White House Correspondents Insider

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

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Conan O'Brien: The Comeback Kid

November 9, 2010 By WHC Insider

Welcome back to late night, Coco.

Last night the former Tonight Show host made his basic cable debut on the TBS network and it did not go unnoticed. Conan O’Brien wasted no time in reminding viewers of how his firing went down last year, literally likening the NBC Network honchos to Godfather-like hitmen.

While it may have lacked the vim and verve of O’Brien‘s dash across America as he headed towards the land of Burbank for The Tonight Show, last night’s cold open showcasing O’Brien‘s search for new employment (including cameos by Mad Men’s Jon Hamm and “Guardian Angel” Larry King) proved the comedian could take a licking – and a joke.

And he’s got the last laugh: the debut of Conan won the ratings battle, beating NBC’s Tonight Show with Jay Leno, CBS’ Late Show with David Letterman, and fellow basic cable funnymen Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Let us here at WHC Insider be the first to publicly declare our vote for Conan O’Brien as the host of the 2011 White House Correspondents Association Dinner…although maybe he should shave first? Check out the bearded-one in last night’s monologue:

Filed Under: Late Night Tagged With: Conan, Conan O'Brien, David Letterman, Jay Leno, Jon Stewart, Late Night, Stephen Colbert

Leave' em Laughing

April 29, 2010 By WHC Insider

There’s probably no tougher room to play for a comedian than the Washington Hilton where hundreds gather for the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, with the guest of honor – the President of the United States – seated at your side.

And this year there’s no tougher act to follow than his own for Jay Leno, just months into his second stint as the host of NBC’s “The Tonight Show” after a much-publicized tussle between the peacock network, Leno and Conan O’Brien.

So The Hill gathered some advice for the funny man from some fellow comedians as he preps for his hosting duties.

Filed Under: DC, Event Coverage, Late Night, Washington Events Tagged With: Conan O'Brien, Jay Leno, The Hill, WHCA Dinner

Ali Wentworth Tells WHCInsider Her Twitter e-Rules

May 5, 2009 By Tammy Haddad

Ali Wentworth from whcinsider on Vimeo.

Ali Wentworth, actress, comedienne, Oprah regular, and wife of George Stephanopoulos gave WHCInsider the exclusive insight on her e-rules for the Information Super Highway. WHCInsider has learned that George Stephanopoulos is not permitted to tweet when Ali Wentworth is talking. Ali also doesn’t permit BlackBerrys in the bedroom and says tweeting should be something you do when you’re alone.

And she predicts her former boss, Jay Leno, will be a hit in his new 10:00 p.m. time slot, and thinks Wanda Sykes was told to tone down her blue humor for the WHCD. We picked up these scoops at the raucous party Ali and George hosted Monday night for the fun and fabulous Lee Woodruff’s second book: Perfectly Imperfect.

Check out our interview with Ali and you’ll know why she’s got her own show, “Head Case,” why she has a regular seat on Oprah, and why George is always smiling!

Filed Under: Washington Events Tagged With: Ali Wentworth, George Stephanopoulos, Jay Leno, Lee Woodruff, Oprah, Wanda Sykes, White House Correspondents Dinner

WHC Insider Exclusive: President Bush Goosed Jay Leno at 2004 WHCD

April 22, 2009 By Tammy Haddad

The WH Correspondents Dinner is known for outrageous moments, when a headline comedian roasts the President, who must sit and smile through the jokes. But in 2004, President Bush turned the tables on Jay Leno, giving him a little assist in standing.

John Fox Sullivan by Liz Lynch of National Journal

John Fox Sullivan by Liz Lynch of National Journal

It was 2004 and Carl Cannon of National Journal was president of the White House Correspondents Association. National Journal Group Publisher John Fox Sullivan was seated on the dais, with a clear view of President and Laura Bush, and late night talk show host Jay Leno.

Sullivan said, “When it comes time for the president and the first lady to be seated, we all stand up, but Jay Leno was a little slow to rise from his seat. President Bush secretly reached over and goosed Leno, while making a funny sound to startle the comic.”

In a ballroom packed with 2000 reporters, a sitting president grabs an American icon — who is about to tell jokes at the president’s expense! This is what makes the White House Correspondents’ Dinner a must-attend event every year.

“The president looked at Leno with a wonderful jocular smile,” said Sullivan. “Leno burst into laughter. After the speeches people asked what happened. Some thought it looked like Leno tripped.” Sullivan told WHC Insider it was one of the most memorable moments in his 33 years of working in Washington. 

Go to the Back Story to watch Leno’s 2004 roast of President Bush, after the president got closer than Leno ever expected.

Filed Under: History of Dinner Tagged With: Carl Cannon, Jay Leno, john fox sullivan, President Bush, White House Correspondents Association, White House Correspondents Dinner

List of Previous Talent: From Sykes to Nixon’s "Disneyland Golden Horseshoe Review"

March 30, 2009 By WHC Insider

Timeline of WHCD Performances From Wikipedia

1945:Performers included Frank Sinatra, Danny Thomas, Jimmy Durante, Fanny Brice and Danny Kaye.

1969: President Richard Nixon personally requested the Disneyland Golden Horseshoe Revue.

wallyboagpecosbill

Wally Boagpecosbill from Golden Horseshoe Revue

1985: Rich Little and President Ronald Reagan in a dual press conference skit.

1988: Yakov Smirnoff

[Read more…]

Filed Under: WHCD History Tagged With: Al Franken, Alretha Franklin, Bob Hope, Brian WIlliams, Cedrick The Entertainer, Chevy Chase, Danny Kaye, Danny THomas, Darrel Hammond, Disneyland, Drew Carey, Elayne Boosler, Fanny Brice, Frank Sinatra, Gerald Ford, Golden Horseshoe Reveiw, Jay Leno, Jimmy Durante, Norm Macdonald, Ozzy Osbourne, Ray Charles, Ray Romano, Rich Little, Richard Nixon, Ronald Reagan, Steven Cobert, White House Correspondents Dinner, Yakov Smirnoff

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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.

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