April 27th White House Correspondents' Dinner & Tanabe's The List

The April 27th White House Correspondents' Dinner is fast approaching. Whenever I hear about the Dinner, I think of Colbert's epic 2006 speech at the event:




But it sounds like it's now become something of a celebrity circus. Here's today's Washington Post editorial, "E! to livestream White House Correspondents’ Dinner red carpet for first time:"

The White House Correspondents’ Dinner has finally, formally been crowned The Hollywood Petting Zoo.

E! Entertainment network announces Friday it will livestream the dinner’s red carpet for the very first time. The celebrity suck-up network will telecast highlights from the clambake the next night.

Ashley Judd, Connie Britton, Courteney Cox, Elizabeth Banks, Eric Stonestreet, Hayden Panettiere, Jon Bon Jovi, Kate Walsh, Kevin Spacey, Kristin Chenoweth, Matthew Perry, Nicole Kidman, Olivia Munn, Patricia Arquette, Shaquille O'Neal, Sharon Stone, Sofia Vergara, and Tracy Morgan are expected on this year’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner red carpet,

E! noted. Conan O’Brien is hosting this year’s entertainment at the dinner in which, E! explained, Hollywood, media, “and political royalty” all come together for a night.

For a novel about DC correspondents, try The List by Karin Tanabe:

Meet Adrienne Brown, a twenty-eight-year-old Wellesley College grad who recently left her glamorous job at Town & Country for a spot at the Capitolist. Known simply as the List to Beltway insiders, it’s the only media outlet in D.C. that’s actually on the rise.

Taking the job means accepting a painful pay cut, giving up perks like free Louboutins, and moving back in with her parents, but Adrienne is certain that her new position will be the making of her career. And it is—but not at all in the way that she expects. The Capitolist runs at an insane pace: Adrienne’s up before five in the morning, writing ten stories a day (sometimes on her BlackBerry, often during her commute), and answering every email within three minutes.

Just when it seems like the frenetic workload is going to break her, she stumbles upon a juicy political affair, involving a very public senator—and her most competitive colleague. Discovering that there’s much more to the relationship than meets the eye, Adrienne realizes she’s got the scoop of a lifetime. But should she go public with the story?

Reality TV & Peltier's Reality Boulevard

From today's BBC article "French reality TV doctor kills himself after contestant dies:"

A doctor who worked on French adventure reality TV show Koh Lanta has killed himself in Cambodia after one of the programme's contestants died. In a suicide note, Thierry Costa, 38, said his name had been "sullied by the media" over the death of Gerald Babin a week ago. Mr Babin had a heart attack during filming on the island of Koh Rong. Some media reports had criticised Dr Costa, saying he had taken too much time to treat the 25-year-old. Mr Babin had complained of cramps on the first day of filming on the southern Cambodian island on 22 March. Dr Costa administered emergency care before Mr Babin was airlifted to a mainland hospital where he died. French authorities have launched a preliminary investigation into Mr Babin's death. Broadcaster TF1 announced last week it would axe the popular show, described as France's version of Survivor, in response to his death.

For a novel about reality television, try Reality Boulevard by Melissa Jo Peltier:

When Oscar-winning producer Marty Maltzman’s award-winning non-fiction series Lights and Sirens is suddenly cancelled after 16 seasons, the quirky documentary film-maker and his colorful staff find themselves unemployed and out on the streets in an artificial new Hollywood filled with Kardashians, Survivors and Real Housewives. As the collection of oddball characters adapt to a surreal world where the lines between truth and lies are blurred – both on and off the screen – this darkly funny novel reveals an insider’s view of Hollywood and Reality TV.

Oscar Night, Hollywood, & Leonard's Get Shorty

 Oscar night! From today's BBC story "Oscars: Hollywood prepares for Academy Awards:"

Hollywood is gearing up for what is likely to be one of the most unpredictable Academy Awards for years. Hundreds of fans and members of the world's media are in place on the red carpet and there is tight security outside the Dolby Theatre. The ceremony is due to start at 17:30 Los Angeles time (01:30 GMT). No film is expected to sweep the board, and hostage drama Argo has overtaken historical epic Lincoln in most predictions for the best picture prize. Daniel Day-Lewis, who plays Abraham Lincoln, is favourite for best actor, while Les Miserables star Anne Hathaway is tipped for supporting actress.

What is the quintessential novel about Hollywood culture? It certainly is *not* the inexplicably popular The Day of the Locust, a poorly-written snooze-fest. I vote for Elmore Leonard's Get Shorty:

Mob-connected loanshark Chili Palmer is sick of the Miami grind -- plus his "friends" have a bad habit of dying there. So when he chases a deadbeat client out to Hollywood, Chili figures he might like to stay. This town with its dreammakers, glitter, hucksters, and liars -- plus gorgeous, partially clad would -be starlets everywhere you look -- seems ideal for an enterprising criminal with a taste for the cinematic. Besides, Chili's got an idea for a killer movie -- thought it could very possibly kill him to get it made.