White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

  • Home
  • About
  • 30th Anniversary Garden Brunch
  • Washington Insider
  • Archives
  • Contact

Wanda Psychs Out Washington?

March 24, 2009 By WHC Insider

Sick and Tired

Sick and Tired

Is Washington ready for Wanda?  That’s the question posed by Politico style reporter Patrick Gavin over the weekend and one that underscores the incredibly sensitive nature of selecting the “official entertainment” for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner each year.

When it was announced earlier this year that Sykes would be the headliner for the 2009 dinner, it seemed a non-controversial choice on the surface.  While traditionally the actress/comedian has not been a politically active force by Hollywood standards, she was vocally opposed to California’s Proposition 8 and it’s fitting symbolism for President Obama’s first major Washington dinner.

But as the event draws nearer, expect the nerves to grow.  There’s a thin line between edgy comedy at these events and that which borders on the offensive — either politically or in terms of taste.

A quick look at the topics Sykes addressed during her 2006 comedy special, “Sick and Tired,” include:  “Stripper Therapy,” “My Uterus,” “Animal Love” and “Don’t Give A F#@k.”

A far cry from the material you could expect from Rich Little but also much more blue than that of Stephen Colbert, whose stinging rebuke of President Bush and the national press corps caused more consternation in DC than an Andrew Dice Clay routine would have.

What should we expect from Sykes this year?  You can catch some of her performances on YouTube and judge for yourselves but Jennifer Loven, AP White House correspondent and this year’s president of the association did not sound overly concerned with the possibility for trauma in her comments to Politico:

Loven acknowledges that there are risks involved, but she says she thinks Sykes will be “great.”

“I think it’ll be fun to have somebody edgy,” said Loven. “You always run a risk. It’s not our routine. We don’t have — and don’t want — control over the routine. … It’s an issue of trust: trust and cross your fingers that it doesn’t cross the line. We’re not censors. … It’s her job to figure out what’s right for the room.”

Loven said that when Sykes asked her if the routine needed to be clean, she responded, “Well, the president is sitting at the head table, so you do what you think is appropriate.”

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedinShare on Pinterest

Filed Under: Wanda Sykes Tagged With: Politico, Wanda Sykes

Search WHCInsider

2023 WHC Garden Brunch

About White House Correspondents Insider

Exploring “behind the scenes” of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

We track the White House Correspondents’ weekend and all the activities around it, from journalists and media companies to the White House and politicos.

Tammy Haddad is Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of WHC Insider and CEO of Haddad Media.

White House Correspondents Insider is not affiliated with or approved by the White House Correspondents’ Association, which is a registered trademark of the WHCA.

Cone of Silence Podcast

WHCA Seating Chart

Connect

  • YouTube
  • Flickr
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Apple
  • Google

Instagram

Yesterday @BlueStarFamilies officially kicked off the #DoYourPart campaign on Capitol Hill. BSF CEO @rothdouquet & @craignewmark joined @RepDonBacon, @RepHoulahan, @TimKaine, Michael Collins from @Starbucks & Heidi Andersen from @NextDoor for a briefing moderated by @jonkarl to launch the national campaign to address the quality-of-life challenges undermining our nation’s military members & their families.
CNN celebrates Dana Bash and her 30 years of reporting. The new host of Inside Politics was feted by democrats, republicans and media competitors in Washington DC.
The Birthday and Coronation of HM King Charles III reception at the British Embassy in DC
@themessenger @jimlaporta Important investigation of US Marines drinking contaminated water
Guests chat in front of Micron’s Wall of Memory at the CBS News WHCD after party. #CBSNewsAfterParty @we_are_micron
Megan Klink, Nikki Braden, Vinoda Basnayake, Lisa Vanderpump, Peyton Doyle and Jimmy Murrill at the #GardenBrunch
Sean Walsh, Lisa Vanderpump, and Daniel Lippman toasting the 30th Anniversary #GardenBrunch 🥂
The #GardenBrunch, Liev Schreiber and Amb. Oksana Markarova salute the work of Kathy Roth-Douquet and Blue Star Families, with special thanks to Craig Newmark
CNBC’s Andrew Ross Sorkin, WME’s Henry Reisch and CNN’s Abby Phillip at the #GardenBrunch
#GardenBrunch guests Tinx, Brooke Hammerling, Kara Swisher, Amanda Katz, Phil Rucker and Josh Humphries
Retired Navy Corpsman and Bronze Star for Valor recipient Dr. Rich Jadic and Army Delta Force member Bo White, both of whom helped save Fox News reporter Benjamin Hall when he was wounded in Ukraine, Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin and Save our Allies co-founder Sarah Verardo attend the 30th Anniversary White House Correspondents' Garden Brunch.
Joe Berchtold, Evan Ryan, Maria Teresa Kumar, Rosario Dawson, Raj Kumar and Hilary Rosen at the #GardenBrunch

Copyright © White House Correspondents Insider

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.