White House Correspondents Insider

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

Miss America Honors 9/11 During Preliminaries

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Miss America 2013

Sam Haskell, CEO of the Miss America Organization, with Miss Minnesota and Miss Oklahoma at the 2013 Miss America competition. Via YouTube.

The second night of the Miss America preliminary competition saw two new winners along with a somber tribute to September 11th.

Last night’s program opened with the Spotlight Performers Show Choir’s rendition of “God Bless America.” Speaking to the AP, Miss America Organization CEO Sam Haskell recalled what happened on the date in 2001:

“No one knew what to do. Should we cancel? There was no book to follow…They’d be damned if they let a vicious enemy keep them from celebrating those values. Those girls stood up. And they are still standing.”

Miss Oklahoma Kelly Griswold and Miss Minnesota Rebecca Yeh both won scholarships during last night’s preliminary. Griswold took home a $1,000 schoalrship for the swimsuit competition while Yeh received $2,000 during the talent competition for her performance. Since the regionals, Yeh has been stunning crowds with her playing:

“It’s been a huge way for me to give back to other people,” Yeh said. “I love sharing with other people whenever I can.”

Including Tuesday’s winners Miss Mississippi Chelsea Rick and Miss New Hampshire Samantha Russo there are now four scholarship winners thanks to the Miss America Organization. Thursday will be the final preliminary before the weekend’s festivities including the famous “Show Us Your Shoes” parade followed by the big event on Sunday night at 9pm on ABC.

Washington's the Church, Hollywood's the Steeple. Here's Who Opens the Doors for all the Veeple

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Veep Season 2 screening

The Washington City Paper continues their love of Veep by going into the consultants behind shows like Alpha House, House of Cards and the glory days of The West Wing. Marin Cogan dives into the Beltway folks that have re-energized and brought more to hashing out the “Veeple” instead of living out the dream of very confused Secret Service hopefuls after White House down and Olympus has Fallen. And sometimes, the shows continue to get things wrong about Washington (we’re looking at you Homeland and King & Maxwell:

“It’s easy to spot when Hollywood gets something majorly wrong about Washington, like when Homeland portrays Farragut Square as a sprawling green park rather than a tiny city square. What’s less obvious is the effort some shows, like House of Cards or Veep, put into hewing closely to the real look and feel of Washington—if not in character and plotlines, then at least in setting and dialogue. It’s the result of a lot of effort from obsessive directors, writers, line producers, props and set designers. But behind all of them are political consultants, current or recovering politicos offering up their experiences and insight as grist for visual fiction.”

Veep ended two weeks ago and House of Cards is back in production for season two in Balitmore–conveniently in the same soundstage as the HBO show. The City Paper goes into the nitty gritty, explaining the shared friendships and co-working conditions that befit programs about Washington as fittingly as the city’s own working relationships around government, private sectors and stealing lines from science fairs.

WCP – Hollywood Squares

AFI DOCS Announce 2013 Slate, Washington Locations

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Among a name and sponsor change, AFI DOCS (formerly SILVERDOCS) announced their 2013 slate today. The local Washington-area documentary film festival, now held all across the Washington area, released the complete line-up for their ‘first’ (or tenth) festival line-up since changing their name in April.

In true Washington fashion, three of their high profile films tackle the GOP, Jackie O and immigration–an issue that came ahead after last night’s overhaul by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Selections include the Opening Night Gala Premiere of “Letters to Jackie,” which examines Jacqueline Kennedy-Onassis‘ life after JFK along with letters from the public now read by actors like Jessica Chastain,Zooey Deschanel, Anne Hathaway, Mark Ruffalo, Channing Tatum and Betty White; the East Coast Premiere of Acadamy Award winners Sean Fine and Andrea Nix Fine‘s “Life According to Sam” and “Documented,” from director Jose Antonio Vargas, a journalist who outed himself in 2011 as an undocumented immigrant in a New York Times Magazine piece. The Closing Night slot belongs to AJ Schnack‘s “Caucus,” which follows the 2012 Iowa cacus and brings us back to the glory days of last year’s campaign craziness.
From the press release:

“AFI DOCS presented by Audi (formerly Silverdocs) today announced the full schedule of films that will premiere in its 11th edition June 19-23, 2013 at iconic venues on the National Mall, the Penn Quarter and at the American Film Institute’s AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center. The festival will present 53 films selected from 1,929 submissions representing 30 countries with 3 World, 2 North American, 1 U.S. and 6 East Coast premieres. The festival opens with the theatrical premiere of LETTERS TO JACKIE (DIR Bill Couturié) and celebrates with HERBLOCK: THE BLACK & THE WHITE (DIR Michael Stevens) along with the world premiere Centerpiece Screening of DOCUMENTED (DIR Jose Antonio Vargas). The festival closes with the U.S. premiere of CAUCUS (DIR AJ Schnack). Errol Morris will be honored at the festival’s Charles Guggenheim Symposium for his contributions to the documentary genre.

Other notable filmmakers presenting their work include Patrick Creadon (IF YOU BUILD IT), Sean and Andrea Nix Fine (LIFE ACCORDING TO SAM), Barbara Kopple (RUNNING FROM CRAZY) and Lucy Walker (THE CRASH REEL).

The festival’s new all-day forum for thought leaders, filmmakers and audience members, the AFI Catalyst Sessions: The Art of Moving Reality, will focus on immigration, education, intellectual property and humor in politics.

‘2013 is a year filled with dynamic changes: After ten years, the festival previously known as Silverdocs is now AFI DOCS presented by Audi’ said Sky Sitney, Festival Director. ‘AFI DOCS reflects that we have expanded to a new environment in downtown Washington, DC which will be easily accessible to audiences eager to discover this year’s most compelling documentaries. At the same time, we are continuing a full slate of programming at our longstanding venue, the AFI Silver Theatre & Cultural Center in Silver Spring, MD. At AFI DOCS, America’s premier showcase for documentary film, we present the most provocative, challenging and compelling investigations of reality that filmmakers from America and around the world have conjured over the last year.'”

AFI DOCS runs June 19-23 The rest of their line-up can be found here.

VEEP Season 2 Premiere Party Photos

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Veep Season 2 screening

The second season of HBO’s Veep premiered yesterday as Julia Louis-Dreyfus took up the Second-in-Command role of Selina Meyer for her next term. As the victional V.P. battles the results of a mid-term election, the actual star came to Washington last week for a special screening at the MPAA.

While we had a minor SNL cast-of-1985 reunion between Louis-Dreyfus and Senator Al Franken, MPAA Chairman Chris Dodd welcomes the HBO star to the real District (Veep films up in Maryland sharing space with Netflix’s House of Cards).

Below we have photos from the reception from last week’s premiere, along with some notable appearances from Washington regulars and the occasional former Senator-turned-Chairman Chris Dodd.

Biden Meets The Veep

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At last, Washington can breathe easy since Vice President Joe Biden finally met Vice President Selina Meyer.

Or, to put it this way, Biden and his fictional counterpart (played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus) broke bread today after HBO premiered the first two episodes of VEEP season two last night at the MPAA. Per the AP report on the matter:

“The White House says after the former ‘Seinfeld’ star won an Emmy award for her performance in the first season of “Veep,” Biden called her to offer his congratulations.”

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Which is true, as she remarked on The Tonight Show about how Biden called her to remark on the performance she gives as V.P. Meyer:

The first two episodes of the second season played out among some notable D.C. entertainment folks like MPAA President Chris Dodd and Louis-Dreyfus’ former SNL co-hort Senator Al Franken. While spoilers are useless in a town like Washington, supposedly when V.P. Meyer heads to a pig roast it will be funnier than a sequester. And as for today, V.P. met Veep in the latest installment of Being Biden.
Veep Season 2 premieres this Sunday on HBO.

Ashley Judd Won't Run as McConnell's Campaign Beast Is Unveiled

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The result from months of speculation? Google results.

Crushing every Kentucky political reporter’s 2014 dreams Ashley Judd announced she will not seek Mitch McConnell‘s incumbent seat. The actress announced her news via her Twitter:

Judd later posted a full entry on her personal site thanking her supporters.

Which means weeks and weeks of entertainment correspondents and political reporters dreams of a Judd v. McConnell race are up in smoke. Politico profiles a potential reason why the Mississippi-based actress may have dropped out: Mitch McConnell is out for blood. Comes the excerpt from this morning’s Playbook:

“He’s already on the air with nearly $200,000 in TV and radio ads, is assembling streams of data to target voters with tailor-made messages, and has quietly moved to lock down support from virtually every state GOP legislator. He says he’ll use ‘every penny’ of a war chest certain to exceed the $21 million he spent in 2008.”

Even if the 71-year old, four-time incumbent is set on keeping his seat there are still those that won’t let the potential for bon mots go. ABC News’ The Note goes with “Kentucky Dirby” in the headline while profiling the only other possible high-profile candidate: Kentucky Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes. The secretary was reportedly “wooed” by former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to run for office. And would she? With Clinton-backing and every Kentucky Democrat desperate for a seat after 28 years? Of course they would.

Except now “Kentucky Derby” is probably the most creative we’ll ever get when trying to drum up interest. So far it looks like the closest Judd will get to being on Capitol Hill will be in her Olympus Has Fallen cameo.

Nationals Sure To Win World Series This Year Because of '86 Mets

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Much like the plot of Rocky Balboa, The Washington Nationals are supposedly going to take the 2013 World Series because they’re statistically on par with the 1986 New York Mets. In their upcoming baseball issue–complete with local covers–“Mr. October” Stephen Strasberg will be a key factor in bringing another title to the Nats sez Sports Illustrated.

The pullquote of the year from Tom Verducci:
“Manager Davey Johnson has managed this team before: the 1986 Mets. Like the ’86 Mets, the Nationals are coming off a 98-win season, are loaded with young pitching, star players and a deep bullpen and expect to win. Washington has no obvious flaw.”

Meanwhile in the “Who will have a better year” psyhic category the Los Angeles Angels’ Mike Trout edges out Bryce Harper 4:3. The Mets and The Nationals are natural enemies, of course: Washington and New York have spared together for years. Even this weekend for the Easter game the Nationals will have a rare outing against the Yankees at National Park. This sort of tea leaf reading may seem strange, but we’re a town that appreciates hardcore stat analyzation and going off gut choices. Honestly, without that love of bet hedging 1100 Wilson Boulevard would just be another Baja Fresh/Cosi hybrid and not Politico. And if this miracle season doesn’t occur, DCist notes we at least know who to blame at Sports Illustrated.

[PHOTOS] The 2013 Preview of the Kennedy Center Opera Ball

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Washington National Opera Board Chairman Connie Milstein gathered opera for the kickoff of the 2013 Opera Ball held Sunday night at The Jefferson Hotel. The “Music of the Night” Party, which was providing a preview for the Kennedy Center and Washington National Opera’s 2013 Opera Ball, focused on the food and entertainment for this season’s performances.

Woven throughout the program were selections of “Phantom Of the Opera” from barritone Norm Lewis,star of “Scandal” and Broadway star of Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess,” performed three selections from “Phantom of the Opera” to a packed room of diners and Washington cultural society. Other performances included selections by Soprano Shantelle Przybylo from “La Bohéme,” “Rigoletto” from Yuri Gorodetski, “Edgar” from Javier Arrey and ending on “Music of the Night” with Norm Lewis reprising “The Phantom.” The guests for the affair ranged from ambassador to Washingtonian essentials like Jeremy Bernard, Kathleen Seibelius, Chairman of the Kennedy Center Board of Trustees David Rubenstein, Ellen Tauscher, Grace Bender, Melissa Moss, Jonathan Silver and Bob and Ellen Bennett.

This year’s ball is a partnership between the Italian consulate, thanks to Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and Mrs. Bisogniero, featuring a black-tie and commemorate the 200th birthday of opera composer Giuseppe Verdi and “The Year of Italian Culture.” The Opera Ball will end with a special performance from the Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program when it occurs on April 6th.

Washington Media Types Desperate for a Judd/McConnell Campaign

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Ambassador Melanne Verveer, Ashley Judd, Aparajita Gogoi, Nthabiseng Tshabalala, Baroness Amos, Maria S. Eitel

If only there were an easier way to introduce a Capitol Hill hopeful instead of Washington’s normal trial-by-flame-war. But with the chum in the 2013 waters that Ashley Judd, daughter of of Naomi Judd and actress, could be gunning for Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell’s Kentucky seat. Politico sites GOP insiders and The Daily Caller sites NSFW Mr. Skin for their facts about the potential candidate. And yet how bored everyone must be of the sequester by asking if her running is harmful for Democrats or how “Team Mitch” already is reminding potential voters Judd lives in Tennessee:

And then there’s Juan Williams, who is best presented without context:

“Some Tea Party activists consider McConnell too moderate because he negotiated on deals that led to tax increases and the unpopular sequestration cuts. A tough GOP primary could split Kentucky Republicans and cause him to spend lots of money, weakening him before an election fight against Judd.”

So McConnell’s toughest fight is the former star of Double Jeopardy because he’s in trouble with the Tea Party? While this isn’t anything new for an actress–i.e. remember that thing you said about mining and rape from 2010? The Internet does!–here’s hoping that Judd will weigh in about her own future. In her own words.

It must get exhausting for her to be told all about her future at 317 Russell before she’s even announced an official candidacy.

Senate Finally Goes -30- on Investigating Kathryn Bigelow's Film

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Now that Zero Dark Thirty has been shut out of the Academy Awards, the Senate Intelligence Committee has called off their investigation. In what can only be a move by the secret fans of Jennifer Lawrence and Silver Linings Playbook, Politico reports that the committee will “no longer pursue the contacts between the movie and the Central Intelligence Agency.”

Senator Dianne Feinstein released a statement yesterday explaining why she was satisfied with ending the inquiry:

“In December, Senators Levin, McCain and I wrote to Acting CIA Director Michael Morell seeking information provided to the filmmakers of ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ by the CIA. The CIA responded with information about its interaction with the filmmakers. I see no need to request further information. In a separate letter, Senators Levin, McCain and I requested the basis for CIA’s view that enhanced interrogation techniques provided some intelligence that led to the killing of Osama bin Laden. The CIA’s response to that letter is forthcoming.”

“Finally, Senators Levin, McCain and I wrote to Sony Pictures in December and outlined our view that scenes in the film which credit CIA’s interrogation techniques with leading directly to the takedown of bin Laden were inaccurate and misleading. The committee has not made any contact with the filmmakers, did not request documents from any individual associated with the film, and have not conducted any investigation into the film whatsoever. We have simply asked questions of the intelligence community pertinent to our oversight responsibilities.”

Now we just have to wait and see what Capitol Hill’s thoughts about Olympus Has Fallen.