Jay Leno to Host White House Correspondents' Dinner

2 years ago

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Washington Reporter

The week's most unpopular stand-up comic -- NBC's Jay Leno -- will host the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner on May 1, the Washington Post reports. The association had asked Leno to host weeks ago, before a high-profile conflict with NBC and fellow late-night host Conan O'Brien took his public approval rating south. Leno has been hosting a prime-time show that has not performed well in the ratings. NBC recently announced that it would move his show to later at night, effectively ending O'Brien's stint hosting "The Tonight Show" after only seven months.

"I have chosen to stay on the Titanic," Leno said after NBC reached a deal with O'Brien to end his contract for $32 million. "Apparently we'll be back on 'The Tonight Show' March first after the Olympics, so that's pretty much where we are."

O'Brien bitterly joked to his audience: "Hosting 'The Tonight Show' has been the fulfillment of a lifelong dream for me, and I just want to say to the kids out there watching: You can do anything you want in life -- unless Jay Leno wants to do it, too."

Last year's host at the correspondents' dinner was comedian and "Daily Show" contributor John Hodgman, best known for representing Microsoft computers in Apple's "Mac vs. PC" commercials.

Filed Under: Media

Tagged: comedy, conan obrien, ConanObrien, daily guidance, DailyGuidance, jay leno, JayLeno, john hodgman, JohnHodgman, late night talk shows, LateNightTalkShows, obama administration, ObamaAdministration, white house correspondents association dinner, white house correspondents dinner, WhiteHouseCorrespondentsAssociationDinner, WhiteHouseCorrespondentsDinner

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