White House Correspondents Insider

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

  • Home
  • About
  • WHC Garden Brunch
  • Washington Insider
  • Archives
  • Contact

Wanda Psychs Out Washington?

March 24, 2009 By WHC Insider

Sick and Tired

Sick and Tired

Is Washington ready for Wanda?  That’s the question posed by Politico style reporter Patrick Gavin over the weekend and one that underscores the incredibly sensitive nature of selecting the “official entertainment” for the White House Correspondents’ Dinner each year.

When it was announced earlier this year that Sykes would be the headliner for the 2009 dinner, it seemed a non-controversial choice on the surface.  While traditionally the actress/comedian has not been a politically active force by Hollywood standards, she was vocally opposed to California’s Proposition 8 and it’s fitting symbolism for President Obama’s first major Washington dinner.

But as the event draws nearer, expect the nerves to grow.  There’s a thin line between edgy comedy at these events and that which borders on the offensive — either politically or in terms of taste.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Wanda Sykes Tagged With: Politico, Wanda Sykes

Memorable Moments of Dinners Past

March 21, 2009 By WHC Insider

If there’s a single instance in the recent history that encapsulates what the White House Correspondents’ Dinner has become in staid, old Washington, it would have to be the “Ozzy moment.” The year was 2002 and the unified spirit that enveloped Washington in the wake of the 9/11 attacks still lingered as the elite masses gathered at the Washington Hilton hotel for the annual dinner. President Bush was on hand, riding a wave of political popularity. Cabinet members like Colin Powell were also present, as well as the upper echelons of official Washington.

Comedian Drew Carey was the featured entertainment (after the president, of course), and the requisite celebrities were on hand as well – Harrison Ford, Christie Brinkley, etc. But it was heavy metal icon Ozzy Osbourne (invited by Fox News host Greta Van Susteren) everyone was clamoring to see. His MTV reality show “The Osbournes” had become a cultural phenomenon and the muttering poster boy of rock ‘n roll excess was more famous than he had ever been in his head-banging heyday. Even the president couldn’t resist the pull of America’s sudden and most unlikely celebrity. “The thing about Ozzy is he’s made a lot of big hit recordings,” Bush said as he gave the singer a shout-out during his remarks. “’Party With Animals,’ ‘Sabbath Bloody Sabbath,’ ‘Face in Hell,’ ‘Black Skies’ and ‘Bloodbath in Paradise’ … Ozzy, mom loves your stuff.” Osbourne responded by standing on his chair, arms raised and shouting as the audience howled and applauded.

[Read more…]

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: Bill Clinton, Christie Brinkley, David Gregory, Dick Cheney, Don Imus, Greta Van Susteren, Harrison Ford, Helen Thomas, Karl Rove, Laura Bush, Lynne Cheney, Ozzy Osbourne, Rich Little, Stephen Colbert

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 159
  • 160
  • 161

2022 WHC Garden Brunch

Search WHCInsider

About White House Correspondents Insider

Exploring “behind the scenes” of the most powerful city in the world — Washington, D.C. — and those who cover it.

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 CEO of Haddad Media.

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

Cone of Silence Podcast

WHCA Seating Chart

Connect

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • YouTube
  • Flickr
  • Apple
  • Google
  • Instagram

Instagram

Today, the @whitehouse announced the nomination of Dr. Colleen Shogan, cshogan276, the White House Historical Association’s Director of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History, as the next #Archivist of the United States. Here she is pictured at the far left, with @abbydphillip, @bartlett.sher, @kknutson12, and @camoverend. Congrats Colleen! @whitehousehistory
Dr. #RobertMontgomery, Chair of the Department of Surgery at @nyulangone and his wife, renowned opera singer Denyce Graves, @gravesmontgomery at the #UkraineJournalistFundraiser
@marquardtcnn at the #UkraineJournalistFundraiser. To donate to protect press freedom in Ukraine with @rsfinternational, visit donate.RSF.org
@statedeptspox and Ukrainian Ambassador #OksanaMarkarova together at the #UkraineJournalistFundraiser in partnership with @rsfinternational
Former @whitehouse Press Secretary @jenrpsaki with #damianpaletta and @shanewharris of the @washingtonpost at the #UkraineJournalistFundraiser with @rsfinternational
#ClaytonWeimers, Executive Director of the Washington, DC bureau of Reporters Without Borders, discussing how direct funds to @rsfinternational go to help Ukrainian journalists in need, and preserve press freedom at the #UkraineJournalistFundraiser. Thank you, RSF!

Copyright © White House Correspondents Insider

 

Loading Comments...
 

You must be logged in to post a comment.