Watch out, Washington. “Saturday Night Live” cast member Cecily Strong has been chosen to perform at the 2015 White House Correspondents’ Association annual dinner in April, the organization announced Wednesday.
Strong will be just the fifth female entertainer to perform at the annual event, sometimes referred to as “nerd prom,” which draws scores of celebrities, politicians and journalists. Paula Poundstone performed at the dinner in 1992; Elayne Boosler performed in 1993; Aretha Franklin performed in 1999; and Wanda Sykes performed in 2009. Sykes faced some criticism after her performance for remarks about conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh.
Strong has ties to the journalism industry, which will likely be the target of a few barbs during her act. Her father was the bureau chief for the Associated Press in the Illinois Statehouse, according to the WHCA. Strong’s act may hit home for President Obama, too — she got her start as a comedian in Chicago.
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“Her political humor is sly and edgy, and it comes with a Chicago accent,” WHCA president Christi Parsons said in a statement. Strong has also had some experience playing a newscaster on the mock news segment “Weekend Update” on “SNL.” Past White House Correspondents’ Dinner performers have included Stephen Colbert, Joel McHale and Conan O’Brien. The comedic act typically warms up the crowd by lampooning Washington, the media and the president, in particular. The commander-in-chief then gets his turn, landing a few punches on the reporters who cover the White House beat.
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