The 86th annual Inner Circle dinner at the Hilton hotel was a roaring success. The black-tie evening, this year themed Young Mikenstein, is an annual lampoon of New York’s political elite by the press corps, and has been an institution since Jimmy Walker was mayor in 1926.

The press pulled no punches with headlines of the past year (and there were many) with jabs that flew fast and furious at those who shaped them. A skit was changed at the last minute to address the Spitzer sex scandal, with a song called “Gov. Client Number 9.”

New Gov. David Paterson popped in for the cocktail hour and schmoozed the crowd, big-time, but didn’t stick around to hear the Spitzer barbs.

Mayor Bloomberg took the stage in leggings, shorts, and on rollerblades, performing a song-and-dance along with the cast of Broadway’s Xanadu.

The Sheet was in the wings, where we captured exclusive backstage photos and the mayor’s brilliant performance.