On Monday this week, Full Frontal's Samantha Bee—who's really getting herself up there into the pantheon of patron saints for all Nasty Women—announced something fun.
She's holding her own White House Correspondents' Dinner. Because there's nothing like saying it straight, it's called "Not the White House Correspondents' Dinner".
BREAKING: Facts are real. So is this. pic.twitter.com/7xeXl0TnNy
— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB)
YES.
Please. All I want is to go to this.
Ok, how WOULD you get tickets to though? pic.twitter.com/8hBvt1jFYK
— Endly (@Gomennasatan)
A little over a week into his presidency, Donald Trump is attacking press freedoms (among others) all over the flipping place, so the "real" dinner, which advocates for press access to the White House, is already looking a bit strange.
“It will either be called off or it will probably be the most sinister, awkward event ever," said Bee's showrunner Jo Miller.
So Bee's admirably simple idea is to do her own version. At exactly the same time. "What an incredible coincidence," says her very genius press release.
"We’re not trying to supersede [the original dinner]," Bee told The New York Times on Monday. "We just want to be there in case something happens—or doesn’t happen—and ensure that we get to properly roast the president."
We're gonna party like it's 1984. https://t.co/KQFa1hLDnk
— Pat Cassels (@patrick_cassels)
Trump—and this might shock you—doesn't particularly enjoy being criticized, as seen (among one million other time) in his stormy reactions to jokes at his expense by former president Barack Obama and late-night star Seth Myers at the dinner in 2011.
But you know how that popular saying goes. If your president insists on systematically eroding civil liberties and undermining forums for meaningful debate, you just have to make your own.
Haven't heard that one before? Get back to me at the end of 2017.
Some more here from Bee's statement. Her "gala affair" will host "journalists and non-irritating celebrities from around the world", and donate all proceeds to the Committee to Protect Journalists (the one Meryl Streep shouted out in her Golden Globes protest speech).
"We suspect some members of the press may find themselves unexpectedly free that night, and we want to feed them and give them hugs…
"The evening is sure to bring plenty of surprises, music, food, and laughter—and if you're not careful you just might learn something. Specifically, you'll learn how screwed we'd be without a free press."
The event, please note, is apparently BYOB. And the press are excited.
Who knows if the annual will happen this year? But 's is definitely happening. https://t.co/y14YowujIO
— Matt Wilstein (@TheMattWilstein)
Talent for the evening is still to be announced, but you can follow the updates/angle for an invite by following #NotTheWHCD.
(This is me angling for an invite, Samantha Bee. In case that is unclear.) (Ed's Note: *coughs* me too *coughs*)
Very excited to see what delivers. pic.twitter.com/NCcfthwxLU
— Hillary Beulah (@HillaryIsMeta)
"We're really doing this," Bee's statement says. "This is not a joke."
Lets hope the is televised - ratings will smother the WHCD and that will just kill Voldetrump.
— Katie MacFarlane (@KatieMac765)
instant happy in your
mailbox every day.