Tammy Haddad interviewed at the 2010 White House Correspondents Garden Brunch.

Confused as to why everyone around the Beltway aren’t complaining about why it’s almost 100 degrees? Because they’re going over Politico’s 50 Politicos To Watch.

As Bill Nichols explains, “we bring you a snapshot of the politicians, bureaucrats, administration officials, campaign gurus, military brass, fixers and party hounds you need to keep an eye on in the weeks and months ahead.” Among other influential D.C. staples are the restaurants and bars that run the town’s after-hour salons.

Of course, in a point of full disclosure: White House Correspondents Insider’s own co-founder and editor-in-chief Tammy Haddad is one of Politico’s Scenemakers to Watch.

John Lichman DC, News Media 50 Politicos To Watch, Politico, Tammy Haddad, White House Correspondents Dinner

Has the celebrity aspect of the annual White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner gone too far?

Michael Getler, the independent internal critic, otherwise known as the “ombudsman” for the Public Broadcasting System, believes that it has. In a recent Ombudsman Column, Getler calls the dinner an “embarrassment, just one more brick on the pile that buries confidence in the U.S. press.” The dinner happened to take place on the same weekend that marked the passing of two long-time PBS public affairs shows: Bill Moyers Journal and NOW with host David Brancaccio.

Getler called it “Journalism’s Passing Parade” – do you agree? Share your comments.

WHC Insider WHCA Dinner Bill Moyers, David Brancaccio, Michael Getler, NOW, PBS, WHCA, WHCA Dinner, White House Correspondents Dinner

Guest mixologist Rachel Maddow serves David and Susan Axelrod

WHCInsider has the exclusive news: Party powerhouse MSNBC, coming off an already legendary 2009 Radio and TV Dinner after party, is taking on the Bloomberg | Vanity Fair juggernaut in 2010 for the White House Correspondents Dinner on Saturday, May 1.

The White House Correspondents weekend is a time for the networks and their print counterparts to entertain their clients, show celebrity muscle, and bring Washington elites together. There is no more competitive time slot that weekend than the Saturday after party sweepstakes, dominated for years by Bloomberg.

Jason Binn’s Capitol File magazine began their own after party in 2008 to much success. With a breathtaking cover featuring new D.C. residents—Obama’s Valerie Jarrett and Desiree Rogers—Binn gathered top politicos in 2009, after hitting the dance floor in 2008.

MSNBC, which has enjoyed much ratings success and made itself a primary player in the Washington political media culture, will give everyone a run for their money this year.

MSNBC’s party will be created by top event producer, Philip Dufour, mastermind of the Radio and Television after party. If you are one of the lucky few to receive an invitation, we’ll see you at the Mellon auditorium.

MSNBC President Phil Griffin and MSNBC Star Ed Schultz

gtruong WHCD 2010 Guests, Washington Events Bloomberg, Capitol File, Desiree Rogers, Jason Binn, MSNBC, Phillip Dufour, Valerie Jarrett, Vanity Fair, White House Correspondents Dinner

It’s going to be a throw-down the Friday before the WHCD; Time and People magazines have circulated a save-the-date for their April 30th evening bash.

WHCInsider already reported that The New Yorker has put their marker on the pre-party calendar with a rooftop reception at the W Hotel.

lrozett Washington Events People, The New Yorker, TIme, White House Correspondents Dinner

Word on the street has it that The New Yorker has entered the pre-party, post-party sweepstakes, with a bash before the White House Correspondents Dinner on Friday, April 30. Gawker reports the event, “to which you’re not invited,” will be on the rooftop of the W Hotel.

Washington media members cheered the news of new competition for high profile guests on a night traditionally “owned” by Time and People magazines. Bloomberg is the undisputed king of the after party on Saturday (and hosts a private dinner at Café Milano pre-WHCD). Will Time Warner challenge Conde Nast? We’ll investigate, but in the meantime, give us your tips on party plans and guest lists as they develop.

In the meantime, check out some photos from last year’s pre-dinner receptions.

lrozett DC, Washington Events Cafe Milano, Conde Nast, People, The New Yorker, TIme, W Hotel, White House Correspondents Dinner

How They Did It

NBC News VP Mark Lukasiewicz briefs camera crews during a pre-production meeting in the Old Executive Office Building on Thursday, May 28.

Mark Lukasiewicz (a.k.a. “Luk”) was the Executive Producer behind one of NBC’s most revealing portraits: “Inside the Obama White House, Brian Williams Reports.” WHC Insider reported Luk’s production plan to create the most personal look yet at the White House and this President. Today, we go behind the scenes with Luk as he tells us how they got the “get of the year.”

Linda Rozett:  How long did it take to get the administration to agree to appear under this sort of microscope? How did you convince them to cooperate?

Mark Lukasiewicz:  We began that conversation very early with Robert Gibbs and other Obama advisers. The conversations got more serious in February, and then got even more serious after the White House Correspondents Dinner in May. NBC has done this kind of show with virtually every administration since Nixon; it’s a very long tradition. President Ford was the only exception, since he wasn’t in office long enough. It’s been our practice to approach each new administration to participate, because it’s an opportunity to introduce the nation to them and how they work.

After that, we had a number of meetings on the details: the number of people involved, equipment to be moved in, where we would have cameras, and work space. We had a space in the Old Executive Office Building. Finally it became a matter of finding a date that worked.

From the outset I had the strong impression it really was only a matter of when, not if. The White House understood the value of this project in terms of introducing this administration to the country, to their key players. I didn’t sense any hesitation on their part.

Were there any restrictions on what you could shoot (rooms off limits, security, etc.)?

There were conversations with the Secret Service to make sure we weren’t doing anything inadvertently to compromise the President’s protection. And there were definitely areas we would have been happy to shoot, but were told no. Not the residence floors of the White House where the Obamas live. Not the Situation Room, for example, and limited opportunity to shoot in the areas occupied by the National Security people.

But the restrictions were really minimal in terms of where we could shoot; and almost all of them had to do with security.

How about the staff — any restrictions there?

No.  But there were some logistical issues — making sure we could carve time out of the day to have access to the key players.  Once we had agreement, we needed to make sure Brian Williams could stop in on certain people, that they’d have a free 15 to 20 minutes on their calendar.

Read more…

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The White House Correspondents Dinner is now “a Hollywood night,” so says David Letterman friend and comedian Jim Gaffigan.  “Having known Wanda for 15 years, it was like, ‘She’s holding back a little bit.’ It’s really interesting to see how that Correspondents’ Dinner has changed since the Colbert thing.”

Read the rest of Gaffigan’s interview with the WSJ here.

lrozett Event Coverage, Wanda Sykes David Letterman, Jim Gaffigan, Stephen Colbert, Wall Street Journal, Wanda Sykes, White House Correspondents Dinner

Some of the politicos zinged by President Obama’s remarks at the White House Correspondents Dinner took it in stride on the Sunday talk shows.

Check out Lynn Sweet’s column on PoliticsDaily.com.

lrozett Event Coverage President Obama, White House Correspondents Dinner

Who is happier: Former Speaker Newt Gingrich or former Governor Mitt Romney?

The White House Correspondents Dinner has dominated the headlines over the years with celebrity sightings, presidential roasts, and comedy routines.

This year President Obama used the cover of the dinner to have a private meeting with one of the top GOP contenders for the 2012 nomination, Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr. Obama asked Huntsman to be Ambassador to China and Huntsman said yes. That is another blow to the GOP and another notch on the President’s 2012 belt.

Click here for Marc Ambinder’s analysis.

thaddad Washington Events, White House Staff Governor Jon Huntsman, President Obama, White House Correspondents Dinner

D.C. Comedy Pro Richard Siegel Reviewed Sykes Performance for WHCInsider

What is the hardest job in the country? It’s to follow President Obama.  Wanda Sykes, grabbed the microphone, commanded the stage; she was bold, not over the top, brash  not X-rated, cool, calm, collected and yes, very funny. She stunned the audience numerous times, as people would look around, dressed in their black tie attire, wondering if it was okay to laugh.  No subject was out of bounds.  Wanda knew how far to go, knew her boundaries, attacked every target, but did not get too racy nor leave any subject alone.   Sykes talked about Obama’s nipples when he appears without a shirt, and of course, discussed the “legacy” of Bush, the guest who stayed in your house and got out of town before you noticed that he broke everything.
 
As I watched Wanda confidently address the country and the journalists, I felt like a proud parent. I have watched Wanda grow from an open mike comedienne and comedy contestant in the 80s to what she is today, a major force in comedy.  Her style has changed, as in the early days her sarcasm was one of her most powerful weapons. Tonight, it was her charm, confidence and charisma that stood out.

Read more…

lrozett Event Coverage, Wanda Sykes Dick Cheney, George Bush, President Obama, Rush Limbaugh, Wanda Sykes, White House Correspondents Dinner

President Obama rocked the Hilton at the 2009 White House Correspondents Dinner, with jokes that poked fun at Republicans, as well as his own administration, and his popularity. Watch and judge for yourself.

Part 1

Part 2

lrozett Uncategorized, Washington Events President Obama, White House Correspondents Dinner

Early estimates for the turnout at the Pre-WHCD Garden Brunch exceed 500, probably more, as a capacity crowd mingled and mixed in anticipation of the White House Correspondents’ Dinner tonight. The weather — always an issue in D.C. — cooperated, serving up a sunny, if slightly humid afternoon.

Guests included actors Val Kilmer, Christian Slater, Matthew Modine and Dana Delaney; Capt. Richard Phillips of the Alabama Maersk and his wife Andrea; Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano; former Clinton administration official Donna Shalala; David Gregory, Andrea Mitchell and Ann Curry of NBC News, and many others.

The party ran from Noon until 3:00 p.m., when guests started leaving to prepare for tonight’s big event.

Val Kilmer

Shelby Coffey and Ann Curry

BTriplett Uncategorized, Washington Events Christian Slater, Dana Delaney Richard Phillips, David Gregory, Matthew Modine, Val Kilmer, White House Correspondents Dinner

Captain Richard Phillips and his wife Andrea

One of the most sought after guests for this year’s WHC Dinner, Captain Richard Phillips and his wife Andrea, made their way to Washington, D.C. on Friday. They received many invitations, but chose to attend with Bloomberg. The Phillips say they are “honored to be Bloomberg’s guests.”

jdonofrio WHCD 2009 Guests Bloomberg, Captain Richard Phillips, White House Correspondents Dinner

Many previous presidents have turned to outside comedy pros to help liven up their speech to the White House Correspondents Dinner, but Newsweek is reporting that Barack Obama is relying as usual on his closest aides and staff.

BTriplett Washington Events Barack Obama, Newsweek, White House Correspondents Dinner

Ali Wentworth from whcinsider on Vimeo.

Ali Wentworth, actress, comedienne, Oprah regular, and wife of George Stephanopoulos gave WHCInsider the exclusive insight on her e-rules for the Information Super Highway. WHCInsider has learned that George Stephanopoulos is not permitted to tweet when Ali Wentworth is talking. Ali also doesn’t permit BlackBerrys in the bedroom and says tweeting should be something you do when you’re alone.

And she predicts her former boss, Jay Leno, will be a hit in his new 10:00 p.m. time slot, and thinks Wanda Sykes was told to tone down her blue humor for the WHCD. We picked up these scoops at the raucous party Ali and George hosted Monday night for the fun and fabulous Lee Woodruff’s second book: Perfectly Imperfect.

Check out our interview with Ali and you’ll know why she’s got her own show, “Head Case,” why she has a regular seat on Oprah, and why George is always smiling!

thaddad Washington Events Ali Wentworth, George Stephanopoulos, Jay Leno, Lee Woodruff, Oprah, Wanda Sykes, White House Correspondents Dinner