Watch 'Nerdprom' Live: The White House Correspondents' Dinner

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President Barack Obama has a laugh at last year's White House Correspondents' Dinner.

Image: Carolyn Kaster/Associated Press

By Andrew Freedman2014-05-04 01:06:00 UTC

The White House Correspondents' Association is holding its annual dinner on Saturday night. Dubbed "nerdprom," the event features a sometimes awkward mix of political journalists, Hollywood celebrities, star athletes and even a few tech titans, alongside Washington politicians including the president and first lady. The official program starts after the dinner, at about 9 p.m. ET.

President Obama is expected to make his speech, roasting the press corps and a number of other targets of opportunity, starting at about 10:15 p.m. ET, according to C-SPAN. The actual comedian performing this year, Joel McHale of NBC's "Community" and E!'s "The Soup," will follow the president at about 10:40 p.m. ET. (Obama, who has delivered quite a few zingers over the years, is often a tough act to follow.)

The White House Correspondents' Association was founded in 1914 to represent the White House press corps, and it marks its centennial this year. Traditionally, although not always, the president and first lady attend the dinner, which raises money for journalism scholarship recipients. The number of Hollywood celebrities and athletes in attendance has varied through the years, but has hit a high note recently during the Obama administration.

Here's some color from the latest White House press pool report from inside the ballroom at the Washington Hilton, where the event is being held:

A plethora of guests are chatting and mingling between tables in the Washington Hilton ballroom while the U.S. Marine Band entertains; among VIPs, this pooler has spotted Al Sharpton, Uber founder Travis Kalanick, departing HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz, former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and D.C. chef/restaurateur Jose Andres, the latter of whom appeared to nod at poolers in holding area and say, "How are you?"

The event has already led to some memorable photos, some of them a bit awkward:

Topics: joel mchale, nerdprom, Politics, Barack Obama, U.S., US & World, White House correspondents dinner