the White House Correspondents Association Dinner then here’s the scoop: Starting in 1920, the White House Correspondents Association (an organization of journalists who cover the White House and the President of the United States) holds a dinner on the last Saturday in April at the Hilton. Usually the president and vice president will go. Before World War II, the dinner included singing between courses, a movie, and an hour-long, post-dinner show with big-name performers. Over the past several years they’ve switched to hiring comedians who basically roast the President.
Past comedians have included Sinbad, Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart, Drew Carey, Jay Leno and Cedric the Entertainer. After the year where Stephen Colbert embarrassed him, George W. Bush had his wife do the funny bits and it was very lovely.
In addition to the actual press in attendance, lots of movie stars come to these things. This year’s famouse people included Eric Stonestreet, Jesse Tyler Ferguson. Jane Lynch, Mira Sorvino, Kate Hudson, Amber Riley, Alyssa Milan, Felicity Huffman, Rashida Jones, Chelsea Handler, Cee-Lo, America Ferrera, Sean Penn, Anna Paquin, Mindy Kaling, Chris Colfer, Jon Hamm, Eliza Dushku, and DJ Samantha Ronson. The complete guest list is here, except it’s not really complete.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9mzJhvC-8E&feature=player_embedded
