President Barack Obama and comedian Jay Leno met on the set of the Tonight Show on March 19. They are set to meet again on the stage of the White House Correspondents' Association dinner on May 1. (Photo by Gerald Herbert / AP)
by Mark Silva
Jay Leno is not only getting the Tonight Show back.
He's getting Washington, too:
The late-night-flopped-at-prime-time-returning-to-late-night comedian will serve as the entertainer at this year's dinner of the White House Correspondents' Association, an affair which draws a few thousand media, guests and some stars in their own rights in the audience. This year, the black-tie affair also is going "green."
It's back to late-night on March 1 for Leno, and the newly re-installed host of NBC's Tonight Show will headline the May 1 D.C. press dinner, USA Today's David Jackson reports. And he ought to know. He's vice president of the associaton this year.
"We suspect (hope) that Leno will joke about the dust-up involving his canceled 10 p.m. show and NBC's decision to put him back on at 11:35 p.m. in the place of the now-departed Conan O'Brien,'' Jackson writes at USA Today's Oval blog.
There is more than humor from the podium and fodder for paparazzi on the entry carpet at this affair. The association raises money for awards and scholarships. This year,17 students will receive a total of $132,000 to pursue educations in journalism.
The event usually features "a comedy routine from the president -- or at least an attempt at comedy,'' Jackson notes.
This will be a return engagement for Leno, his fourth in front of the correspondents, the president and their guests. (And the second, provided the president plays along, for President Barack Obama.)
Also, for the first time in its 96-year history, the association announces today, it is "taking action to reduce the carbon impact of its annual black-tie gala.'' This includes using, as much as possible, "paper products, supplies and services that reduce the threat of global warming, deforestation, toxic wastes, hazardous chemicals and species extinction.'' (In the current economy, journalists are among the endangered species.)
"This will be the most eco-friendly dinner ever hosted by the association,'' says Edwin Chen, association president and a Bloomberg News White House correspondent. "We encourage our members and guests to join in that effort, such as by car-pooling, using hybrid vehicles and, for long-distance travelers to Washington, buying carbon-offsets,''
That will mean, we suspect, some doubling up on the hiring of limos. The presidential motorcade, usually more than 15 vehilces long, will have to govern itself accordingly.
(Photo of Jay Leno, above, by Matt Walsh / AP)
Comments
MAYBE HE CAN GET NOBAMA BACK ON. WAIT, WOULD ANYONE WATCH?
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The Incredible Deflation of Barack Obama
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http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/mzuckerman/2010/01/21/mort-zuckerman-the-incredible-deflation-of-barack-obama.html?PageNr=1
Posted by: Bobby Mobbie | January 22, 2010 9:44 AM
Great time for a party.....
Posted by: Calvin | January 22, 2010 10:33 AM
I won't be watching him there either.
Posted by: kg123 | January 22, 2010 10:47 AM
This deal must have been made after his failure as a talk show host.
Posted by: robert | January 22, 2010 11:20 AM
Mark-
Thanks for the dates, know for sure to switch to FOX.
Posted by: Inky | January 22, 2010 11:32 AM
Mark-
Thanks for the dates, know for sure to switch to FOX.
Posted by: Inky | January 22, 2010 11:32 AM
That's what we love about you....your open mind.
Posted by: bill r. | January 22, 2010 1:04 PM
The TeaBaggers can have Jay, I'm with Coco!
Posted by: janet | January 22, 2010 1:26 PM
Jay Leno--the "man" who hid under a desk in a network conference room for hours because that was where he had learned the discussions were to be held by the producers of The Tonight Show regarding whether Letterman or Leno would take over....Leno was privy to what terms the producers were looking for.... And, didn't I read that Leno said on the air to O'Brien recently that 'the show (Tonight) is yours'? Right. Leno is pretty base, and has no real wit or real curiosity. I remember Leno interviewed actress Jane Russell once. He could have asked her questions about old Hollywood or about Howard Hughes. Instead, all Leno wanted to discuss were Russell's breasts. It was embarrassing for about 51% of the viewing audience. That was one of the last times I watched Leno. O'Brien is much more like Carson--in the kind, witty, thoughtful and educated way. Lumpy Leno is crude, extremely unattractive and a base bore. Not good things to watch before retiring for the evening. Why isn't Leno on with those Redneck comediens? Obama was a wimp for not going on Conan O'Brien's show. Instead he did the 'safe' thing using Leno's show. I guess Leno and Obama are both cut from the same cloth and might have been more in-synch---both understanding and employing doublespeak, BS and snake talk using their respective forked tongues. Leno is so nothing, so yesterday and sooo done. The WH Correspondents have done the 'safe' thing, too. Pity.
Posted by: Vivian | January 22, 2010 3:48 PM
Leno vs. Letterman, When Celebs Attack
David Letterman has been sitting atop the late night Nielsen ratings since Jay Leno went prime time and Conan O’Brien took over the Tonight Show, a rare and heady experience for Dirty Dave which should end soon after Leno gets re-entrenched at 11:30.
It’s all good though. Conan is crying all the way to the bank with his wallet stuffed with $45 million NBC had to pay him and Dave is scared out of his worldwide pants that he will again become second fiddle to Leno’s Tonight show, a slot he’s been salivating for since Johnny Carson left the scene.
To demonstrate once again his lack of class and professionalism, Letterman has been relentlessly ripping Leno ever since news of the NBC shakeup became public, mimicking Leno’s voice, mocking his failed 10 pm “variety show,” blaming him for the fiasco, suggesting he stole his material.
Leno finally retaliated with an allusion to Letterman’s confessed infidelities: “You know the best way to get Letterman to ignore you? Marry him. He will not bother you. He won’t look you in the eye:” http://bit.ly/8qr6H0
If Leno thinks that will bother Letterman he has another think coming.
Dave shacked up with his long time live-in, . . .
(Read more at http://www.genelalor.com/blog1/?p=1439)
Posted by: Berlet98 | January 22, 2010 5:57 PM
Let's see how this works. General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, noted liberal who sits on BO' Economic advisory board happens to still own NBC (sale not final to Comcast yet). He gets his prime comedian on the White House's Correspondents dinner. Letterman ought to be peeved.
Posted by: Terry | January 22, 2010 6:24 PM
Unfortunately for Mr. Leno and his bosses at NBC, this story just won't go away. And their endless explanations don't seem to help much, either.
For any readers too young to recall - or maybe just not interested in late night TV history - it might help your perspective on the current Leno vs O'Brien mess to read some background on the original Leno vs Letterman feud. Here's the full story of how Jay Leno took over the 'The Tonight Show' hosting gig from long-time host Johnny Carson, way back in 1993.
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http://bit.ly/6FjAQq (complete article - NY Times; 1994)
Posted by: Justa Notherguy | January 27, 2010 5:56 PM