Wednesday, June 03, 2009

Media-Whore D'Oeuvres



"In his first stop on a diplomatic mission aimed at restoring the U.S. relationship with the Middle East, President Barack Obama stopped in Riyadh to hold talks with Saudi King Abdullah on the Arab-Israeli conflict, Iran's nuclear program, and oil prices. Obama may be hoping to entice the Saudis toward a significant gesture toward Israel, but Arab leaders are unlikely to act unilaterally without further concessions from the Jewish state. Obama met with Israeli foreign minister Ehud Barak in Washington just before he left, and pressed the Israeli government to curb further settlement growth in the West Bank." (ForeignPolicy)



"LONG before he turned his attention to stimulating the economy, Barack Obama had to take care of a few issues at home in his marriage to Michelle. During a rough patch in 2000, 'There was little conversation and even less romance,' writes Richard Wolffe in his new book, 'Renegade: The Making of a President.' 'She was angry at his selfishness and careerism; he thought she was cold and un grateful,' writes Wolffe, who covered Oba ma's White House campaign for Newsweek. 'She hated the failed race for Congress in 2000, and their marriage was strained by the time their youngest daughter, Sasha, was born. Politics seemed like a waste of time to Michelle,' the book says. But the couple seem to have put any past issues behind them -- 'Today things are much better,' Wolffe noted on 'Inside Edition" yesterday.' (PageSix)



"The invitation for Calvin Klein Collection and Visionaire's collaborative book launch at the Standard hotel read 'Dress code: White,' and attendants (attired accordingly, of course) handed sunglasses to all partygoers upon arrival. Chloë Sevigny sported them with her favorite white Chloé blazer, Tyra Banks wore a sculpted white Calvin Klein Collection frock from the spring line, and Doutzen Kroes showed off her enviable figure in a second-skin white Hervé Léger." (Fashionweekdaily)



"Will President Sarkozy bid? A nude photograph of his wife, former model Carla Bruni, is on the block at the spring auction at the Berlin auction house Villa Grisebach Auktionen later this week. The French first lady was photographed by Pamela Hanson in 1994. On June 4, one of the 10 numbered prints will presumably be sold, with the bidding starting at $3,380." (TheDailyBeast)

"Democrats are moving quickly to vet candidates for a possible takeover in upstate New York’s 23rd District, which comprises vast swaths of the state and borders Canada. The longtime Republican bastion became a target of opportunity Tuesday when President Obama named veteran Rep. John M. McHugh as his pick to become Army secretary. Rep. Steve Israel, the Long Island congressman who runs national recruitment efforts for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, scheduled a conference call among Washington Democratic operatives and party chairs from the 11 counties with pieces of the district to discuss possible candidates on Monday. 'We’re in pregame,' Israel said before the call. 'We don’t yet have a lineup.'" (CQPolitics)



"Stephen Gilula and Nancy Utley have been named presidents of Fox Searchlight Pictures, Fox Filmed Entertainment Chairmen Tom Rothman and Jim Gianopulos announced Tuesday. Gilula and Utley, who both served as Searchlight’s chief operating officers, will report directly to to Gianopulos and Rothman. The former COOs of Searchlight, they fill the formal gap left by the departure of the former company president Peter Rice who recently took a top post at Fox’s broadcasting unit. During their combined tenure at Searchlight, Utley and Gilula have marketed and distributed 77 movies, earning over $1.3 billion at the domestic box office as well as 46 Academy Award nominations and 15 wins." (IndieWIRE)



"Last night, YouTube opened Internet Week New York with an industry-heavy but light hearted par-tay at the Puck Building. With groovy red lighting, a video mash-up dj and flashing ice cubes in the specialty drinks; those internetters spared no detail. Ivanka Trump, Rodger Berman (Mr. Rachel Zoe) and many a techie joined the revelry, also a celebration of YouTube’s new partnership with the Week-ending Webby Awards. The leader in online video is bringing the 'internet’s highest honor' to viewers as never before. Launching a 'best-in-class' interactive Webby channel, YouTube users can engage with winning content, footage and events." (Guestofaguest)



"Cougar Party!™ is back!!! Come join us on Wednesday, June 3rd from 6PM until Midnight at Katra Lounge (217 Bowery Street between Prince and Rivington St., NYC)…for after work cougar party™, brought to you by 238BEATS Entertainment, Cougars: NYC & The IiN TV Productions. This casual singles mixer." (CougarsNYC)



"It was a perfect night for a good old fashioned cocktail party and Mark Gilbertson, the social impresario of what used to be called the Junior Set in New York (now expanded with their own little juniors growing up) gave one of his semi-annual cocktail parties at a great big clubhouse that likes to go unidentified in public, and it was a smash. I’d guess 250 – 300 of his closest intimates were there. His rolodex is voluminous so this was just a handful." (NYSocialDiary)



"What does a movie producer really do? Before you start with the jokes, the Producers Guild of America wants to have its say. This weekend, the PGA will present its first-ever Produced By Conference, an open-to-the-public (although sold out) gathering on the Sony Pictures lot with seminars on such topics as independent film financing, digital rights, viral marketing and -- why not? -- booking private jets." (LATimes)

"The highest-rated NBA postseason in TNT history also drove the network to another three records, scoring the best month ever on basic cable among adults 18-49 in primetime and total day as well as among 25-54s in primetime. The network averaged 1.94 million 18-49s in primetime during May, as well as 838,000 in total day, according to Nielsen. Among 25-54s, it set a record with 1.89 million in primetime, and TNT also set network records for best monthly delivery among adults 18-34, total viewers and households in both primetime and total day. The gains were driven by a strong NBA postseason in which TNT saw year-to-year gains in virtually every demographic." (Medialifemagazine)

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