Jay Leno to Keynote White House Correspondents Dinner
(AP Photo/David Kohl, file)
The White House Correspondents Association picked Leno to be the featured speaker at this year's dinner weeks ago, the Washington Post reports, before his public clash with NBC and the current "Tonight Show" host Conan O'Brien.
After several months of disappointing ratings for both the "Tonight Show" and the primetime "Jay Leno Show," NBC ousted O'Brien, sending him off with a $45 million exit deal, to reinstate Leno as host of the "Tonight Show" in March.
The Correspondents Dinner, taking place this year at the Washington Hilton on May 1, brings together journalists, politicians and celebrities and raises money for journalism scholarships.
Comedian Wanda Sykes hosted last year's dinner.