Just another day at the White House, right?
Allison Janney takes over White House press briefing as character 'C. J. Cregg' from 'The West Wing.' https://t.co/jdDgMDQbm5
— ABC News (@ABC) April 29, 2016
That would be Allison Janney giving a press briefing as her “West Wing” character C.J Cregg, who was press secretary on the show. She told the assembled press corps that normal press secretary Josh Earnest had to take the day off for a root canal, therefore she needed to take over. She didn’t give much info of substance other than the President is preparing his jokes for the White House Correspondent’s Dinner and that she would be doing “The Jackal” at 5:30 for anyone who wanted to attend. And if you never watched “The West Wing” and therefore didn’t understand the reference, here is what Janney was talking about.
Afterwards, Janney was shooed off the dais by Earnest who “magically recovered” from his root canal.
It’s been a bizarre election season in this country, so it only makes sense that a character from one of the most respected political shows of the last decade plus take over press secretary duties for a rather light Friday afternoon. Or, it’s a good warm-up for the Correspondent’s Dinner, which is always a good time. Or maybe this is a pretty good way to soften the blow next time Earnest needs to break some bad news to the press.
