| AP |
Yeas & Nays has learned that Craig Ferguson, host of CBS’s “The Late, Late Show,” has been tapped as the entertainment for this year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner.
Hollywood sources tell us the details are still being finalized but Ferguson is expected to discuss his participation this week on “The Late, Late Show.”
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Ferguson seems to be a choice that splits the middle ground between Stephen Colbert and Rich Little. Colbert, who performed two years ago, made some pols and journos squirm when his edgy material, according to some, violated the event’s unspoken rule: You may poke, but not pierce. On the other extreme, Little’s performance last year was both polite and harmless, but it also came off as dated and irrelevant (and not that funny).
For his part, Ferguson tends to play it safe on his late night show. In 2005, for instance, he cut off HBO’s Bill Maher when the comic made a joke about Michael Jackson’s child-molestation trial. A recovering alcoholic, Ferguson has refused to make fun of Britney Spears’ recent troubles.
The Scottish-born Ferguson, who passed his U.S. citizenship test only last week, likes to open his monologue with the catch phrase “It’s a great day for America, everybody.” He’s also fond of calling his audience “naughty monkeys” and “cheeky monkeys” (we wonder if he’ll direct one of those sobriquets toward President Bush?).
When reached for comment or for some advice for his successor, Little declined.
UPDATE, 8:20 a.m.: Told ya…Ferguson mentioned his involvement on his show last night: “Anyway, my first job as an American citizen, I can exclusively reveal tonight is performing at the White House Correspondents Dinner weekend. I am doing it. I am doing it. I know! … It’s a big fancy party in D.C. It is like the Oscars for politicians. There are 2,800 journalists in attendance, Congress, military brass, Cabinet. I sit at the top table with the president and first lady right there. I am thinking, ‘Does he know I can’t be kicked out now?'”
UPDATE: WHCA President Ann Compton (from ABC) tells us that, during her recent interview with President George W. Bush, the first thing Bush asked her was, “Who’s the entertainment?” He was reportedly pleased with the answer.
UPDATE: Perino is expected to have reaction to the pick during her press gaggle at 9:30a.m.
UPDATE: Unofficial transcript of the morning Gaggle:
PERINO: Also, as many of you may have heard, CBS Late Night host Craig Ferguson — he became an America citizen on Friday — and we’re pleased that Ann Compton tells me that Mr. Ferguson* will soon officially put his first amendment rights to use by hosting the White House Correspondent’s Association dinner, on April 26th.
Q He’s performing, not hosting.
MS. PERINO: Performing. I’m sorry, it sayshosting, but you’re right, it’s performing, since the President hosts, right?
Q We host*.
MS. PERINO: You’re hosting us.
