Jay Leno To Give Keynote At White House Correspondents Dinner

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Comedian Jay Leno was selected to be a keynote presenter at the White House Correspondents Dinner, an event held annually to recognize journalists covering issues around White House and the President of the United States. Every year, the President gives a funny speech to entertain the audience. But, he will have to stand competition from the re-appointed King of late-night comedy Jay Leno this year.

The invitation follows a long dispute between Leno and another prominent talk show host Conan O'Brien. The two comedians were pitted against each other by NBC when it was announced that Leno would take over O'Brien's 11:35 PM air time after the Olympics. O'Brien was evidently not happy about the decision and made his frustration known. He has now been officially let go by NBC, and is rumoured to be heading to the FOX network. It is alleged Leno was picked to present at the Dinner weeks before the dispute.

Leno has made an appearance at the White House Correspondents Dinner before. He was the presenter in 2004. Conan O'Brien was the key entertainer in 1995.

The White House Correspondents Dinner drew ire in recent years for the enforcement of "coziness" between the White House press corps and the Administration. The dinner has also been criticized for overshadowing the intended purpose to honour and acknowledge journalists working at the White House by extending invitations to celebrity guests and entertainers.

The dinner featured many famous entertainers in the past, including comedians and artists like Wanda Sykes, Craig Ferguson, Rich Little, Stephen Colbert, David Letterman, Ray Charles, Darrel Hammond, Ray Romano and Al Franken.

The White House Correspondents Dinner will be held on April 24, 2010 at the Washington Hilton.