White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of one of the most powerful clubs in America.

Washington Times: Trump, Fonda and zombies poised to party at WHCD

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“George Condon, the unofficial White House Correspondents’ historian, told me in an interview that the early days of the dinner were much more celebrity-focused. If you were famous and successful, you showed up with Bob Hope or Barbra Streisand,” Tammy Haddad tells Inside the Beltway. She is the veteran TV news executive and CEO of Haddad Media who hosts an annual garden brunch the day of the dinner.”

Read more via Washington Times: Trump, Fonda and zombies poised to party at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

Variety: Hollywood to Mix with D.C. at ‘Nerd Prom’

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“This week a new podcast and video was launched called Washington Insider, billed as featuring content on “how money, power and celebrity drive politics and power in America’s capital city.”

It’s no coincidence that the launch of the site — from producers Tammy Haddad, Simon Marks and Julianne Donofrio — comes the same week as the annual White House Correspondents Assn. dinner.”

Read more via Variety: White House Correspondents Dinner Preview: Hollywood to Mix with D.C. at ‘Nerd Prom’

TVNewser: Washington Insider Arrives in Time for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

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“With the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner nearly upon us, WHC Insider, the Washington-based website that is all things WHCA, has launched a podcast series. The goal of Washington Insider, as it’s called, is “to show how the sausage is made,” says WHC Insider co-founder Tammy Haddad.”

Read more via TVNewser: Washington Insider Arrives in Time for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner

AP: Podcasts to look at politics, media and celebrity

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“Two Washington television veterans are starting a new podcast to give listeners an inside look at the nexus between power, money and celebrity in the nation’s capital.

The new “Washington Insider” podcast channel is creating seven episodes to coincide with the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner Saturday, where celebrities, media power players and politicians gather for a night of entertainment.”

Read more via AP: Podcasts to look at politics, media and celebrity

Listen to this interview clip with WHCA President and Tribune White House Correspondent, Christi Parsons, as she explains how she convinced SNL’s Cecily Strong to perform at the 2015 WHCA Dinner.

Download the full podcast interview with Christi Parsons on AudioBoom or iTunes.

Today’s WHCD 2015 Round Up

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CBS nabs real, fictional secretaries of State for WHCD
“Two secretaries of State — a real-life former one, Madeleine Albright, and the Hollywood version, Téa Leoni, — will attend the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner this weekend. Albright and Leoni, who plays the fictional title role on “Madam Secretary,” will both be guests of CBS News at the April 25 festivities in Washington.”

Gov. Kasich takes flirtation with White House run to next level, creates ‘New Day for America’ fund
“Kasich will be traveling to Washington, D.C. later this week for a number of stops including the White House Correspondents Dinner and an appearance Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation.””

Listen Up, D.C.! Here Comes the White House Correspondents’ Jam.
“Leavell recruited five correspondent-fronted bands — Fortune Senior Editor-at-Large Brian Dumaine, Esquire scribe Tom Junod, CNBC Senior Economics Reporter Steve Liesman, New Yorker Editor David Remnick and Vanity Fair Contributing Editor Mark Rozzo are all slated to play with their respective outfits — to blow the doors off the Fairmont Hotel (2401 M St. NW) on April 24 from 7 to 11 p.m.”

Téa Leoni, Gina Rodriguez, Tim Daly Join WH Correspondents’ Guestlist
“The network is also bringing actress Gina Rodriguez and her actor boyfriend, Henri Esteve; “Madam Secretary” actor Tim Daly; Virginia Sen. Mark Warner; former CBS newsman and now NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Intelligence & Counter-terrorism John Miller; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Julian Castro; Texas Rep. Joaquin Castro; Lebanon Ambassador to the U.S. Anotine Chedid; and former U.S. Ambassador to Italy David Thorne.”

Funny Girl Gig: Cecily Strong Fourth Female Entertainer at White House Correspondents’ Dinner
“Strong follows Wanda Sykes (2009), Elayne Boosler (1993) and Paula Poundstone (1992).”

How To Stream The White House Correspondents’ Dinner Live, Because It’s The Hottest Place To Be Saturday Night
“The cast of Modern Family is expected to attend, as well as Michael Kelly, Gina Rodriguez, Gabourey Sidibe, and Naya Rivera. We’ll see you Saturday night.”

‘SNL’s’ Cecily Strong Promises Hard Laughs at White House Correspondents Dinner
“She said that it “felt like the right year” to do the dinner as President Obama also has Chicago-area roots. “It was really sort of like, ‘Well, it’s now or never,’” she says of taking the gig.”

White House Correspondents Dinner: Eric Podwall Brings Young Hollywood

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2010 WHC GARDEN BRUNCH

Eric Podwall, talent manager and regular attendee of the White House Correspondents Dinner, is putting together a pre-party dinner with Spotify on Friday evening. He will have a top member of the family of the moment, Brody Jenner, one day after his father Bruce reportedly reveals to Diane Sawyer his sex change.

Podwall is known for bringing young Hollywood stars including Matthew Morrison, Chace Crawford, Will Poulter and Colton Hayes, and legends including Sir Patrick Stewart and Sir Ian McKellen. The Hill reported it first.

WHCA Announces 2015 Award Winners

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The White House Correspondents’ Association has announced its 2015 award winners.

WHCA president Christi Parsons: “For the Aldo Beckman Memorial Award, which recognizes repeated excellence in White House coverage, the winner is Peter Baker of The New York Times. Baker won the Merriman Smith Memorial Award in 2014.

“Baker’s pieces are written with depth, insight and authority. He uses his longevity on the beat to give his stories the historic context that lifts them beyond the crush of daily coverage. Strong reporting makes for good writing, as Baker shows time and again. Iraq, he writes, is the ‘graveyard of American ambition.’

“The Merriman Smith Memorial Award, which recognizes deadline work in both print and broadcast, goes to Josh Lederman of the Associated Press [‘Fence Jumper’] and Jim Avila of ABC News [‘Cuba/Alan Gross’].

“The Edgar A. Poe Award, which recognizes coverage of news of national or regional significance, is shared by Carol A. Leonnig of The Washington Post [Secret Service], and The Wall Street Journal team of Gary Fields, John R. Emshwiller, Rob Barry and Coulter Jones [‘America’s Rap Sheet’ series].”

Special mention to Scott Horsley of National Public Radio for his creative coverage of White House policies and politics.