In The Know

Joel McHale: ‘Almost unfair’ how funny Obama is

Getty Images

Joel McHale says when it comes to joke-telling, President Obama has him beat.

“It’s almost unfair that he is who he is, and he’s the leader of the free world and such a smart man, and on top of that, he can nail a joke,” the “Community” star, who emceed last year’s White House Correspondents’ Association dinner, tells The Daily Beast.

{mosads}The evening’s headliner typically follows comedic remarks made by the president. “Here’s the thing: The president always wins that. He’s the winner, and he killed it — especially Barack Obama,” McHale says.

“It’s like getting in a guitar fight with Eddie Van Halen if Eddie Van Halen also happened to be a star NFL player and hosted ‘Meet the Press,’” McHale adds. “Obama is just one of those special people. He didn’t get me back after, but if he wanted to, I’m sure he could.”

McHale, 43, also says he was “enamored” by Michelle Obama at last year’s Correspondents’ dinner.

“I’m pretty sure that Michelle watches ‘The Soup,’ and I’m pretty sure her daughters are familiar with ‘Community,’” the actor and comic says.

“I got to sit next to her and talk to her, and I was absolutely enamored by her. She is the real deal.”

Tags Barack Obama Joel McHale Michelle Obama White House Correspondents Association White House Correspondents Dinner

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.