| NEWS 06.24.09 3:00 PM |
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In the News: Radio and TV Correspondents Love John Hodgeman, Sundance Still Bringing in Bucks for Utah
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John Hodgeman Wins Over Correspondents' Crowd: The White House Correspondents' Association Dinner may suffer from an annual inability to not offend some party with its divisive M.C.s, but that doesn't seem to be the case at the Radio and Television Correspondents' Dinner. Host John Hodgeman—of Apple commercial and Daily Show fame—won over the audience at Friday's event by skirting an actual roast and opting to label Barack Obama the country's first geek president. Obama seemed to please the crowd with his own speech, and come Monday morning, nobody was licking wounded egos on cable news. [Wired]
Fests Like Sundance Still Boosting the Economy: Festival-town locals might bemoan the congestion and hullabaloo associated with their annual events, but they sure do benefit from them. Despite an 11 percent drop in attendance this year, a study by a group at the University of Utah calculated that the Sundance Film Festival brought in $92.1 million to the state this year. The numbers broke down to $34,579,698 on accommodations, $14,976,306 on food, $4,693,682 on transportation, and $4,015,870 on "discretionary items"—which we'll assume includes booze. [NYT]
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White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Radio and Television Correspondents' Dinner, Barack Obama, John Hodgeman, Sundance, Apple, iPhone, Virgin Atlantic, Richard Branson, Kate Moss |
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| NEWS 06.19.09 1:48 PM |
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White House Social Secretary Desirée Rogers on Conga Lines, Crashers, and Why She's Avoiding Sit-Down Dinners
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 | Actress Dana Delaney and White House social secretary Desirée Rogers
Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images |
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FROM NEW YORK
The Creative Coalition hosted its annual meeting inside the posh screening room of HBO's Sixth Avenue headquarters Thursday night, where 100 or so members and entertainment industry big wigs voted in new board members (actress Dana Delaney among them) and munched on mini crab cakes and chips and salsa. The real reason for the packed house? A Q&A with press-shy White House social secretary Desiree Rogers.
Moderated by Delaney, the 45-minute conversation touched upon what a typical day for Rogers is—"I have three morning meetings, first with the president in the West Wing, next with the special events teams and house staffers, and third with the first lady in the East Wing,"—and the many challenges the nation's leading event planner faces. "The job comes with lots of logistics," she explained, adding that she's already planned 150 events since inauguration. "I'm essentially working in a house that is someone's home. But it's also a museum, an office, there are tours. Lots of coordination goes on to make sure things end and begin when they need to."
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White House, Desirée Rogers, Barack Obama, Michelle Obama |
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| NEWS 05.20.09 4:01 PM |
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In the News: Celebrities Return to Washington Social Scene, Life Ball Draws 40,000
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Vienna Swells During 2009 Life Ball: An estimated 40,000 people visited Vienna, Austria, over the weekend to take part in the 17th annual Life Ball, Europe's largest H.I.V./AIDS charity event. The night ended up something of a combination between a black-tie benefit and Mardi Gras, with Bill Clinton and Eva Longoria Parker speaking to the crowd about social responsibility and Pamela Anderson and Katy Perry dressed as sea creatures in an ocean-themed runway show. Held at Vienna's town hall, the event also included a pool filled with more than 600,000 gallons of water, filled with dancers dressed as sea monsters, jellyfish, and mermaids. [NYT]
Obama Administration Keeps Celebrities in Washington: Obama's presidency has brought a resurgence of celebrities to Washington—and not just for big events like the inauguration and the White House Correspondents' Dinner. From official White House events to local campaign stumping for Virginia gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe, celebrities including Will.i.am, James Earl Jones, and actor-turned-White House staffer Kal Penn have not been strangers to the town's social scene. Event planners in Washington should strongly consider beefing up their step-and-repeats. [Examiner]
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Life Ball, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Will.i.am, Louis Vuitton, Richard Prince, Bravo, Gossip Girl, History Channel |
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| EVENT REPORT 05.12.09 8:00 AM |
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More Correspondents' Weekend Coverage: Bloomberg and Vanity Fair's Exclusive Party, Atlantic Media's Dinner, McLaughlin's Brunch, and More
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FROM WASHINGTON
As in years past, parties of every kind and color—from movie screenings to exhibit openings to hangover brunches—surrounded this year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner. Here’s a wrap-up of the weekend's attractions:
Bloomberg and Vanity Fair's After-Party
Capitol File may have hosted the weekend's biggest party, but the most exclusive honors went to Bloomberg LP and Vanity Fair, who hosted an impossible-to-get-into shindig for 250 on Saturday night. Taking over French ambassador Pierre Vimont's turn-of-the-century home in Kalorama, the party drew big names from politics and Hollywood, among them Demi Moore, Ashton Kutcher, Glenn Close, Eva Longoria, David Axelrod, Desiree Rogers, and the ubiquitous Captains Chesley Sullenberger and Richard Phillips. The party took over the mansion's interior rooms with bars and buffets, and spilled out into the backyard, where the many trees were uplit in blue, pink, and green.
David Bradley's Private Dinner
On Friday night, Atlantic Media owner David Bradley and his wife, Katherine Brittain Bradley, hosted an indoor cocktail reception followed by an outdoor seated dinner at their Embassy Row home. Sponsored by Toyota and Robert Mondavi Winery, the annual event was twice as large as last year, thus requiring for the first time a 40- by 40-foot HDO Productions tent, which Frost Lighting technicians draped with white rope lights.
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White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Capitol File, Bloomberg, Vanity Fair, Atlantic Media, Toyota, Robert Mondavi Winery, Barack Obama, Haddad Media, White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Creative Coalition, DC Magazine, The McLaughlin Group, Time Inc., People Magazine, Time magazine |
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| NEWS 05.11.09 4:22 PM |
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What the Press Said About the Correspondents' Dinner: Funnier Than Ever
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It just wouldn't be the White House Correspondents' Association dinner if nobody left a little incensed or without hurt feelings, and the media seems to think that comedian Wanda Sykes more than fulfilled her M.C. duty of inspiring some scandal. The reaction to her routine, Obama's one-liners, and the hordes of celebrities in attendance this year fill much of today's headlines.
- In attempt to preemptively squash any scandal, plenty of press took Sykes' partisan comments in stride, making a point to remember that the dinner has always been something of a roast. [Atlantic]
- Still, plenty of others didn't see the humor in Sykes routine—her jibes about Rush Limbaugh, in particular. [LA Weekly]
- Talk isn't limited to Sykes, though. President Obama received a lot of coverage for his comedic turn at the dinner. The New York Daily News went as far as to say that the president "brought down the house." [NYDN]
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White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Barack Obama, Wanda Sykes, Michelle Obama, Desirée Rogers |
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| EVENT REPORT 05.11.09 1:33 PM |
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Warhol-Style Portraits, Serpentine Modern Lounge Highlight Jam-Packed Correspondents' Dinner Pre-Parties
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 | The Thomson Reuters cocktail party prior to the White House Correspondents' Association dinner
Photo: Tony Brown/Imijination Photography for BizBash |
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FROM WASHINGTON
Members of the White House press corps, Washington elite, and A-list celebrities literally rubbed shoulders in a steamy mass of humanity at the cocktail parties preceding the White House Correspondents' Association dinner Saturday night at the Hilton Washington. Hosted by media organizations and taking place from 6:00 to 7:45 p.m., the pre-parties went from mellow and civilized at the start to decidedly uncomfortable as guests surged into the concourse leading them to security checkpoints and the black-tie dinner. More than one guest muttered “Where’s the fire marshal?” as the likes of Kerry Washington, Al Sharpton, and Donatella Versace fought their way through the crowd.
Secret Service agents, on hand for the arrival of President Barack Obama, and Hilton staff members maintained order the best they could, given the 2,600 dinner guests and hundreds of extras who came solely for the cocktail receptions. Otherwise, there were few decor surprises at the individual parties and the usual smoked salmon and roast beef bites were on offer.
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White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Barack Obama, Newsweek, The Washington Post, Thomson Reuters, Atlantic Media, National Journal Group, The Atlantic, ABC, Time Magazine, People Magazine, CNN, Fortune |
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| NEWS 05.05.09 1:47 PM |
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Hosts Gear Up for White House Correspondents Weekend Parties
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FROM WASHINGTON
With the approval rating high for the new administration, it appears that a tsunami of V.I.P.s will be in town for this weekend’s line up of brunches, cocktail receptions, dinners, and after-parties surrounding Saturday night’s White House Correspondents Association dinner at the Hilton Washington. (The only big name not mentioned, thus far, appears to be British reality TV sensation Susan Boyle.)
The once-sleepy insider’s dinner and joke fest, traditionally attended by the President of the United States, has never been the same since that day in 1987 when Baltimore Sun reporter Michael Kelly escorted the Iran-Contra scandal’s Fawn Hall. One hot guest still in the paddock is Sir Elton John, reportedly in town this weekend attending the Land Rover America’s Polo Cup, according to the Washington Times.
Few details have emerged ahead of Friday night’s Time Inc. joint party for Time and People at the Astor Terrace of the St. Regis or the joint fete Bloomberg News and Vanity Fair are teaming up to host Saturday night for 300 guests at the residence of French Ambassador Pierre Vimont. Other media organizations, however, are sharing details.
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White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, America's Polo Cup, Barack Obama, The McLaughlin Group, Time Magazine, People Magazine, The Atlantic, ABC, Creative Coalition, Haddad Media, Capitol File, DC Magazine, National Journal Group |
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| NEWS 04.15.09 2:49 PM |
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In the News: Bloomberg and Vanity Fair to Cohost, the Masters Suffers From Lack of Sponsors
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Vanity Fair and Bloomberg Team Up: The economy may have Vanity Fair and Bloomberg News down, but they’re not out. Instead of canceling their respective White House Correspondents’ Association dinner after-parties, the media brands will join forces for a cohosted party at the residence of French Ambassador Pierre Vimont. In the past several years, Bloomberg had hosted the most prominent after-party, while Vanity Fair was a more recent entry. The duo will now divvy up 300 invites, making it one of the more exclusive events after the May 9 dinner. [Politico]
Auto Show Attendees Get Nasty: Attendees at the New York International Auto Show are venting their frustrations with the economy, and they’re taking it out on some unexpected parties. Presenters, who aren’t even full-time employees of the carmakers, have been heckled on the show floor since it opened to the public last week. Largely contract representatives for bail-out recipients General Motors and Chrysler, the put-upon presenters have been accused of putting out bad product, waiting until the 11th hour to be eco-conscious, and in one case, even responsibility for the war in Iraq. [NYT]
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Vanity Fair, Bloomberg News, White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, White House Easter Egg Roll, Desirée Rogers, Barack Obama, Fergie, New York International Auto Show, General Motors, Chrysler, The Masters, Citigroup |
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| NEWS 03.13.09 11:55 AM |
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In The News: Obama Meets With Event Industry Leaders, Grammys Move Up a Week
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Event and Travel Officials Get Audience With President: A delegation led by the U.S. Travel Association met with President Barack Obama this week to discuss the travel and event industry's role in boosting the economy. At the meeting, attendees pushed for the need to welcome international visitors with the proposed Travel Promotion Act and addressed concerns about the recent decline in meetings and events. [U.S. Travel Association]
Grammys Plan Move: The Recording Academy announced yesterday that next year's Grammy awards will happen a week earlier than usual, falling on January 31. The 2010 broadcast will air on CBS from the Staples Center in Los Angeles. To accommodate the move, the eligibility window for the awards has moved up an entire month, making any record released after August 31 of this year ineligible for nomination until the 2011 awards. [LAT]
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Barack Obama, Desirée Rogers, White House, New York Fashion Week, U.S. Travel Association, Grammys, Recording Academy |
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| NEWS 02.13.09 12:28 PM |
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White House Correspondents' Association Taps Wanda Sykes as M.C.
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The Associated Press reported last night that comedian Wanda Sykes has accepted an offer to be the M.C. at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in Washington May 9.
The yearly black-tie affair for journalists, politicos, and celebrities will be the first for President Barack Obama, and he is expected to attend. Obama also plans to follow tradition by performing his own act of comedy before the crowd of 2,000 at the Washington Hilton.
Still, most of the pressure falls on Sykes. Scrutiny over the dinner’s headline performances has brought harsh criticism of some comedians, most notably Stephen Colbert in 2006. As far as her preparations for the role, Sykes told the AP, “The first thing I did when they asked me to do this gig—I made sure my taxes were paid." —Michael O'Connell
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White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, Barack Obama, Wanda Sykes, Stephen Colbert |
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