Sam Bee to Host “Alternative” Correspondents’ Dinner
The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has been a tradition of the White House Correspondents’ Association, the correspondents who work and cover the White House, for 97 years now. The dinner typically featured entertainment, including singing or a movie. Since the 80’s, the entertainment has primarily been in the form of a comedian, who roasts the President, his administration, and, as of late, the correspondents themselves.
In the past, presidents have often given a roast before the comedian host of the night. President Obama got his reputation as one of the funniest presidents through these dinners, once mercilessly roasting Donald Trump alongside host Seth Meyers in 2011. Other presidents and comedians have gone lighter in the past, especially during the George W. Bush era. The one exception, of course, was Stephen Colbert’s infamous, brutal satirical roast back in 2006.
But Donald Trump is not most presidents. He is unpredictable and it is impossible to know how he would act as “jokester-in-chief.” He is also not afraid to go cruel or to lie to our faces, so one can only imagine the kind of roast he might give. Another big question is what comedian would he even get to host? Based off his administration’s struggle to attract talent for the inauguration, it seems unlikely that they would be able to get a big name comedian. And even if they could, you can pretty much guarantee that none of them would be willing to sing Trump’s praises. Top that off with Trump’s known hatred of journalists, and one has a solid recipe for a very uncomfortable evening.
This is where Samantha Bee comes in. This morning she announced that her and the producers of her hit show “Full Frontal” will be hosting the “Not the White House Correspondents’ Dinner” on April 29, the same night as the real dinner, at the Willard Hotel in D.C. Bee insists that they are not trying to compete with the real dinner, but instead they are trying to create an opportunity for herself and other like-minded comedians to make the jokes they want to make about Trump. Details are still murky and it is unknown which comedians will be there, but “it will probably be shown on TBS.” The proceeds will go to the Committee to Protect Journalists.
Bee says her team came up with the idea after the November election, when they were wondering what the dinner would be like and if it would even exist. She brings up a good point. Would Trump really sit there quietly for a half hour while a comedian roasts him and his administration? Could he really play nice with journalists for a whole night? My gut says no, but who knows really?
Bee’s dinner also raises some questions: is this what comedy will be like for the next four years? Will comedians have to start looking for new, alternative methods to making jokes about the President? Obviously, they all have their shows but the White House Correspondents’ Dinner was typically a good way for the comedian to get the President’s ear directly. Not anymore. Time will tell how this tradition will change over the years (will there even be an association in four years?) but at least comedians are still going to find a way to make sure they have America’s ear. And that’s what really matters.
Image via The Verge.
