By Brian Lowry

Don Mischer, the producer of countless live specials from the Emmys and Oscars to the Olympics, who died last week at the age of 85, once said he warned people about bringing their awards and events to TV, noting that television’s needs tend to fundamentally alter the equation.

The White House Correspondents’ Association annual gala has had its fun through the years as a media-friendly showcase, inviting stars like George Clooney, Kim Kardashian and Pete Davidson to hobnob with the assembled press and politicians, garnering plenty of coverage of its parties and luminaries.