BLAZ DUE FOR A ROAST – CONFIDENTIAL:
Following the “usual knockdown, drag-out series of internal insults and feuds,” the Inner Circle has decided its theme for this year’s roast will be “Curb Your Narcissism.” “This is a complete democracy — until the President decides what it’s going to be,” joked an insider with the consortium of journalists that will be hosting its 96th annual roasting of high-profile newsmakers on April 21 at the New York Hilton. Other themes considered for the annual evening of skits, insults and good-natured ribbing included “Field of Schemes,” “Billy Wonky and the Favor Factory,” “Beat the Press,” “Statues and Limitations” and an array of grope headlines, including “Grope Therapy” and “Gropes and Dreams.” Because of the severity of the sexual assault claims made against powerful men in 2017, the groping themes were nixed. Though Mayor de Blasio (inset) hasn’t confirmed he’ll attend this year’s roast, he’s expected to be there, despite the fact his previous appearances have landed him in awkward situations. “He’s always been a pretty good sport,” said our source, adding, “I don’t think he likes it.” In 2015, the mayor brought comedian
Louis C.K. as his guest. His office later had to address reports of sexual misconduct against the funnyman. And in 2016, when Hillary Clinton was de Blasio’s surprise guest, the mayor made headlines by joking he was slow in endorsing her presidential bid because he was running on “C.P. time” — a derogatory term that implies “colored people” do things at a leisurely pace.
Mayor Rudy Giuliani once brought George Steinbrenner as his guest, and his successor Michael Bloomberg once came accompanied by Giants quarterback Eli Manning.
This year’s roasting is going to be “bittersweet,” an insider said. Inner Circle members Gabe Pressman, Larry Sutton and Mickey Carroll died in 2017. Our insider wouldn’t say what kind of skits “Curb Your Narcissism” will include, but says President Trump — who avoided ridicule in Washington by breaking with tradition and skipping this year’s White House Correspondents Dinner — is fair play.
“We do have standards,” said our insider. “They’re very low standards, but we have standards.”