Photo: Lawrence Jackson/White House — President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama chat with guests, including Comedian Jay Leno, at the White House Press Dinner in Washington, DC, May 1, 2010
A lot of chatter today about who was funnier last night at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner; “Tonight Show” Host Jay Leno or President Barack Obama. The zingers were flying, but who got off the best lines?
Leno was the headliner, but President Barack Obama stepped to the podium first at the Washington Hilton and declared: “I’m so glad that I’m speaking first. We’ve seen what happens when someone takes the time slot after Leno.” A reference to that NBC screw-up that resulted in Conan O’Brien walking away from “The Tonight Show” — and Leno taking over the program again in March.
Later when the comedian took his turn in the spotlight, Leno said the criticism of Obama being anti-social was all wrong.”He loves to socialize…health care, car companies, things of that nature.”
More of Leno, the President, the jokes, and that glitzy media event on CNN and Nikki Finke’s Deadline.com/Hollywood. Both sites have photos of celebrity guests, among them the Jonas Brothers, Jessica Alba, Justin Bieber, Betty White, Steven Spielberg, and Michelle Pfeiffer.