More Funny Business

As I have mentioned before on this blog, comedy is a dangerous thing, especially in the hand of amateurs.  The latest example came when National Security Advisor Jim Jones tried to loosen up the crowd at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy with and recycled version of an old Jewish joke.   Uh.. let’s say it wasn’t the best joke.

Still, when it comes to comedy, I’m no expert, but my credentials were recently burnished when I was named the “judge’s choice”* as “DC’s Funniest Reporter” at the Commedia del Media charity stand-up contest at the National Press Club this month.

That was enough to get me quoted in The Hill newspaper along with some real pros, including Mike Larson and Kathy Griffin, offering advice to Jay Leno, who performs this Saturday night at the White House Correspondent Association Dinner.

First of all,  me offering advice on stand-up comedy to Jay Leno is a little like me offering golf pointers to Tiger Woods, or beauty tips to George Clooney, but since The Hill published just a few quotes from my memo to Jay, in the interest of public service, here’s the whole thing:

To:       Jay Leno
From:  Jamie McIntyre, DC Funniest Reporter
Date:   Thursday, April 29, 2010
Re:       Knock ‘em Dead.

Regarding this Saturday’s White House Correspondent’s Dinner, aka “the Prom”:

1.  The bad news is, if the dinner stays on schedule, you will get on just about 10 o’clock, which I understand is not a great time for you. On the other hand, the good news is you’ll be on C-Span, which these days, is running well ahead of CNN in the ratings.

2.  Speaking of C-SPAN, they seem to be able to afford only one microphone at these events, and the result is they’ll pick up your shtick, but not much of the laughter of the crowd.  This is why so many people think Stephen Colbert bombed back in 2006.  He didn’t, so you should get in your contract that there’s a second microphone to pick up the crowd. Either that or just have them dub in a laugh track.

3.  Beware of the warm-up act.  Traditionally the President does comedy at the White House dinner, and is always funny.  After all he’s got the same writers who did that boffo financial reform speech last week.   Seriously, it’s hard to follow the president.

4. Self-deprecating humor has always been a winner in Washington, ever since President Kennedy invented it back in the 1960s.   And let’s face it, you have a lot of “self” to “deprecate.”  Milk the Conan thing.  You might want to check with your pal Letterman, after all Dave had the inspired idea for that great Super Bowl ad with you and Oprah.

5.  Don’t buy into that myth of a liberal news elite. Be bipartisan.  Make fun of the both the tea party activists AND moderate Republicans, too.

6.   Always good to be topical, and there’s nothing like a good “collateralized debt obligation” or “credit default swap” joke to get the crowd loosened up.

7.  Don’t get confused.  Despite all the Hollywood stars, it really IS Washington, although the hardest thing to find at the White House Correspondents Association Dinner is an actual White House Correspondent.  Oh and keep an eye out for the Salahi’s.   They are always good for a few jokes.

8.  Don’t be cocky.  Remember being picked as the entertainment at the WHCA dinner is a little like winning the Nobel Peace Prize.  It’s based more on your potential future achievements, rather than any recognition of what you’ve already accomplished.

9.  Invest in a tuxedo.  Once you get invited to one of these dinners, you tend to get invited back.  A tux is a good investment.   Trust me on this one.

10.  Lay off Larry King.   The man’s got enough going on in his life right now.

Jamie McIntyre, was named Third Funniest Reporter on the Planet in 2006, was the third funniest celebrity in Washington that same year, and this was picked as DC’s funniest reporter by judges in the Commedia del Media competition on April 8, 2010.

(*I have to say “judge’s choice,” because while I was judged to be the funniest, the overall criteria included a category for how many supporters you brought with you to the event, and Rich Edson of Fox Business News had a much bigger posse, so we shared the crown.  The third criterion was a laugh meter in which we both registered the same, pinning the meter.)

http://​thehill​.com/​c​a​p​i​t​a​l​-​l​i​v​i​n​g​/​c​o​v​e​r​-​s​t​o​r​i​e​s​/​9​4​7​0​9​-​g​o​o​d​-​l​u​c​k​-​j​a​y​-​c​o​m​e​d​i​a​n​s​-​w​h​o​-​k​n​o​w​-​t​h​e​-​c​r​o​w​d​-​o​f​f​e​r​-​a​d​v​i​c​e​-​f​o​r​-​h​o​s​t​i​n​g​-​c​o​r​r​e​s​p​o​n​d​e​n​t​s​-​gig–

Tags: Comedy, Commedia del media, DC's Funniest Reporter, Jim Jones, Stand-Up