Seth Meyers is on the comedic roll of a lifetime. He played the White House Correspondents dinner like a veteran, poking fun at Washington biggies including President Obama himself.
Hours after this performance, the news about Bin-Laden’s death was released, which gave Meyers great material for his Saturday Night Live skit Weekend Update. Check out the clip below:
As politicos, Hollywood celebrities and media personalities converge on DC this weekend, many show up for a cause. The Creative Coalition has had a long tradition of showing up with a force and enlisting some of DC’s biggest names. The Washington Post’s Sally Quinn and the Honorable Bob Dole will join America Ferrera, Michelle Tratchtenberg, Jeremy Piven, David Arquette, Cheryl Hines, Alyssa Milano, and the Coalition’s President, Tim Daly in an event Friday night at The Washington Club to start an important initiative. This year, along with WWE (R), they will launch the “be a STAR” anti-bullying campaign. STAR stands for “Show Tolerance And Respect” and “aims to ensure a positive and equitable social environment for everyone regardless of age, race, religion or sexual orientation. “be a STAR” also will employ the resources of the arts to promote anti-bullying messages,” according to their press release.
The “be a STAR” Alliance includes GLAAD, Ad Council, Island Def Jam Music Group, Close Up Foundation and others leaders in the education and community service arenas.
For its first initiative, the Alliance will unveil an anti-bullying curriculum created by the National Education Association Health Information Network and distributed free-of-charge to the nation’s schools. The centerpiece of the curriculum is the recently released film, That’s What I Am (WWE Studios and Samuel Goldwyn Films).
ABC News' George Stephanopoulos and Alexandra Wentworth at CURE Epilepsy NYC 2010 Event
There will be plenty of laughs and camera flashes over at ABC News’ tables at the annual White House Correspondents’ dinner. “Modern Family” favorites Eric Stonestreet and Jesse Tyler Ferguson will be joined by “Glee’s” Jane Lynch, actor Paul Rudd from “40 Year Old Virgin” and “Anchorman,” and actor/new mom Elizabeth Banks seen recently on “30 Rock.” ESPN’s Erin Andrews will also be at the main event.
Top management will be in town, including Disney President & CEO Bob Iger who will be joined by wife Willow Bay, Disney-ABC Television Group President Anne Sweeney, ABC News President Ben Sherwood, and ABC Vice President and Washington Bureau Chief Robin Sproul.
Returning to DC for the weekend will be George Stephanopoulos and wife Alexandra Wentworth. They’ll get to catch up with senior correspondents Martha Raddatz, Jake Tapper, Terry Moran, and Jonathan Karl. Rounding out the team will be Political Director Amy Walter and Senior Washington Editor Rick Klein.
ABC will be bringing plenty of political star power as well. Guests include:
White House Chief of Staff William Daley & Bernie Daley
Tom Donilon (National Security Advisor to the President) & Cathy Russell (Chief of Staff to Jill Biden)
White House Social Secretary Jeremy Bernard
Senator Marco Rubio & Jeanette Rubio
Attorney General Eric Holder & Dr. Sharon Malone
Admiral Mike Mullen & Deborah Mullen
Senator Amy Klobuchar & John Bessler
Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano
Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall (National Security Council) & Dr. Jeffrey Randall
Ambassador Salem Al-Sabah & Rima Al-Sabah
Former Secretary of Commerce and new US Ambassador to China Gary Locke & Mona Locke
Senator Mark Kirk
Amy Rule, wife of Chicago Mayor-elect Rahm Emanuel
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.
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.
