Variety.com

Obama hits up Hollywood for more coin

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Two fundraisers among bizzers planned for today -- President Obama treks to Los Angeles today for his ninth visit since taking office and, once again, he'll raise money at a handful of Hollywood-centric events.

Can biz still love Obama?

Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Despite anti-piracy fallout, GOP fails to gain -- When President Obama treks to Los Angeles -- again -- on Feb. 15, he'll be looking to convey the sense of a winner: Improved poll numbers and a brightening economy, as well as the bandwagon effect of a smattering of stars coming out in support. The Foo Fighters will be playing for him, and Will Ferrell is among the co-hosts of a high-dollar event at a posh Beverly Hills estate.

Media still GOP's punching bag

Sat, 4 Feb 2012 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Gingrich attack reminds us that journos don't fight back -- Listening to Newt Gingrich bash the media during Republican primary debates -- even going so far as to suggest journalists can't be fair arbiters and shouldn't be allowed to moderate them -- evokes memories of how long the GOP has been setting up and knocking over this particular straw man.

First Lady rallies Hollywood crowd

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 23:03:02 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Michelle Obama appears at local fundraisers -- Appearing at the first of two fundraisers during a swing through Los Angeles on Tuesday, Michelle Obama asked a crowd heavy in show biz donors, "Are you with us?"

Obama says he'll launch trade unit to fight piracy

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:57:31 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: President makes State of the Union address -- In tonight's State of the Union address, President Obama announced the creation of a "trade enforcement unit" that will be tasked with investigating "unfair trade practices" in other countries, including China.

Playing political PACman

Sat, 21 Jan 2012 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Colbert reveals nonsensical campaign circumstances -- In a series of ads that have run in South Carolina this week, Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert's SuperPAC has in one fell swoop mocked negative spots, candidate obfuscation and, most of all, the sorry state of campaign financing. It's been ingeniously funny -- but will it make a difference?

Obama from Disney to Harlem

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:57:20 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Fundraising events take president from Florida to New York -- If relations between the entertainment industry and the White House have soured of late over SOPA there was no sign of it Thursday as a muscular day of fundraising swept President Barack Obama from Walt Disney World to Spike Lee's home on Manhattan's Upper East Side to a late night appearance at Harlem's Apollo Theater.

The politics of pop culture

Sat, 7 Jan 2012 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Pop culture references hard on pols -- Mitt Romney's attack line on President Obama last week undoubtedly was scripted, polished and keyed up for just the right moment. "The gap between his promises and his performance is the largest I've seen, well, since the Kardashian wedding and the promise of 'til death do we part," Romney said.

Putin gets some direction

Fri, 30 Dec 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Longtime helmer signs on as advisor to Russian leader's campaign -- Politics and film are never far apart in Russia. And while, unlike the U.S., the country has not yet had a former actor as president, prime minister Vladimir Putin is putting a film director at the center of his third presidential bid.

Gingrich's films star in his campaign

Sat, 17 Dec 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: GOP front-runner's production company is in docu biz -- At the recent ABC News-Yahoo debate, when the Lazarus-like Newt Gingrich sought to show his empathy for the hardship of small business owners in a brutal economy, he cited one of his ventures, run by wife Callista, called Gingrich Prods.

Ailes' crowning moment?

Sat, 10 Dec 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Fox News inspires flurry of analysis among media watchers -- While their politics might be polar opposites, Fox News shares one trait with the Cold War-era Kremlin.

Showbiz spends big on lobbying

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Comcast leads the pack in wooing Washington legislators -- Officially, Congress makes the laws in the United States.

'Caucus' the musical tunes into 2012 satire

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Political musical gets ready for election -- The 2012 presidential race has so far played out with the theatrics of a reality show, but an Iowa playwright and composer sees the stars aligned for a musical.

Hollywood wades into tax debate

Sat, 3 Dec 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Fairness is not as simple as 1040 EZ -- Col. Tom Parker, Elvis Presley's legendary manager, once rather famously said, "I consider it my patriotic duty to keep Elvis up in the 90% tax bracket."

GOP should try auditions, not debates

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Current candidates short on star quality -- Watching yet another presidential debate last week, I was left with the following question: Why haven't the Republicans found themselves a casting director?

Pelosi balks at piracy bill

Fri, 18 Nov 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: House Minority Leader against anti-piracy legislation -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has surprised showbizzers by coming out against anti-piracy legislation aimed at rooting out so-called rogue websites that sell illegal copies of movies, TV shows and music as well as other goods.

Hollywood cash: few strings attached

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Party line free of biz buzz -- As the political bonanza of 2012 edges closer, just about every week sees a major candidate coming to Hollywood, anxious to suck up campaign cash.

Obama courts Latino Hollywood

Sat, 22 Oct 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: Fundraising targets prominent leaders -- President Obama is courting a growing showbiz power base: Latinos.

Sense and sensitivity

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: The business of being politically correct -- With the presidential campaign gaining in intensity, Republican challengers seem bent on setting new records for political incorrectness.

Hollywood Republicans still undecided

Sat, 15 Oct 2011 04:00:00 PST

H'w'd and D.C.: GOP hopefuls still courting showbiz backers -- The most common misperception is that Hollywood is bereft of Republicans, making it a waste of time for the now-solidified field of 2012 contenders to court donors and supporters in the land of the left.