The Radio and TV Correspondents' dinner shines with John Hodgman VIDEO

By April MacIntyre Jun 21, 2009, 16:02 GMT

Good on yer John: John Hodgman - Humorist and Daily Show contributor John Hodgman emerged a star as he gave a great opening speech at the Radio and Television Correspondents\' Association\'s 65th annual dinner on Friday, June 19. © Sylvain Gaboury / PR Photos

Humorist and Daily Show contributor John Hodgman emerged a star as he gave a great opening speech at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association's 65th annual dinner on Friday, June 19. 

Hodgman explained the universal traits and pecking order of nerds, geeks and jocks, and saluted "fellow nerd" president Barack Obama with the classic Star Trek Vulcan hand greeting.

President Obama himself delivered a humorous speech about the role of media in American society, commenting on his own administration's policies as well as the evolution of journalism.

Obama praised journalists' efforts and new media, social networking websites and digital outlets breaking the news of Iranian democratic protests to the world.

But it was John Hodgman's excellent "roast" of the president, referencing Obama's unabashed love of comics, possible prosthetic ears and Star Trek trivia knowledge that set the tone for the evening.

The Radio and Television Correspondents' Association's 65th annual dinner also presented awards to journalists for their contributions to the news industry. Video clips of the winning entries were shown.

The event included music from Sweet Honey in the Rock, the all-female African-American a capella group.