Chevy Chase

Tomorrow night marks the annual White House Correspondents' Dinner in Washington, D.C. Members of the press corps (including some Media Mob contributors who are already on their way—note low posting rate today!) will have a chance to clink glasses with the president and his cabinet and remind themselves that despite five years of war, an economy some are already calling a Depression, and a painful slog of an election season, it's all in good fun. L'chaim! To us!

This year's event will be emceed by CBS Late Late Show host Craig Ferguson, whom the W.H.C.A.'s president (and ABC News correspondent), Ann Compton, is really excited about: "Craig Ferguson is a fresh take on late night TV. As a new citizen, a first-time uncommitted voter and someone who has looked at American politics from the outside, I am looking forward to his unique take on our system."

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At the kickoff for Tribeca last night at MoMA, our Big Cheese Publisher was in the mood to play reporter with Chevy Chase. There we were, asking Mr. Chase about his thoughts on Baby Mama, when our publisher debuted his journalistic skills.

“So let me ask you a question, and tell me how I’m doing, to what do you attribute the resurgence of Saturday Night Live?” he asked.  read more »

Chevy Chase says he was asked to have a recurring role on Saturday Night Live’s “Weekend Update,” but that was before the W.G.A. strike. Recalling his recent debut appearance on the sketch show’s mock-news segment, for which he was apparently paid scale, the Caddyshack actor said he was disappointed by the poor writing. He also blames his poor performance on a standing ovation from the audience. “I didn’t want to overshadow the new kids," he told Fox News, referring to co-anchors Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers, adding: "I was shocked." According to Mr. Chase, 64, who was only on SNL for its first season, famed musical composer Leonard Bernstein nearly hosted an episode during the show’s inaugural year on the air. “The idea of John [Belushi] and Danny [Aykroyd] coming out doing a number from that show cracked us up," Mr. Chase said. But when the comedian and writer Tom Schiller visited Mr. Bernstein backstage, the West Side Story creator got fresh with the wrong guy. “He put his hand on my knee. When we were leaving, he kissed me full-on, on the lips,” Mr. Chase remembered. “I wagged my finger at him and said, ‘No, no, no.’ And that was the last we ever heard from him."

Charlie Rangel's 77th birthday event at Tavern on the Green last night raised more than $1 million, making it one of the largest individual congressional fund-raisers in recent memory. Attendees included Michael Bloomberg, who left right before Hillary Clinton took the stage ( and long before Chuck Schumer arrived), Chevy Chase, Magic Johnson and dozens of other local elected officials.

Bloomberg told attendees that those who think Rangel is the best thing the best thing since slice bread are correct, but barely, since Rangel was born soon after sliced bread was invented. Bloomberg also said that he was the first to endorse Rangel for President.

Clinton said, somewhat more earnestly, “I told Charlie I wouldn’t be anywhere else except right here, with just a few of his closest friends and family to celebrate the birthday of someone who I not only admire, not only respect , but truly, truly love. He is a good human being.”

MASSIVE CORRECTION: An earlier version of this post led with an account from an attendee of a cordial meeting between Eliot Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo. Cuomo wasn't there.

My one source for that part of the item was one of the event's organizers who has worked with numerous politicians in New York and had been helpful on previous items. I didn't double-check with the information with Cuomo's office before publishing the item, which, obviously, I should have. Apologies to Cuomo, Spitzer and you readers.

When Charie Rangel blew out his birthday cake last year, he had two wishes: "That we win back the House and I become Chairman of the Ways and Means committee."

That's according to an early invitation obtained by The Observer to his 77th birthday gala, set for August 8 at Tavern on the Green.

His dreams having finally come true, Mr. Rangel is apparently celebrating what one New York City contributor to his campaign is calling "possibly the largest congressional fund-raiser in the history of New York."

The evening's special guest will be Rangel endorsee Hillary Clinton, but she won't be alone: the source told The Observer (and Rangel campaign finance executive director Walter Swett confirmed) that David Paterson, Sheldon Silver, Malcolm Smith and Tom DiNapoli will be joined at the event by playwright-poet-activist-actress Ruby Dee. Chevy Chase will be in attendance and Aretha Franklin is also likely, according to Swett. No word yet if Eliot Spitzer will be on board for the festivities. (And it's probably not the right time to ask.)

Chairs are asked to raise $20,000 and the lowest fund-raiser level -- patrons -- are expected to bring in $1,000. According to the invitation, proceeds will go to Rangel's National Leadership PAC to ensure the expansion of the Democratic majority in Congress.

"Most of all," Rangel writes in the invite, "we celebrate living in the greatest democracy on earth, a country where dreams can come true and a high school dropout from Lenox Avenue can get a second chance from the GI Bill and make something of himself."

The summer 2005 hits The Wedding Crashers and The Aristocrats have reinvigorated fans of brainy come  read more »

Comedian Marc Maron stood behind the glowing glass podium wearing a tuxedo and a befuddled look.  read more »