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RNC Chair Gives Obama Speech a Thumbs Up

May 9, 2009 By BTriplett

Michael Steele, Chairman of the Republican National Committee, told WHCInsider that he thought Obama’s speech was great. Steele said he thought the ribbing was “fine and fair.”

And Wanda’s?
 
“Wanda is Wanda, she comes real and you got to be prepared. But there will be news made later this week, I guarantee you,” said Steele.

Watch Wanda’s routine below.

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Wanda Sykes, Washington Events, WHCD 2009 Guests Tagged With: Michael Steele, Obama, Wanda Sykes

Stevie Wonder on the Red Carpet

May 9, 2009 By BTriplett

Red carpet pandemonium — packed on both sides of the velvet ropes — photographers and reporters on one side, faced fans and star gazers on the other. Glenn Close,”It’s completely crazy!” Screams and shouts for arriving VIPs: aplusk (Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher), Alicia Keys, Ludacris, Bon Jovi, and Stevie Wonder.

Stevie Wonder

Stevie Wonder

Filed Under: Washington Events, WHCD 2009 Guests Tagged With: Alicia Keys, aplusk, ashton kutcher, Bon Jovi, Demi Moore, Glenn Close, Ludacris, Stevie Woner

Doesn't Seem Wanda Sykes Will Tone Down Her WHCD Routine Tonight

May 9, 2009 By BTriplett

Asked by WHCInside whether she would hold back anything for her monologue tonight, comedian Wanda Sykes said, “I don’t think so.”

During the steady stream of red carpet arrivals at the Washington Hilton, screams and yells from star-gazers behind the velvet ropes often bewildered some of the guests. Sykes even looked taken aback at times, but made her way on into the ballroom.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Wanda Sykes, Washington Hilton

Pre-WHCD Garden Party a Hit

May 9, 2009 By BTriplett

Early estimates for the turnout at the Pre-WHCD Garden Brunch exceed 500, probably more, as a capacity crowd mingled and mixed in anticipation of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight. The weather — always an issue in D.C. — cooperated, serving up a sunny, if slightly humid afternoon.

Guests included actors Val Kilmer, Christian Slater, Matthew Modine and Dana Delaney; Capt. Richard Phillips of the Alabama Maersk and his wife Andrea; Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; former Clinton administration official Donna Shalala; David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell and Ann Curry of NBC News, and many others.

The party ran from Noon until 3:00 p.m., when guests started leaving to prepare for tonight’s big event.

Janet Napolitano and Donna Shalala

Janet Napolitano and Donna Shalala

Christian Slater

Christian Slater
Val Kilmer

Val Kilmer

Shelby Coffey and Ann Curry

Shelby Coffey and Ann Curry

Filed Under: Uncategorized, Washington Events Tagged With: Christian Slater, Dana Delaney Richard Phillips, David Gregory, Matthew Modine, Val Kilmer, White House Correspondents Dinner

Ludacris Looking Forward to His 2nd WHCD, Hopes Wanda Doesn't "Hold Back"

May 9, 2009 By BTriplett

Ludacris at the Pre-WHCD Garden Brunch

Ludacris at the Pre-WHCD Garden Brunch

Rapper and actor Ludacris says he’s looking forward to the big correspondents’ dinner tonight, and, noting that he’s been a longtime fan of Wanda Sykes (tonight’s entertainer), adds that she shouldn’t “hold back… there’s too much seriousness in this town.”

Ludarcis attended the 2006 WHCD, when Stephen Colbert was the evening’s entertainment, and said he’s taking his mom tonight,”kind of an early Mother’s Day present.”

Filed Under: Wanda Sykes, Washington Events, WHCD 2009 Guests Tagged With: Ludacris, Stephen Colbert, Wanda Sykes

Homeland Security Chief Says Keep White House Press Corps

May 9, 2009 By BTriplett

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano at the Garden Brunch

Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano at the Garden Brunch

Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano said the White House press corps “serves a function” and that getting rid of it, as some have suggested, “would be wrong.” Napolitano was at the Pre-Dinner Garden Brunch.

Filed Under: Washington Events Tagged With: homeland security, Janet Napolitano

President Obama Greets Capt. Richard Phillips at White House, Calls Him "Inspiring"

May 9, 2009 By BTriplett

Capt. Richard Phillips and his wife Andrea.

Capt. Richard Phillips and his wife Andrea.

Captain Richard Phillips and his wife Andrea met with President Obama in Oval Office today. The president said that “in these hard times (Phillips)  inspires us.” They talked basketball, the importance of homework and about the WHCD tonight.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

NBC Chief Hosts Rare WHCD Reception

May 9, 2009 By BTriplett

zucker1Jeff Zucker, NBC’s chief executive who’s not known for throwing high-profile bashes, will host a VIP reception before the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight on an upper floor of the Washington Hilton, above the mostly ground-floor receptions.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

Pre-Dinner Receptions Draw Heavy Attendance

May 8, 2009 By BTriplett

peoplecover_205x273Both People and DC Modern Luxury magazine threw pre-WHCD receptions tonight, the eve of the big dinner itself tomorrow night. At the St. Regis Hotel, just blocks away from the White House, the old world elegance of the venue provided a warm atmosphere for the People bash, which was packed nearly wall-to-wall. Hotel staff in tuxes passed drinks and hors d’oeuvres among the several hundred guests, who included actor Kevin Bacon and musician Ludacris. TV news personalities also filled the room, such as CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, ABC News’ Ann Compton, NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell and Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren. The mood was relaxed and festive.

A couple miles away, on Washington’s famed Embassy Row, DC Modern Luxury magazine hosted a reception in the dcmodluxextremely modern digs of the Finnish Embassy. Pale wood and glass and steel abounded as a capacity crowd of mostly younger guests mixed and mingled. Spotted among the faces was CNN’s Ed Henry and Suzanne Malvaux. A DJ played a mix of house music for dancers, whose numbers increased as the evening grew later.

Filed Under: Washington Events Tagged With: People magazine

Bloomberg Scores Maersk Alabama Captain for WHCD

May 8, 2009 By BTriplett

 

Capt. Richard Phillips of the Alabama Maersk

Capt. Richard Phillips of the Alabama Maersk

Captain Richard Phillips and his wife Andrea will attend the White House Correspondents Dinner as guests of Bloomberg. Phillips, who was held hostage by Somali pirates along with his crew just weeks ago, will be among the more prominent guests at this year’s correspondents dinner — definitely one of the big “gets” for 2009.

Filed Under: Washington Events, WHCD 2009 Guests Tagged With: Andrea Phillips, Bloomberg, Richard Phillips

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About White House Correspondents Insider

Exploring “behind the scenes” of the most powerful reporters and editors in the world, the Washington press corps. We track the White House Correspondents’ weekend and all the activities around it from journalists and media companies to the White House and politicos. Tammy Haddad is Co-Founder and Editor-In-Chief of WHC Insider and she hosts the Washington Insider podcast.

White House Correspondents Insider is not affiliated with or approved by the White House Correspondents Association which is a registered trademark of the WHCA.

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