The Mirror

Nick Offerman of NBC’s Parks & Rec to headline Radio & TV Correspondents dinner

Betsy Rothstein Gossip blogger
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Nick Offerman, who plays a government-hating bureaucrat on NBC’s Parks & Recreation, is coming to Washington on June 12 to host the 70th annual Congressional Correspondents dinner. The Radio & TV Correspondents Association is hosting the event. It’s being held at the soon-to-open Marriott Marquis.

Apart from being an actor, Offerman is a stand-up comedian. It’s his first time headlining a Washington gala so anything can happen — and hopefully it will.

According to a release, he has other talents: “In addition to his entertainment skills, Offerman is the author of ‘Paddle Your Own Canoe’ and an expert woodworker.  He makes boats and other fine crafts out of his company, Offerman Woodshop.  This is a renaissance man who could win arm wrestling matches but will instead spend June 12 lighting up our dinner with comedy.”

Lisa Desjardins, chairman of this year’s dinner and a Capitol Hill reporter for CNN, remarked in the statement,”I know that with announcements like this, you’re supposed to say something like, ‘we’re very excited that Nick is performing at our dinner’, but the truth is way beyond that. This is phenomenal.  I’ve had a very hard time keeping the news to myself.”

Also in attendance will be Offerman’s wife, comedienne and singer Megan Mulally of Will & Grace and Nancy & Beth.  “I’ll use a cheesy DC cliché here, but it applies,” Desjardins said. “Nick Offerman is a huge ‘get’.  He and Megan Mulally both attending is a giant ‘get’.”