White House gets red carpet at WHCA dinner

Arts and Culture

White House gets red carpet at WHCA dinner

Hollywood celebrities, politicians and members of the news media gather in Washington for the annual White House Correspondents Dinner Saturday 4/26/08.

MOVIE STARS AND CELEBRITIES overshadowed the reporters and politicians at the White House Correspondents Dinner. MORGAN FAIRCHILD showed up to rub elbows with Beltway insiders.

LATE-NIGHT TV HOST Craig Ferguson was the evening's featured entertainer. His act followed comedians Rich Little (2007 WHCA dinner) and Stephen Colbert (2006 WHCA dinner), both of whom had their performances slammed by critics.

THE WHCA DINNER has been criticized for, among other things, its increasing Hollywood presence, with stars like JENNY MCCARTHY in attendance, looking like she's dressed for a Vanity Fair soiree.

WHO'S LISTENING to reporters or the president when PAM ANDERSON has just arrived from the Playboy Mansion? (Meow!)

WANT TO KNOW what Marcia Cross and others had for dinner? Spring salad with green peppercorn dressing; surf and turf: seared salmon with a petite filet; squash, asparagus and risotto; and white chocolate mousse. Whether they ate it or not is anybody's guess.

ERIC DANE ("Grey's Anatomy") stops on the red carpet of the Washington Hilton.

DOMESTIC DIVA Martha Stewart and former Secretary of State Colin Powell chat at the event.

GLAMAZON FOSSIL Donatella Versace arrives. Where's Courtney Love?!

SERIOUSLY, NOW. Lauren Conrad of "The Hills"? She offers her highly enlightened perspective to a reporter. (Meow, meow!)

"TOP CHEF" HOST Padma Lakshmi was there...

... AS WAS HER ex-husband SALMAN RUSHDIE (right), who was making schmoopy with (married, to someone else) actress OLIVIA WILDE.

THE JONAS BROTHERS sang the national anthem at the White House Easter Egg roll, so at least they're sort of in tune with (no pun intended) political social events. (But are they voting age?)

AT LEAST actor Richard Schiff played a White House employee, communications director Toby Ziegler, on "The West Wing."

"TALK SOUP" HOST Joel McHale arrives at the Washington Hilton.

MISS AMERICA Kristen Haglund shows off her crowning glory.

"ARMY WIFE" Catherine Bell goes way off-base to attend the dinner.

FITNESS EXPERT Denise Austin shows the politicians some muscle.

1/17

MOVIE STARS AND CELEBRITIES overshadowed the reporters and politicians at the White House Correspondents Dinner. MORGAN FAIRCHILD showed up to rub elbows with Beltway insiders.

Today's Gallery Headlines

Stone Mountain Easter sunrise service

PHOTOS: Stone Mountain Easter Sunrise Service

7m ago

The Center tour

PHOTOS: An early look at CNN Center's redevelopment in downtown Atlanta

Wayfair Tour

PHOTOS: Wayfair opens first Atlanta store

Atlanta Hawks host the Boston Celtics

PHOTOS: Hawks defeat Celtics in key East battle