The Gridiron Club, a by-invitation-only group of journalism heavyweights including Helen Thomas and CBS News' Bob Schieffer, is running into a few problems in preparation for its annual spring dinner—dubbed the number two biggest social event by Washingtonian—held in March. According to Washington Whispers, the black-tie event, full of satirical skits, impressions, and speeches from D.C.’s media elite and political bigwigs, was thrown off schedule by the hoopla surrounding the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary.
As reported, some A-listers still lack sponsors to attend, including six cabinet secretaries and Senate majority leader Harry Reid. Media executives were supposed to select such guests at an auction in December for $280 each, but missed the chance due to the presidential campaign. Carl Leubsdorf, Gridiron president and bureau chief of The Dallas Morning News, doesn’t seem concerned, telling the column that the group “expect[s] to have hosts for all those who were notified previously that they would be invited.”Leubsdorf has Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Representative Charlie Rangel lined up as speakers for this year’s dinner, according to Politico’s Shenanigans, but it's anybody guess as to what type of antics will be in store. After all, previous dinners have featured Tim Russert in drag, Robert Novak portraying Vice President Dick Cheney as Darth Vader, and Mitt Romney as the subject of a Gridiron chorus song, to the tune of “Fly Me to the Moon.”
As reported, some A-listers still lack sponsors to attend, including six cabinet secretaries and Senate majority leader Harry Reid. Media executives were supposed to select such guests at an auction in December for $280 each, but missed the chance due to the presidential campaign. Carl Leubsdorf, Gridiron president and bureau chief of The Dallas Morning News, doesn’t seem concerned, telling the column that the group “expect[s] to have hosts for all those who were notified previously that they would be invited.”Leubsdorf has Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison and Representative Charlie Rangel lined up as speakers for this year’s dinner, according to Politico’s Shenanigans, but it's anybody guess as to what type of antics will be in store. After all, previous dinners have featured Tim Russert in drag, Robert Novak portraying Vice President Dick Cheney as Darth Vader, and Mitt Romney as the subject of a Gridiron chorus song, to the tune of “Fly Me to the Moon.”
