This morning’s Washington Post had a rundown of the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, and one line a few paragraphs down pretty much sums up the entire article: “Weird? Totally.” So, so, so, totally, totally, totally weird. I know that Washington is “Hollywood for ugly people.” But the cast of west coast characters that showed up for Saturday night’s bash was just bizarre: newly engaged pop stars Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson, Pamela Anderson, Donatella Versace, Jenny McCarthy. Heidi Montag, Spencer Pratt, and Lauren Conrad from MTV’s reality show “The Hills.” I guess with these names, it shouldn’t be too much of a surprise that gossip blogger Perez Hilton would make an appearance too. But, the list was enough to have me rubbing my eyes and wondering if I was still too half asleep to grasp that the entire piece was a joke. When did this happen? When did the dinner turn into…this?
I checked some old Post clips, and I’ve come to this conclusion: 2008. Check the boldfaced names from last year: football star Reggie Bush, figure skater Michelle Kwan, actress Morgan Fairchild, comedian Eddie Izzard, that guy Sanjaya from last year’s American Idol, Jenny Craig spokesperson Valerie Bertinelli, and then “Grey’s Anatomy” star Isaiah Washington. Celebrities, yes. But few are part of the US Weekly cover stars crowd.