The Reliable Source

Gossip From Washington and Beyond

The Reliable Source is back, under the stewardship of Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts . Appearing in the Style section on Tuesdays through Fridays and Sundays, The Reliable Source brings you gossip from across the region and around the world -- candid looks at the lives and loves and hijinks ofall your favorite bold-faced names, be they congressmen or millionaires,ballplayers or newsbabes, nightlife divas or master thespians, DJs or gadflies, has-beens or will-bes.

Recent Columns:

At Least She Hasn't Got Much to Pack (Post, Feb. 22)

Schaefer's Antics: Maybe He Should Charge Admission (Post, Feb. 19)

Argetsinger and Roberts are online each Wednesday at Noon ET to discuss your favorite gossip, what you thought about their recent columns or who you want to see them writing about in future ones.

Argetsinger is a veteran of all leafy-green, protein-rich sections like Metro and National while Roberts brought you the champagne and bon-bons of Style's society beat.

A transcript follows.

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Amy Argetsinger: So, short week, what with the holiday. But we had the hammy/bullying antics of William Donald Schaefer, the naked lady at the National Press Club (okay, just a painting), Tom and Katie doth protesting too much... but it's hard for me to keep my mind on my job, what with American Idol unveiling its 24 finalists, and figure skaters crashing all over the place. What's on your mind?

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Bethesda, Md.: Amy and Roxanne:

Take this for what it's worth, but I'm pretty sure I sat next to the OC's Rachel Bilson on the Metro yesterday afternoon between Metro Center and Tenleytown. She had on a lot less eyeliner than she's usually photographed wearing, but all of the women on the train seemed to think it was her. Any word on whether she's been in D.C?

Amy Argetsinger: So, all the way from Metro Center to Tenleytown... and none of you even ASKED her if she was Rachel Bilson??? (better known as Summer Roberts, the true star/hero/linchpin of "The O.C.")

Whereas I find this all unbearably exciting, I have to think that if Rachel Bilson had cause to be in D.C., she probably wouldn't be riding the Red Line. Just my guess. If anyone knows anything to indicate otherwise, please e-mail us at reliablesource@washpost.com.

Meanwhile, in other "O.C." news... Last Friday we wrote about David Digilio, the local boy (T.C. Williams grad) who wrote this weekend's box office champ "Eight Below." Didn't have room for it in the story, but the ABC pilot that Digilio is working on ("Traveler") stars Logan Marshall-Green. Yes, THAT Logan Marshall-Green!!!! The actor who played Ryan's smouldering ex-con brother Trey before he was shot dead by Marissa! And the same Logan Marshall-Green who that same season was playing the Secretary of Defense's anarchist (and not so smouldering) son on "24"!!!!!

Well, I thought it was exciting, anyway.

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Long Beach, Calif.: Greetings, Perhaps you might be interested to know that Michael Dirda, on his Feb. 8th chat, declared, and I quote, "In truth,(Shakespeare)his plays don't give any evidence of great intellectual content or deep classical learning." I was led to believe otherwise, fool that I am! How about a trip to the Folger, so you can ask the director if the Post's Pulitzer Prize winning Michael Dirda is on to something?

Roxanne Roberts: I'm quite quite sure how this fits in the greater gossip world, but I'm always up for a challenge. Put aside, for the moment, that smart folks (Michael more than qualifies) have been debating the Bard and his work for 400 some years. Let's focus instead on Will as a celebrity playwright, his loves, his ambition, his politics. Would he be, say, a smart ass young stage director, a late night comic, a self-help guru, or George Clooney?

Readers?

Amy Argetsinger: Long Beach! You again!!!!

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Chinatown, Washington, D.C.: Last night I saw the infamous Omarosa and a very attactive man at Zengo. What is she up to these days? Any scoop on her beaux?

Amy Argetsinger: Omarosa is indeed in town, as we will likely tell you more about in tomorrow's paper. The beau could well be her husband -- at least I think she still has a husband, I'll get Korin to check.

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Arlington, Va.: What is your opinion of this season's Bachelor? Who are you voting for the homecoming Queen or the enigmatic Cali girl?

Amy Argetsinger: Why, I thought no one would ever ask!

This one is so hard to figure. I mean, it seems obvious that Sarah from Tennessee is the one with whom he feels most comfortable and has the most in common with... she's the only one who he smiles when he kisses. Whereas Moana is a high-strung drama queen with whom he has nothing in common except a strong physical attraction.

Which means he'll pick Moana. This show always fakes you out that way.

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Any dish on A.I. contestants?: Who are your favorites? Did you dig the bounce in Paris's step? Love Lisa Tucker's vocals? Who do you think will be out this week?

Better yet any good gossip on any of them?

Roxanne Roberts: I saw a few of the audition shows, then drifted off until last night. Paris is very cute, but Lisa is remarkably good, and I was shocked to hear she's only 16. I think she's my early favorite. There are a couple blondes---sorry, didn't catch their names because I was clicking over to figure skating---who underwhelmed all of us.

Amy Argetsinger: Paris was adorable, no? Even dolled up like Janet Jackson on first-season "Diff'rent Strokes," which I found somewhat horrifying. Great voice. However, a knowledgeable source (okay, my brother) quickly declared her this season's Diana DeGarmo, which forced me to see her in a different light.

There are a lot of very tall, very pretty girls, and I have the feeling that America is going to turn on them very quickly. Bye-bye, Becky O'Donahue!

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What's up with K-Fed's new rap album?: What's the latest dish?

Roxanne Roberts: The reviews rangle from lame to talentless. Good thing he still has his day job.

Amy Argetsinger: I'm so busy with my current day job that I haven't had time to download it off the Internet during work hours like I might have been inclined to in the past... So, anyone out there heard it?

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Omarosa ...: Uh, in the Surreal Life, she mentioned she didn't have a husband any more ...

Amy Argetsinger: Did she? I'm cableless these days. Korin's able researching indicates that she did indeed split from her husband of five years in late summer.

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Bethesda, Md. : On Monday,

I was having lunch with friends at Rock Creek in Bethesda, and saw none other than Laura Bush! We weren't sure if it was her at first, until we saw the Secret Service.

It's pretty hard to act nonchalant when the first lady is sitting nearby!

Amy Argetsinger: oooh, what was she wearing, what did she eat, who was she with?

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Washington, D.C.: Actually Shakespeare, unlike say Ben Jonson, was a calm working professional who stayed out of trouble: he was Steven Spielberg, not Roman Polanski.

By the way, his plays may not show a lot of classical learning, but they show a heck of a lot of intellectual content.

Roxanne Roberts: So you're saying, gossip-wise, he was a bore. Well, then. As for the brains, I'm with you, but Dirda might challenge you to a duel or something suitably 16th Century.

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Anonymous: Is Lloyd Grove fodder for your column, or is he a non-person now? I was curious as to how he's doing in the rotten apple of New York.

Amy Argetsinger: What, are you saying you want us to be writing gossip about other gossip columnist? I think the average reader has limited interest in the lives and loves of print journalists. I mean, really -- we're just ordinary people.

Roxanne Roberts: Lloyd, is that you, honey? Don't worry, people in Washington still care DEEPLY.

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Santa Monica, Calif.: Is it too early to discuss possible frontrunners in the next America's Next Top Model?

Amy Argetsinger: ohmygod, NEVER too early! Actually, thanks for the nudge -- I didn't realize the website was up already, and now I learn that the new season premiere is just two weeks away...

Okay, just checked out the lineup. Not overly impressive at first glance. I may have to root for Furonda, if only because she's got the name of a drag queen, and she's from a place called Stuttgart, Arkansas. Did you know there was a Stuttgart in Arkansas? Too many of these ladies are staring down 30, which is basically death by model standards.

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Brangelina Obssessed: Is it true that Brangelina is settling in the south of France? All indications say yes, given their recent frolics through Paris.

Roxanne Roberts: Gosh, we're short of Reliable Source operatives in Provence, so I'll just have to hop the next flight, loll around the lavender fields, drink lots of wine, and investigate the matter fully.

And then we still won't know.

Let's just say the golden couple is a moving target, stirring up dust and rumors wherever they set their perfect little feet. When we know anything for sure, you'll be the first to hear.

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What's the latest on: Sienna Miller and Hayden Christianson? Are they still together? How is Jude taking it?

Amy Argetsinger: They were still together... as of my latest issue of In Touch magazine. I find the whole thing baffling, to tell the truth.

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Forrestville, Md.: Omarossa was at Tyra's show about two weeks ago and she said she was getting divorced.

Amy Argetsinger: All right, then.

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North of Del Rey: Hi ladies! I was wondering if you knew whatever happened to Mario Vasquez? As I'm sure you remember, he was an American Idol finalist from last year who dropped out of the top 12 to pursue his own career free of whatever draconian contract the A.I. producers would make him sign. I thought he was great!

Roxanne Roberts: Mario who? Yeah, that worked well for him.

Amy Argetsinger: At the end of the summer, Variety reported that he was recording a new album with something called J Records, no news of him since.

Hey, by the way, thanks to all my Argetsinger relatives submitting questions today!

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Washington, D.C.: I've noticed that we are (finally!) getting a Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, and Barney's NY here in the D.C. area. Any idea if there will be famous people visiting the city for the grand opening?

Roxanne Roberts: Aside from the fact that some of the stores are already opened, remember the formula: A-list stars only do commercials in Japan or restuarants if they own a piece of them. B-list stars will occasionaly do commercials in this country. C-list stars do store openings. So don't get your hopes up for a big splashy bash, but keep your eyes peeled for some big name shopping sightings.

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Santa Monica, Calif.: Hmmm -- Shakespeare would have been more of a reclusive Terrence Malik figure perhaps. Though everyone, of course, would have been told it was Ben and Matt who wrote the plays.

Amy Argetsinger: Heh heh!

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Arlington, Va.: As someone who knows the sport of figure skating quite well, I think it's ridiculous that people are underwhelmed when figure skaters perform flawless routines, but people tune in and are glued to the screen when Olympic level skaters seem proned to fall on their face. Come on people -- where's the respect for the athletes? Why is it more fun to laugh at their mistakes and failures than appreciating the beauty of the sport?

Roxanne Roberts: Because it's....funny? Somewhere in the less evolved part of my brain, I find certain kinds of slapstick funny. The sight of all those elegant ice dancers falling on their fannies cracked me up. My bad. So sue me.

Amy Argetsinger: Actually, I think the spills help demonstrate the sports' bona fides to those casual watchers who think it's just frou-frou girly stuff. The best figure skaters fool you into thinking it's easy. It's not until you see someone crash onto their knees that you realize what a challenge it's been to stay upright all that time.

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Los Angeles, Calif.: So, have you both returned your dresses that you purchased for Tomkat's wedding? Or have you repurposed them?

Roxanne Roberts: Trick question! You KNEW we were saving our gowns from the Bennifer wedding for another Very Special Occasion.

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Sterling, Va.: Is it true that the people who play Charlie and Katie on Lost are dating or engaged?

Amy Argetsinger: True according to the glossy magazines I read. Indeed, Dominic Monaghan and Evangeline Lilly appear to be an item. Surprising, huh?

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What's in a name?: Moana? Is that really how she spells her name? If this doesn't work out for her, there's always porn. What were her parents thinking?

Amy Argetsinger: It's pronounced moe-AH-nah. Looks worse than it sounds.

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Columbia Heights, D.C.: Tonight is the Project Runway finale -- part one, anyway. Who do you think will take it? I think Chloe is like last year's runner up-the most skilled but too safe. I think Daniel V. will take it. And that Rasputin, er, Santino will be out next.

Amy Argetsinger: Damn, I'm still cableless... so I defer to my next-door neighbor, shopping and fashion expert Janelle Ehrlichman Diamond.

She says it's not the finale yet -- just the episode where they sit around and bitch about each other. She says Santino has the best personality... but that Daniel, with the most raw talent, will win.

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Federlinesville, USA: Amy and Roxanne,

What's up with Scott Stapp, the former Creed lead singer who's lately been getting himself into all kinds of booze-fueled scrapes (bar fight with aging rock band 311; pirated sex tape with Kid Rock)? I used to think he was just a pompous goody-two-shoes. Now I think he's kind of interesting.

Amy Argetsinger: No kidding! We scrapped an item the other week about his marriage because we thought, who cares about Scott Stapp getting married? Then we heard about him getting arrested the DAY after his wedding, for being drunk at LAX, and thought, "okay, NOW he's interesting!" Alas, his antics got pushed off the page for late-breaking news of the coroner's report on Chris Penn...

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Not Weingarten: I heard that Moana was dating House Republican Boehner, that is Mo-Ah-na is dating Bay-ner, if you insist.

Amy Argetsinger: oh my god, that's brilliant.

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Silver Spring, Md.: Were there any Matthew McConaughey (spelling?) sitings while he was filming "failure to launch" in easton? Surely he visited Annapolis too!

Amy Argetsinger: They filmed that in Easton? Never heard a word of that. I'm guessing it was back last spring or summer, though...

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The actual Apprentice?: Can we give Donald Trump and Martha Stewart Rock-Em, Sock-em Robots and let them have it out?

Roxanne Roberts: So sad when egomaniacs decide to bicker in public.

Stewart told Newsweek that she was supposed to be the only Apprentice, and her show tanked because there was Apprentice overload. Trump fired back with an open letter to the diva: "Your performance was terrible in that the show lacked mood, temperament and just about everything else a show needs for success....I knew it would fail as soon as I saw it."

Stewart says the letter is "mean-spirited and reckless" and can't believe he wrote it.

Not a wet eye in the place. Personally, I'm with Trump on this one.

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Cable: Amy, can't you get cable and write it off as a work expense?

Amy Argetsinger: I'm a TVaholic. If I had cable, I would watch television ALL the time.

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Anonymous: Dear Roxanne and Amy:

Never doubt that we care about the messenger more than the message!

Of course we care about Lloyd becoming a pest in NYC. Now tell us some dark secrets about yourselves, no, we'll simply wait for one of your rivals to tell us the inside details!

Amy Argetsinger: See above.

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Adams Morgan, Washington, D.C.: So, any idea who lives in the condo building at 3000 Conn. right across from the Russian exhange building? There is always a black suburban illegally parked out front and Secret Service types milling about. Rummy's down the street on Kalorama and Carol Schwartz is across Conn. (and love her though we may, not deserving of an SS detail), so inquiring minds, or at least this 6 a.m. runner who sees the SS shift change each day, want to know who lives there.

Amy Argetsinger: Off the top of my head, don't know. But please keep notes and send them to reliablesource@washpost.com

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West Coast: Shakespeare would be a combination of Orson Welles, Sly Stallone with a brain, Gore Vidal, Jim Bouton, and Maureen Dowd trapped in a man's body. AM I CLOSE?

Roxanne Roberts: I'm think more Sean Connery than Sly, maybe a dash of Jon Stewart, and no Mo, unless she's channeling Dame Edna.

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Washington, D.C.: Wouldnt it be nice if Dave Chappelle did a show here in his hometown at the Improv?

Amy Argetsinger: He did, a couple weekends ago. Was reported in the Monday "Names and Faces" column... He was also spoted at Left Bank that same weekend.

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Bethesda, Md.: Speaking of fallen Olympians, how about Bode Miller? Is he the biggest bust of the sports year, or what? I'm shedding no tears over another brat making a fool of himself.

Amy Argetsinger: I guess he's got one more medal chance, right? Or did that already happen today?

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Washington, DC: Shakespeare wasn't reclusive. He was a regular acting member of the company taking comic parts. He was also, unlike Malick, prolific.

Think Sam Shepard--important playwright and regularly working actor--minus the chasing girls around a college town.

Amy Argetsinger: You never know what the hot topic is going to be in a live chat, do you?

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No, no, no!: Shakespeare is Quentin Tarentino. Which one wrote a work full of blood and guts? Torrid icky romance?

Amy Argetsinger: all righty, then

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Bad Will Hunting, : Ben and Matt would have been part of Oxford's Men, and would most likely have played the parts of Rosencrantz and Gildenstern. Those upstart crows would never have been considered as being the men behind the Shakesperean Curtain, let's face it.

Amy Argetsinger: Yeah! Let's face it!

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Santa Monica, Calif.: What boxes are you going to be ticking off in the Oscar pool this year? Let's stick with big 5 ...

Amy Argetsinger: Brokeback Mountain

Phillip Seymour Hoffman

Reese Witherspoon

George Clooney

Rachel Weisz.

UNLESS, of course, there's a "Crash" upset, in which case the voters will give Best Actor to Heath Ledger.

Roxanne Roberts: Gotta say Amy looking very good, unless voters think Reese is too young for the big one and give it to Felicity Huffman for "Transamerica."

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Washington, D.C.: I knew there was a reason why I didn't like the new James Bond. What kind of an action star gets his front teeth knocked out? And why doesn't something like this ever happen to, say, Ashton Kutcher?

Amy Argetsinger: Well, maybe an action star who does his own stunts! Foreign tabs are reporting this week that Daniel Craig lost his two front teeth when he got punched in the face filming a fight scene for "Casino Royale."

Have you seen this guy? He was in "Munich," and I thought he was fascinating. That weird mix of handsome and homely reminiscent of Steve McQueen.

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Washington, D.C.: Do we have any D.C. Socialites in the area? And if so, where do they hang out (I'm assuming Corcoran Gallery parties vs. 18th St. Lounge)...? Thanks!

Amy Argetsinger: How do you define "socialite"?

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Potomac, Md.: Excuse me, but, ah, 311 is an "aging" rock band? What? Huh? Even if you were trying humor, that's a reach.

311 is not an "aging" rock band, even in terms of attempted humor.

Sheesh!

Amy Argetsinger: Sad truth, Potomac? Until they discover a cure, we're ALL "aging." That's the human condition.

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Anonymous: You ladies are the HAPPY CHAT today, as it's you or "Partial-birth" abortion.

THANKS, for illuminating life, with all it's foilbles!

Roxanne Roberts: Tough one: Deeply serious social issue with historic implications, or Brangelina?

Does picking us make you pro-gossip?

Amy Argetsinger: It's a whole new definition of "pro-life."

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L.A.: Nick Lachey says he wants half of Jessica Simpson's fortune, which one story estimated was at least $32 million.

Hey, let's here it for men's lib!

Amy Argetsinger: Agreed! I think he deserves it, too. Let's face it, no one really LIKES Jessica Simpson's music -- the only reason people have been fascinated with her is because of the performance art of her trainwreck marriage, to which he was a full-time and equal contributor.

Bracing for all the hate from the Simpson fans now...

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Daniel Craig: See "Layer Cake." Hot hot hot!

Amy Argetsinger: Will put it on my Netflix queue pronto.

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3000 Connecticut: It's someone who is siren-worthy. I live on the back end of that block and hear the motorcade sounds ALL of the time.

Roxanne Roberts: People? Out with it, neighbors. Source NEEDS to know so we can avoid motercade backups.

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New York: Apparently two U.S. male skaters are sniping at each other like angry cats.

They should be glad that they're not sniping with Johnny Wier -- they would lose.

Amy Argetsinger: Exactly! Who would ever have guessed that the cattiness and hair-pulling drama would be taking place in SPEED skating? Kind of refreshing, actually.

If you haven't, you all should take the time to read Libby Copeland's story in today's Style section about shopping the high-end boutiques with Johnny Weir. He may not have taken his place on the medal stand, but he's a Gold-worthy shopper!

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Bode update ...: His coach may not let him ski Saturday ...

Amy Argetsinger: Apparently he hurt his ankle shooting hoops with his teammates yesterday. For real!

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washingtonpost.com: Drop Till You Shop (Post, Feb. 22)

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The Hill: What can you tell us about The Capitol Club and The Madison?

Amy Argetsinger: Roxanne did a big story about the Madisons and the Capitol Club a year and a half ago, way before we took on this gig... looking for the link.

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Dayton, Ohio: Excuse me, but Dave Chapelle is OURS now! You coasty people keep your hands off.

Amy Argetsinger: Indeed, he's put down roots in Ohio. All yours!

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Powerball Winners: Eight Nebraska meat processing plant worker won the Powerball. I guess the local Chevy dealership will be busy!

Roxanne Roberts: Good for them. News accounts say they chose the cash option and will receive about $177.3 million, or $124.1 million after taxes. Each was given a check for $22.1 million, their individual winnings before taxes. Figure each will net maybe $12-15 million. Nice, and not so much that they go completely crazy.

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So Convenient ...: to jet off to a very public funeral when domestic discord rumors start. I think there's smoke to the TomKat fire. What say you?

P.S. "Rosemary's Baby" was on TV yesterday. Do you think Katie's seen it?

Amy Argetsinger: How can you cast such cynicism on a love so true and powerful as that of Tom and Katie? Clearly you must be crazed with jealousy to speak such nonsense.

Wouldn't Katie look cute with that Rosemary's Baby haircut?

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Anonymous: I thought The MADISON was a dance step out of Baltimore? Please, clue me in

Amy Argetsinger: That too!

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3000 Connecticut: It's obviously all for Tai Shan!

Amy Argetsinger: Yeah, our little rascal's probably just pulling the fire alarm a lot...

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washingtonpost.com: The Partiers Who Got Trashed, By Gossip (Post, Nov. 21, 2004)

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Lloyd Envy: Are either of you dating a good-looking right wing operative ?

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, you're right, Lloyd did used to generate more gossip in his personal life than your average ink-stained wretch. But the relationship of which you speak? Been over a long time...

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Rockville, Md.: Are you guys going to any of the upcoming spring gala things -- Cardiac Ball, Leukemia Ball, Wolf Trap event, Washington Opera event, March of Dimes gala, etc?

Roxanne Roberts: Yes, but we're not sure which. Are you asking us to save a dance?

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Bode Shooting Hoops: Hey, a sport he's good at!

Roxanne Roberts: Now, now. He can still ski rings around us. But can he write gossip? We think not.

Now happy chatters, we've got to go do something we're good at! Keep those tips and sightings coming, and we'll meet you back here---same time, same place---next week.

Amy Argetsinger: reliablesource@washpost.com

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