White House Scribes Pick NBC's Joel McHale to Host Correspondents Dinner

February 15th, 2014 8:01 AM

The White House Correspondents Association certainly doesn't have any "edgy" anti-Obama comics lined up to zing the president like Stephen Colbert whacked Bush in 2006. For this year's correspondents' dinner (celebrated on Twitter as "Nerd prom"), they picked Joel McHale, star of NBC's perpetually ratings-saggy sitcom "Community" and the E! channel talk show "The Soup."

In the Los Angeles Times, we're told McHale will mock both parties and the media:

"We're thrilled that Joel will headline the dinner when we celebrate our centennial," said WHCA President Steven Thomma in a statement. "He's sharp, funny, and just the type of comic who can navigate the unique challenge of our dinner, making fun of Democrats, Republicans and especially the news media. Washington can use a little good-natured ribbing."

Hosts in recent years have included Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers and Jay Leno. The president usually performs a little comedy himself, getting in digs at various members of his staff and the press.

The dinner has come under increasing criticism in recent years by people who feel the event creates the feeling of a clubby, friendly relationship between the administration and the people whose job it is to cover them.

On Twitter, McHale told fans, "My material will be equally offensive to all & over within 30 min - just like a Congressional work year."