Jimmy Kimmel cracks wise at Washington’s ‘Nerd Prom’ (+video)
Jimmy Kimmel had ‘em rolling in the aisles at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner Saturday night. So did President Obama, although he’s probably grateful that he didn’t have to go on after Mr. Kimmel.
Obama may be able to launch drones and summon up Air Force One whenever he wants to. At last year’s dinner, he had to be funny knowing that he’d secretly ordered SEAL Team 6 to attack Osama bin Laden in Pakistan. But when it comes to humor, the President and his speech writers were in pretty competitive comedic territory at what’s known as Washington’s “Nerd Prom.”
Kimmel admitted to being nervous, but his jokes were solid (those that fluttered rather than killed he quipped had been written by Jake Tapper, senior White House correspondent for ABC News), his delivery was smooth, his timing right on.
In the middle of his routines, the great Mort Sahl would say: “Is there anybody here I haven’t offended? I’ll get to you in a minute.”
Kimmel got to just about everybody – political celebrities (Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich), media celebrities (Rupert Murdoch and Keith Olbermann), celebrity celebrities (Lindsay Lohanand Kim Kardashian). But it was in ways that merely tip-toed to the edge of personal insult, his dagger more rubber than steel.
Mr. and Mrs. Obama weren’t spared.
“I know you won’t be able to laugh at my jokes about the Secret Service,” Kimmel said to the President. “Please cover your ears, if that’s physically possible.
Jerry Roberts
