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Cover Story us?” Obama somewhat echoed that sentiment in 2012: “I have the nuclear codes. What am I doing telling knockknock jokes to Kim Kardashian?”
In 1987, President Ronald Reagan called first lady Nancy Reagan to the podium to say a few kind words to the press. After a pause she responded, “I’m thinking.”
H ave a political connection: It’s hard to be irritated by all the Hollywood hoopla when guests have links to This Town. The casts of “The West Wing,” “House of Cards,” “Veep” and “Scandal” are always right at home. 2014 outlook: Two words: Lupita Nyong’o. Overall, the guest list seems to pull back on the glam this year and reflects a more dignified group. FOURTH COURSE
Go ahead, jab: In 2010, Obama said that while he had done much to revive the economy, there was nothing he could do for the media. “I’m not a miracle worker.” The following year, comedian Seth Meyers made reference to the changing media landscape: “The New York Times’ [after party] used to be free, but apparently there’s a cover now,” he said referencing the paper’s new paywall. “So like everyone else, I will probably go to the Huffington Post party.” But tread carefully: The media didn’t take too kindly to Colbert’s speech in 2006 and, therefore, barely covered it. In one joke, he urged journalists to “write that novel you got kicking around in your head. You know, the one about the intrepid Washington reporter with the courage to stand up to the administration. You know — fiction!” Honor the craft: In 2003, George W. spent a good portion of his speech honoring two journalists who died that year while covering the war: David Bloom and Michael Kelly. “Both men brought great credit to a hardworking profession,” Bush said. 2014 outlook: This year may actually be the most media-focused dinner in a long time, as it’s the 100year anniversary of the White House Correspondents’ Association.
he played a video spoofing his final days in office (chasing Hillary’s limo with a bag lunch, watching his laundry dry). In 2005, Laura Bush drew headlines for her jabs at George. “At 9 p.m., Mr. Excitement here is asleep and I’m watching ‘Desperate Housewives.’ Ladies and gentlemen, I’m a desperate housewife!”
LOIS RAIMONDO (THE WASHINGTON POST)
It’s called the correspondents’ dinner because it was created by journalists. So some references to them is encouraged, even though a growing number have been boycotting the dinner. (Tom Brokaw said the last straw for him was the 2012 attendance of Lindsay Lohan — though presidential candidate Rick Santorum, seen snapping the starlet’s picture, didn’t seem to mind.)
CHARLES TASNADI (AP)
Media Hat-Tips
In 2002, hundreds clamored for autographs and pictures with Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, stars of a new MTV reality show. Sharon later admitted: “To be honest, I don’t know a senator from a newscaster.”
DESSERT
Something Special No, we’re not talking about E! livestreaming the dinner’s red carpet like last year. We said special. Offer a personal touch: In 1927, entertainers sang original songs highlighting moments in Coolidge’s presidency, even mentioning the mechanical horse he liked to ride in his White House bedroom. In 1954, Irving Berlin serenaded Dwight D. Eisenhower with an original song. At Clinton’s last dinner as president,
Provide a taste of the real world: In 1946, as conservation methods swept the country, Harry Truman and guests ate a new wheat-saving “dark bread.” In 1958, as a recession gag, combs and tissue paper were placed on tables, and guests were “encouraged to make their own music to save on expenses.” In 1974 — with Richard Nixon naturally absent and Watergate buzzwords on everyone’s minds — a telegram from correspondents off covering the president was read, relaying “Mr. Nixon’s warmest ‘inaudible’ and his sincerest ‘unintelligible.’” Be unique: George W. got laughs in 2006 when he brought out comedian Steve Bridges, who did an on-point impersonation. Last year, a “House of Cards” parody showed Frank Underwood (Kevin Spacey) stockpiling tickets to the dinner and deciding where everyone got to sit. (Said Sen. John McCain: “As long as you don’t put Pelosi at our table. She keeps trying to friend me on Facebook.”) 2014 outlook: We can’t help but hope for another “House of Cards” parody.
A Serving Of ‘Soup’ And Snark “Welcome to ‘Meet the Press,’ but with a lot more profanity and d--- jokes,” Joel McHale told a studio audience before Wednesday’s taping of E!’s “The Soup” in D.C. After nearly 10 years of roasting celebrities, reality television and daytime talk shows on the weekly clip show, McHale will skewer an equally snarked-upon segment of society on Saturday: political Washington. “The Soup” was in town this week because McHale’s hosting the White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Though this week’s “Soup” didn’t turn political, it did feature NBC’s Chuck Todd and CNN’s Jake Tapper, By Rudi Greenberg as well as D.C.-themed backdrops. Considering that McHale isn’t a political comic, he’s not the most obvious choice of host, but he has the potential to be a great one. McHale is an equal opportunity offender. Though his usual targets are tabloid fixtures, I’m confident he can apply his insult-generating powers to the political and media elite. The last four WHCD hosts — Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and Jay Leno — were all well-versed in political humor. The closest McHale gets to mocking politics on “The Soup” is playing off a cable news clip, or riffing on one of Anthony Weiner’s many scandals. But according to “Soup” executive producer K.P. Anderson, “Joel is actually the one who will come in with a big stick up his ass about something going on in the news a lot more often than I will.” After the taping, I got to see McHale’s quick wit in action. While Anderson and I were talking, McHale walked by. Anderson mentioned I was from The Washington Post, to which McHale replied, “What’s that? That’s an A ma z on sup plement right?” Don’t be surprised if he tells that one on Saturday, too.