Leno to Host White House Correspondents Dinner

Comedian will headline annual event for fourth time

By David Tanklefsky -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/22/2010 10:43:57 AM

After week of late-night drama in which Jay Leno traded barbs with David Letterman and tossed a few pot shots at NBC, the comedian will be making quips of a different kind this spring.  Leno will headline the annual White House Correspondents Dinner on May 1, White House Correspondents Association Executive Director Julia Whiston confirmed to B&C Friday.

It will be Leno's fourth time hosting the nationally televised dinner-he also did the honors in 1987, 2000 and 2004.  A source told The Washington Post's Lisa de Morales  the White House Correspondents Association had reached out to Leno long before the late-night brouhaha with Conan O'Brien erupted.

Recent entertainers at the dinner, which is traditionally attended by the president, have included Wanda Sykes, Craig Ferguson and impersonator Richard Little.  Stephen Colbert made headlines in 2006 when his satires of President Bush and his administration caused several Bush staffers to walk out and drew criticism from some in the Washington press corps.