Oh dear. It's time once again for the awkward, occasionally humiliating ritual that is the annual Funniest Celebrity in Washington Contest. The very notion that Washington has "celebrities" who are in any measurable way "funny" is hard enough to swallow, but this year's line-up looks to be stacked with even more potential for cringe-worthy one-liners than usual.
Former presidential candidate and Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee and Libertarian presidential candidate Bob Barr top the bill of competing celebrities, with Huckabee the clear front-runner in that he's at least highly likable. Other contestants include Grover Norquist, who has somehow earned a reputation for being funny even though he isn't (he also told jokes, bad ones, at the launch party of the D.C. version of The Onion), Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA; no idea if he's funny), radio personality Jim Bohannon (who?), President of the Motion Picture Association of America Dan Glickman (hopefully he'll have some screenwriters pen his jokes), President of the Independent Women’s forum Michelle Bernard (your guess is as good as mine), Hardball’s David Shuster (willing to believe he might be sort of angry-funny, especially if he goes there about the Clintons again), CNN Pentagon Correspondent Jamie McIntyre (really hard to picture that) and Al Jazeera Radio host Riz Khan (no clue).
So we admit we're intrigued by this year's line-up, and we'll have a reviewer there to give you the blow by blow the next day. But intrigued enough to suggest you pay a whopping $200 per person (it's a charity event, you see, benefiting VSA arts)? Not unless you're independently wealthy.
The 15th annual Funniest Celebrity in Washington Contest takes place Wednesday, September 10 at 7 p.m. at the DC Improv.

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I saw Grover Norquist at the Onion event and he wasn't even remotely funny but just horrible. His jokes on rape were horrible and degrading.
To think Dan Glickman is funny, well, any joke coming from the MPAA would have to come with some kind of rating. No swear words and jokes about loving nature = G. One damn and a joke about boobs = PG. Two damns and a sh*t and talking about boobs and butts = PG-13. 5 damns, 4 sh*ts and 3 f*cks plus boobs, butts and nuts = R. Jokes containing all of the above in any amount, plus masturbation, beastiality and anal sex - NC-17.
Is there any way we could get Monkeyerotica in the competition as a write-in "celebrity" candidate? Because I would pay big bucks to see hilarity ensue.
seriously, mike huckabee? don't you have to live in this goddamn town to compete in this? wouldn't that be fair? at least live within the beltway???
Wait a sec...
There's ANOTHER presidential candidate to choose from!?
Hmm... then why aren't the NPR anchors saying "Bob Barr" every 4th or 5th word like they are McCain, Obama and Palin? I'd hate to think they are neglecting their journalistic duties over there.
I nominate Marion S. Barry, b.k.a. "Crackie The Mayor."
Now THERE'S a fucking joke....
There's nothing funnier than libertarianism
Am I the only one that's hoping Huckabee finally goes off the reservation and works blue?
I'm not sure funny is the correct word for libertarians or libertarianism. I have found many of them to be crackpots that do more harm to their party than good. That to me is unfortunate, not funny.
@rabo It seems generally speaking that our country is divided between Pub's & Crats almost evenly. I figure about 46% of the vote generally goes to each of the two parties. It seems like they are fighting over that remaining 8% of the voting population. There's really no room in this system for another (independant or party) as long as we voters remain unwavering for either party.
Governor Huckabee will win hands down. True, every once in a long while his jokes go awry (e.g. NRA joke). But over all, he is the most humorous politician you'll find.
Way to go Huckabee!
Governor Huckabee will win hands down. True, every once in a long while his jokes go awry (e.g. NRA joke). But over all, he is the most humorous politician you'll find.
Way to go Huckabee!
I wonder how RNader would be as a straight man .. oh nevermind.
Remember when Huckabee properly went after I (heart)?... I miss those days.
How am I not myself?
Then again, it'd be interesting to put the gov from ark. in the black bag and see what thoughts he chops in half with a sword... Darwin?
Brad Sherman was interviewed by Stephen Colbert for his "Better Know a District" bit.
Brad Sherman's not funny.
And here's the interview. Judge for yourself.
http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/videos.jhtml?videoId=60692