White House Correspondents Insider

Behind the scenes of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

Archives for April 2012

WH Correspondents' Garden Brunch Honors 2 Great Causes

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The call went out from the co-hosts of the White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch for guests to contribute to 2 great causes – the White Ribbon Alliance and CURE Epilepsy.   And guests, including a top network news anchor, media executives and business leaders responded with great generosity.

The annual Garden Brunch is also honoring Steve and Jean Case for their innovation and philanthropy and Susan Axelrod for her tireless work to find a cure for epilepsy.

You can watch the program from the Garden Brunch tonight on C-SPAN prior to the live broadcast of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

Party Time Begins for the WH Correspondents' Dinner Weekend

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Hollywood and Washington were in top form last night as celebrities, politicians and reporters worked the party circuit.

Spotted at the Google/Hollywood Reporter party were Kerry Washington, Kate Upton, Woody Harrelson, and Kyle MacLachlan reuniting with “Sex and the City” creator Darren Star.

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and other starts from the ABC hit sitcom “Modern Family,” were at the Time/People cocktail party, and Charlize Theron was holding court at the National Journal & Atlantic’s Funny or Die party.

The annual Garden Brunch is the next big even on the agenda, before the actual White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight.

WHC Insider's New Look

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Call us crazy, but on the eve of our Annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner Garden Brunch we have re-launched the White House Correspondents Weekend Insider website.  Don’t believe us?  Here are the cookies to prove it! A big thank you to Marla Romash with The Political Cookie Company for the sweet treats.

Launched in 2009, White House Correspondents Weekend Insider is a joint venture of Haddad Media and BizBash Media. We give you a “behind the scenes” look at how Washington works – what’s innovative, what’s fun and all the latest news.

Party City on the Eve of the WH Correspondents’ Dinner

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Washington is THE place to be this weekend as Hollywood A-Listers join Washington A-Listers for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

There are 4 major parties tonight, and if you aren’t invited to at least one, you better get on the phone now!

The hot tickets are for the People, Time, CNN Cocktail Party, The New Yorker Party, the Google-Hollywood Reporter Party and for all the late night action National Journal and Atlantic’s Funny or Die party.

Expected on the party scene is Elle Macpherson, “Desperate Housewives” star Kyle MacLachlan and his wife “Project Runway” creator Desiree Gruber, Charlize Theron and more.

Stay tuned for the latest news on the WHCD weekend festivities.

Stevie Wonder Joins the List of WH Correspondents’ Dinner Guests

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Superstar Stevie Wonder will be the guest of American Urban Radio at the upcoming White House Correspondents’ Dinner. Other new additions include “Real Housewives of New Jersey” mega-mom Caroline Manzo who will join Kim Kardashian and her mom Kris Jenner as guests of Fox News.

Many stars are expected to arrive in Washington on Friday, so let the star-gazing begin!

Inside the White House Correspondents Association

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For those looking to Washington this weekend for the stars and the CEOS, please remember that this weekend is about the work and journalism of the White House Correspondents who without glamour or glitz toil away to try to explain what is happening at the White House and to try to get the Obama White House to explain what they are doing.

Check out the association’s web site for more on their work and the breathtaking photos taken by their awardees.

http://whca.net/dinner.htm

Stargazing: White House Correspondents Dinner List

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Politico’s Caitlin McDevitt pulled together a master list for the correspondents weekend. Though many news organizations will not released their list in advance, here are some who like to let the world know who they are hanging out with this weekend.

“Celebrities expected at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner include Hollywood legends George Clooney and Steven Spielberg, troubled starlet Lindsay Lohan, leading ladies Reese Witherspoon and Charlize Theron, plus hot up-and-comers Josh Hutcherson, Zooey Deschanel and Viola Davis. Some famous funny people are going, too, like Jimmy Kimmel, the evening’s headliner, and members of the “Modern Family” cast. Entertainers Stevie Wonder and Mary J. Blige are also on the guest list, in addition, of course, to President Barack Obama and a bevy of Washington journalists.

(PHOTOS: White House Correspondents’ Dinner guest list)

Not satisfied? There’s plenty more. Here’s a rundown of the big names we’ve heard so far, according to the media outlets that snatched them up:

ABC Sofia Vergara; Jesse Tyler Ferguson; Julie Bowen and Eric Stonestreet of “Modern Family”; Christa Miller and Bill Lawrence of “Cougar Town”; “Hunger Games” actress Elizabeth Banks; actor Paul Rudd; New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie; Obama’s senior campaign adviser David Axelrod; National Security Adviser Tom Donilon; Army Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno.

AFP Jamie Hyneman and Adam Savage of “Mythbusters”; writer Colm Toibin; DNC Executive Director Patrick Gaspard.

Atlantic Media Actress Rosario Dawson; chef José Andrés; “Sex and the City” writer Darren Star; Stacey Snider, co-chairwoman and CEO of DreamWorks Studios; Nancy Ann DeParle, deputy chief of staff for policy at the White House.

American Urban Radio Networks Singer-songwriter Stevie Wonder.

CBS “Homeland” star Claire Danes; “The Good Wife” actress Christine Baranski; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Shaun Donovan; Lt. Gen. George J. Flynn; Raymond Kelly, commissioner of the New York City Police Department; actor Daniel Dae Kim; Sen. Amy Klobuchar; American foreign policy adviser and U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice; Capt.”Sully” Sullenberger III; Rep. Allen West; Rep. Tim Scott.

CNN’s Piers Morgan Actress Goldie Hawn.

Fortune Actress Rashida Jones.

Fox’s Greta Van Susteren Actress Lindsay Lohan.

Huffington Post Actor Daniel Day-Lewis; actress Dakota Fanning; Anna Paquin; Stephen Moyer of “True Blood”; Darren Criss of “Glee”; Nasim Pedrad of “Saturday Night Live”; Attorney General Eric Holder; Georgetown Law student Sandra Fluke; Sen. Rand Paul; White House communications director Dan Pfeiffer.

The New Yorker “Portlandia” stars Fred Armisen and Carrie Brownstein; actor Jason Schwartzman; Aziz Ansari of “Parks and Recreation.”

Newsweek/The Daily Beast Actress Reese Witherspoon; “The Help” star Viola Davis; J.R. Martinez of “Dancing With the Stars”; Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; Gen. David Petraeus; Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand; Sen. Susan Collins; Rep. Steny Hoyer; Rep. Carolyn Maloney; Ambassador Melanne Verveer; Gov. Jerry Brown; Washington attorney Bob Barnett.

NPR Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Dallas of “Once Upon a Time”; R&B songstress Mary J. Blige; singer John Legend; model Chrissy Teigen; actor Colin Hanks; Facebook co-founder Chris Hughes; Kathryn Stockett, author of “The Help.”

People “Hunger Games” star Josh Hutcherson; actress Diane Keaton; William Levy of “Dancing With the Stars”; former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s daughter, Katherine; Sen. Olympia Snowe; White House chef and food policy director Sam Kass.

POLITICO Actress Charlize Theron; Eva Longoria of “Desperate Housewives”; Green Bay Packers star Charles Woodson; fashion designer and stylist Rachel Zoe; WME CEO Ari Emanuel; Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba; MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd; FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski; former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm; Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal; businessman and philanthropist Ronald S. Lauder; entrepreneur Aerin Lauder; DNCC’s Theo LeCompte; Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell; Obama campaign manager Jim Messina; filmmaker and journalist Perri Peltz; RNC Chairman Reince Priebus; Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt; entrepreneur Ivanka Trump; Sen. Mark Warner.

Time Actor George Clooney and his girlfriend Stacy Keibler; Defense Secretary Leon Panetta; director Steven Spielberg and his wife, actress Kate Capshaw.

Reuters Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Kathleen Sebelius, secretary of Health and Human Services; Glyn Davies, special envoy to North Korea; 46th Solicitor General Donald B. Verrilli Jr.; Mitt Romney’s top adviser Eric Fehrnstrom; Ambassador of France to U.S. François Delattre; Ambassador João Vale de Almeida.

USA Today Martha Stewart; TV host Kelly Ripa and her husband, actor Mark Consuelos; “The Big Bang Theory” actor Johnny Galecki; Kelli Garner of “Pan Am.”

The Washington Post Actor Pierce Brosnan; Adm. William H. McRaven.” Thank you Caitlin.

WH Correspondents’ Garden Brunch to Honor Moms

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Invitations have gone out for the annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner Garden Brunch hosted by Tammy Haddad, Kevin Sheekey, Hilary Rosen, Clarke Camper, Mark Ein, Alex Castellanos, Anita Dunn, Bill Knapp, David Adler, Steve McMahon and Franco Nuschese.

This is the 19th year of the gathering which traditionally hosts the biggest names from Hollywood and Washington.  As in the past few years, this year’s event will raise awareness of 2 important causes –CURE Epilepsy and The White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood.

This year’s brunch will also honor Susan Axelrod for her fight to find a cure for epilepsy and Steve & Jean Case whose Case Foundation’s mission is to invest in people and ideas that can change the world.

Here’s a look at the video invitation highlighting some great moments from last year:

You’re Invited to the 2012 White House Correspondents’ Garden Brunch from whcinsider on Vimeo.

Slow Jamming With Jimmy

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Is the President trying to get a comedic jump on Jimmy Kimmel?

Just days before sharing the dais at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner with Late Night Comedian Jimmy Kimmel,  President  Obama “slow jammed” the news last night on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”

Obama taped the segment on Tuesday at the University of North Carolina.

North Carolina is a key battleground state for the 2012 Presidential election, and Obama’s appearance on “Late Night” is seen as the White House’s latest effort to capture the youth vote.

On Saturday April 28, Jimmy Kimmel will host the 98th annual White House Correspondents’ Dinner, and President and Mrs. Obama are expected to attend.

Variety Weighs in on White House Correspondents' Dinner

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Ted Johnson, Variety’s man on elections and politics, and the creative voice and force behind WilshireandWashington.com sizes up this year’s White House Correspondents Weekend power and prestige.

“D.C. Dinner Mingles Elite and Offbeat
Weekend juxtaposes Pols, Celebs and, yes, even Journos

Hollywood and Washington will mix again at the annual White House Correspondents Assn. dinner on Saturday, and the influx of stars, media types and politicos is certain to create its own share of surreal moments. The purpose of the dinner is to honor White House correspondents in a relaxed atmosphere, but the event has long outgrown the focus on scribes on the beat to become a promotional platform for media outlets and, as such, a spectacle of status, stature and, occasionally, the superficial.

Perhaps no moment captured that facet better than last year when Obama threw out zingers at an ever-so-serious Donald Trump, who appeared none-too-pleased at his table amid what turned out to be the peak of GOP presidential speculation. The irony was made all the more apparent the next day, when U.S. Special Forces killed Osama bin Laden.

Organizers said that this year some 2,700 people are expected at the Washington Hilton for the event, which has sold out for the 20th year in a row. Jimmy Kimmel is the headliner entertainment and President Obama will again deliver a monologue of his own.

A big tradition is for media outlets to draw celebrities and administration officials to their table, and interest in the event has not waned this year. A sampling:

•George Clooney and girlfriend Stacy Keibler, and Steven Spielberg and Kate Capshaw, are among those who will be at Time’s table, along with Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta.

•The ABC News table will include members of the cast of “Modern Family” and “Cougar Town,” Elizabeth Banks from “Hunger Games,” New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, National Security adviser Tom Donilon, former White House senior adviser David Axelrod and Gen. Ray Odiero.

•The CBS News contingent will include Claire Danes, U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, Capt. “Sully” Sullenberger III, Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) Christine Baranski, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.), Daniel Dae Kim and HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan.

•Newsweek and The Daily Beast will host Reese Witherspoon, Viola Davis and JR Martinez along with California Gov. Jerry Brown, CIA director David Petraeus, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano and House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer.

•Others reportedly on tap include Uggie, the dog from “The Artist” (a guest of the Washington Times); Sandra Fluke (a guest of the Huffington Post) and a smattering of young actors hitting their moment, including Josh Hutcherson (a guest of People).

The events preceding the actual dinner start much earlier. On Thursday, Elle magazine, the Creative Coaltion and Lanmark technology host a leading Women in media party. On Friday, The New Yorker hosts a party on the rooftop of the W Hotel, in view of the White House: People and Time host a reception at the St. Regis Hotel; and the National Journal, the Atlantic, Funny or Die and the Impact Film Fund host their annual First Amendment party. Reflecting its growing influence in Washington, including a victory in sidelining SOPA, Google is hosting a WHCA-eve party with The Hollywood Reporter.

One of the longest-lasting traditions is the Saturday garden brunch, which started at the home of producer Tammy Haddad but has grown to the historic Beall Washington House. The event is co-hosted by Haddad, Hilary Rosen, David Adler, Mark Ein and a number of others, and will honor Steve and Jean Case and Susan Axelrod. It is a benefit for CURE Epilepsy and the White Ribbon Alliance.

After the dinner, MSNBC is hosting an after-party at the Embassy of Italy; and Bloomberg and Vanity Fair are hosting an event at the French Ambassador’s residence. ” CLICK for the rest http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118053064