The Reliable Source

Reliable Source columnists Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts were online Wednesday, May 16, at Noon ET to discuss your favorite gossip, what you think about their recent columns or who you want to see them writing about in future ones.

In today's Reliable Source: Newt tries desperately to ride polar bearcub Knut's coattails; Baryshnikov golfs, of all things, in Manassas, of all places; and Bradley Whitford would just love to play Don Rumsfeld, thanks for asking!

In recent days: D.C.'s own Tessa Horst takes another step closer to winning "The Bachelor," poor girl; the Jockey Club tries to trot back to town ; billionaire Google founder and U-Md. grad Sergey Brin takes a wife; Drew Barrymore slums on 17th Street; and Jennifer Hudson withstands some competition at the Lupus Gala from a scene-stealing Miss Texas.

Also: Last Wednesday one of you chatters asked for an update on the mysterious Artomatic theft; hours later we received a creepy ransom note, and now we've got our suspicions about you.

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Reliable Source Columns

A transcript follows.

E-mail and bookmark us.

Reliable Source Columns

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Washington, D.C.: Roxanne, you looked great on C-Span coverage of the state dinner. Are you really a close friend of David Dreier and exactly what does that entail?

Roxanne Roberts: Thanks for the compliment. As for David, I wouldn't say we're close friends, but I've known him for many years, and the man cuts through a crowd like butter. Charming is an understatement.

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Alexandria, Va.: With "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" canceled, did Brad Whitford mention if he will finally do that long-awaited sequel to "Adventures in Babysitting"?

Amy Argetsinger: You know, that's exactly what I wanted to ask him but I'm sure a project that high-profile would be deeply under wraps. Would Elisabeth Shue reprise her role, do you think, or would we get a newer, fresher starlet?

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Pssst...: What does Tom Sietsema look like?

We won't tell, honest.

Roxanne Roberts: Yes you will, you curious little creature. Handsome as all get out, but you'll get nothing more from us.

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D.C.: My friend and I recently discussed the category "Career Free Fall from the Greatest Heights" and gave the leading actor to Harrison Ford, leading actress to Meg Ryan, and leading creatively gendered to RuPaul. Any other suggestions?

Amy Argetsinger: These are excellent nominees, but I'm not sure they'd be the winners. Harrison Ford, I think, has experienced a fairly natural obsolescence -- not everyone's savvy enough to reinvent himself a la Clint Eastwood. But who would beat him out for that title?

Meg Ryan is certainly a contender in the female category.

However, RuPaul has done as well as possible in her limited field. The creatively gendered who fell fastest and hardest from great heights is Michael Jackson, with runner-up Jaye Davidson.

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Sloooooow....: Are we experiencing technical problems, or are we hung over?

Speaking for myself, it's often hard to tell the difference.

Roxanne Roberts: Or we could be Southern, you all. No need to get all excited; take it slow and easy. (Works for hangovers, too.)

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Washington, D.C.: It wasn't mentioned in your column, but expecting that Baryshnikov is way shorter than expected?

Amy Argetsinger: You know, no one mentioned it, and it's an excellent question. How tall do you expect him to be, and if you expect him to be shorter than expected, would you be surprised to know that he's 5-7? Of course any male celebrity who is 5-7 registers to the human eye as being about 5-2...

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Laurel, Md.: What is Paul Wolfowitz's current marital status?

Roxanne Roberts: Unclear. No record of a finalized divorce, although he's been separated from his wife for years.

Amy Argetsinger: Our colleague Al Kamen dissected this nagging question very artfully in his column on Monday. Link to follow... .

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washingtonpost.com: Riding the Slow Train on Iraqi Refugee Resettlement (Post, May 14)

Amy Argetsinger: here's that Kamen story... .

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Bradley Whitford: As we speak he is eating lunch at Furin's in Georgetown, across from the Four Seasons.

Amy Argetsinger: Can't confirm this sighting; nonetheless, stalkers -- on your marks!

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Washington, D.C.: Did you know that if you Wikipedia"The Bachelor," it has a spoiler? You can find out if Tessa does or doesn't...well, you know.

Amy Argetsinger: Why should we think that's accurate? Wasn't there some Wikipedia entry last year that claimed Melrose beat Caridee on America's Next Top Model? History will reflect she did not.

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Lupus Gala: The combination of these two words made me laugh out loud. I guess diseased base social events are part of your jobs and you may not see the humor.

Amy Argetsinger: I know, I know, you're absolutely right. We get so used to these things -- Leukemia Ball, and whatnot...

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Career Free Fall Award: For actress, I'd have to say Kelly McGillis. Where has she been?

Amy Argetsinger: Yeah, but didn't she decide to get off the fast-track and out of the cheesy girlfriend-to-the-action-hero roles (surely Top Gun must have been some kind of soul-crusher) and decide to focus on her stage career?

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Medical Intervention?: Ladies, try as I might I just don't give a fig about Paris Hilton (except to say that ONLY 45 days in jail?), Lohan, Nicole Richie, and their vapid pals.

Do I need professional help?

Roxanne Roberts: Yes, but we're here to help. Do you really want to start debating the finer points of tort reform at dinner parties. We didn't think so.

Now go write "Paris in jail is a good thing" on the blackboard 100 times. (You make sub "Paris looks hot in orange jumpsuits" is you prefer.)

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Career Free Fall: Harrison Ford is just aging, not in free fall. It's not like he only now qualifies for b-list movies, if any at all.

Better contenders would be David Caruso, Pierce Brosnan, Hugh Grant, Jude Law and Tom Cruise. Keep an eye on Jack Black, Owen Wilson, and Ben Stiller.

A moment of silence for Wesley Snipes, who at one time had a total lock on enjoyable, cheesy action thrillers, and is now reduced to tax renegade on the run.

Amy Argetsinger: Excellent suggestions, thank you... And very good point about Wesley Snipes, who was once about the biggest deal around.

(Snipes, btw? Shorter than you expect.)

Owen Wilson seemed unstoppable for a while, you know? I could not have loved him more after The Royal Tennenbaums. But we may look back at Wedding Crashers as the beginning of the end. Wearing Ellen DeGeneres's haircut and somehow looking 20 years older than Rachel McAdams (an illusion, I know) he just seemed so unseemly.

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Eastern Market: You guys have had a few presidential debates to take it in so far -- for gossip's sake, who do you think would be the best president for you guys? The Bill Richardson commercials are terrific -- can that be translate to who would be the most entertaining?

Amy Argetsinger: Wait -- there have been presidential debates already? I don't have cable.

I am definitely warming to Bill Richardson, simply on the basis of the insane ad he's airing in Iowa these days. A link to the ad will follow, and you should watch it right away. The most interesting thing to be about the ad is that they appear to have hired Paul Sorvino to play the role of Bill Richardson -- you know that wasn't cheap.

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washingtonpost.com: Wait, What? Bill Richardson's Comedy Campaign Commercials (wonkette.com)

Amy Argetsinger: check it out

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Georgetown, : Amy and Roxanne,

So who was the 20-year-old guy you two were hanging all over while checking into the Ritz Carlton, Georgetown about 11:30 p.m. Saturday night? Sources say you both went up to the room with him and you all had breakfast together Sunday morning about 10:30 a.m.

Roxanne Roberts: What nonsense. Amy and I NEVER have breakfast together---it's one of the reasons we get along so well.

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Seattle: Bob Geldorf is slamming Al Gore for ripping off the Live Aid Concert formula with his environmental concert events. Are celebrity campaigners for causes allowed to do this?

Roxanne Roberts: Bob has the patent on charity concerts? Must have missed that.....

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Marta Domingo: An addition to your mention of her from the State Dinner: she's not just a "wife of" but also a noted opera director in her own right. Thought you'd like to know.

Roxanne Roberts: I knew, but thanks for the reminder.

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Hall of Lame: Career Free Fall Award: Christie McNichol, Lee Majors, Woody Harrelson ... More to come.

Roxanne Roberts: Now now---we could spend the entire hour on the broken-down heaps on Memory Lane. Let's stick to the big crashes.

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Career Free Fall Award: Nick Nolte

Roxanne Roberts: Good one.

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New York, N.Y.: Malcolm Jamal Warner? Why? If I was a Lupus sufferer I'd feel pretty gypped. This is the best they could do? Was Jim J. Bullock busy? Carrie Struthers? Justine Batemen?

Amy Argetsinger: Hey, smarty pants, thanks for making me race to IMDb. Jim J. Bullock -- now there's a brain teaser. And I think you mean Sally Struthers, right?

Actually, Malcolm-Jamal Warner was as charming and easy going and likeable as could be, very professional. Probably the only Cosby kid anyone's still rooting for. I would happily hire him to host the Gangrene Fiesta or the Domestic-Abuse Hootenannny or any other gala I'm organizing.

I think everyone went away from the Lupus Gala very happy. As nice as many of these events are, it's rare when something actually happens that leaves you talking. And everyone was pretty entertained by Miss Texas upstaging Jennifer Hudson. Good times.

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Washington, D.C.: Shorter than expected:

Can confirm the Wesley Snipes smallness. I'd guess he's about 5 feet 8.

Really Really Really short: Eddie Izzard. Saw him strolling in London about 10 years ago. He was about 5 feet 2 in platforms. Maybe he's grown since.

Amy Argetsinger: Eddie Izzard is supposedly the magic height of 5-7. Wesley Snipes is supposedly 5-10, but he just seemed like a tiny tiny man to me. Delicate cheekbones.

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Country-ville: I'm throwing this one out, did any of you watch the CMA's last night in Las Vegas?

Amy Argetsinger: Anyone? Anyone? I couldn't watch because I was out on a very exciting ransom drop on the Mall, details to come in tomorrow's column...

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Washington, D.C.: I saw Sen. Olympia Snowe shopping at the Pentagon City Nordstrom's the other evening. I wish I could report that she was a diva flinging clothes all over the place. Instead, she was just quietly paying for her purchase. I didn't recognize the woman with her, but I know it wasn't Sen. Collins. Sen. Snowe was taller than I expected. Do you think she was buying a new outfit for Iraq?

Amy Argetsinger: What does one wear to Iraq anyway?

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Niles, Mich.: Newt Gingrich got Diane Rehm (NPR superstar host) uncharacteristically annoyed and angry yesterday when he hung up on her after 40 or so minutes of the pre-scheduled Talk Hour. Will he have to pay the price from some sort of boycott of his "Pearl Harbor" book by her loyal fans?

Roxanne Roberts: Yesterday was a busy day for the Newtster, what with book signings and responding to the death of Jerry Falwell. The question is whether he had previously agreed to stay the entire hour, leaving Diane facing 20 minutes to fill. I'm just guessing here, but I think the bulk of his books will be sold to loyal Gingrich fans.

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Reston, Va.: The Bill Richardson ad is cute. But what it really needs is him slapping his head and yelling "Ay Caramba." That is if he wants to add a little class.

Amy Argetsinger: Good point. I think the ad in its current format is a little too subtle and cerebral.

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Anonymous: It would be very nice and all if Brad Whitford and Elizabeth Shue would reprise their "Adventures in Babysitting" roles. But if Vincent D'Onofrio would not be willing to don the blond wig again to play Thor, just forget the whole thing!

Amy Argetsinger: Let's see if we can get some meetings in L.A. to talk about putting this project together.

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Free Falling: You're all overlooking the obvious Ms. Spears. Does anyone really think her "comeback" album will amount to anything but another wheel coming off the car wreck?

Roxanne Roberts: I'm not counting her out yet---she's still got a huge fan base curious what she'll do next. Which brings us to another nominee: Michael Jackson.

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Bethesda, Md.: I know this may not be your bailiwick, but I just read Milbank's description of Comey rushing to the hospital to head off Card and Gonzalez at Ashcroft's room. I was struck by the similarity to Michael Corleone rushing to the hospital when he found out the police guards had been removed from Vito Corleone's room.

Amy Argetsinger: Great stuff, isn't it?

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New York City: So does Sir Bob Geldoff get mad if a starving person is fed by someone other than him? Lovely.

Roxanne Roberts: Ego, ego, ego. These folks trip over it all the time.

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Washington: I saw a headline on a tabloid next to the checkout in the supermarket about what Paris Hilton faces in jail: "-Lesbian gangs -Strip searches -group showers -filthy bedding"

They can't really make a Hilton sleep on filthy bedding, can they?

Amy Argetsinger: You're implying that she'll willingly sign up for all the other stuff, I take it?

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Dulles, Va.: What is the book on Tessa Horst from the locals? Frankly, I think he let the most promising, long-term, all-around woman, Danielle, get away. I think he is going to be ruing the day because Tessa appears to be a woman that cannot make a decision or think for herself. Danielle was the one that would be cheering him on at the triathlon finish line.

Tessa would still be at home trying to Google MapQuest for directions to the race. Bad call.

It's just a show though, right...

Amy Argetsinger: Yeah, but who are we to say who's best for him? It's all about that ineffable chemistry that you need as a basis for a true relationship that will last a full week to ten days after the final rose ceremony.

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Pittsburgh: On CNN, Dr. Sanjay Gupta interviewed Laura Bush about health issues. He mentioned that she, at one time, was a smoker. He asked her if she had quit, and she said yes. Then he asked her if it was hard, and she basically deflected the question by mentioning that George had quit smoking while in grad school by taking up jogging. Hmm...didn't I hear somewhere that she had started smoking again?

Roxanne Roberts: That's one of those tantalizing rumors almost impossible to nail down. There are unverified reports that she still sneaks a drag here and there, but no pictures and no proof.

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Washington, D.C.: Fantasy State Dinner League -- Back to the Queen's dinner -- I thought the President usually asked who the guest of honor would like to meet. MAYBE she was all, ooh ooh, football players and rich Texans please! But taking the opportunity to stock a state dinner, who would you select from the entertainment, media, political and business worlds? I would ask for George Clooney (since its white tie, and he would BRING IT), The Obamas, Jon Stewart, David Sedaris, and the girl reporter from NPR who has been to Iraq so many times, because she seems really brave and interesting. Who would you pick?

Roxanne Roberts: Since we're talking fantasy, I'd throw in Daniel Craig for a little raw sex appeal, Angelina Jolie for the drop-dead-gorgeous factor, playwright Tom Stoppard and his pal Mike Nichols for wit, Mike Bloomberg and Bill Gates, and a half dozen authors. Amy?

Amy Argetsinger: This is the point where I should note that three weeks ago in this chat, I described the Reliable Source's Fantasy White House Correspondent's Association Dinner table guest list: Patrick Fitzgerald; Antonella Barba; Jenna Bush and Henry Hager; Kanye West and his dad; Dominic West (in lieu of Daniel Craig, who was too busy); Gilbert Arenas and Laura Govan; Kiefer Sutherland and Mary Jane Raskjub.

Except that I neglected to spell out the "fantasy" part and some readers thought we really hosted that table. In our dreams.

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washingtonpost.com: Ricky Gervais Comic Relief 2007 Red Nose Day (outnumber)

Amy Argetsinger: Speaking of Bob Geldof... our hosts at washingtonpost.com recommend this very funny clip featuring Ricky Gervais.

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"Mistress?" : Do we even say that anymore? Seems fusty and judgmental to me, not to mention the fact that it used to refer to any female fornicator, not just the fornicator (fornicatress?) of a married man. Call Shaha Paul's companion or partner -- works for me.

Amy Argetsinger: Fusty, judgmental -- and kind of awesome. I say let's bring it back.

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VA: Roxanne, your little black dress is always the highlight of the C-SPAN covered state dinners over the last few years.

Roxanne Roberts: Jeesh, how come you weren't gawking at the Queen's jewels? She kicked it old school. I'm still lusting after the necklace.

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Jm J Bullock: You had to IMDb Jim J Bullock? Did you never watch "Too Close for Comfort"? He was Monroe, you know, the "flamboyant" neighbor back in the day when they used code words for gay people on TV.

Interestingly, he now plays a character named Mr. Monroe on a Nick TV show.

Amy Argetsinger: You know, it's actually possible that I never did watch Too Close for Comfort. I was probably busy watching more sophisticated fare in those days, like "Remington Steele" and reruns of "Doctor Who."

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Shelton, Wash.: Can't I still root for Sabrina LaBoeuf? She was the older sister on "The Cosby Show" and is a semi regular with the Shakespeare theater. Last she was in "Loves Labours Lost" and a number of years she was Rosalind in "As You Like It."

Amy Argetsinger: Yes, I think it's nice for you to do that.

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War time: The British war ministry just said Prince Harry will not go to Iraq because of "specific threats." Where can he safely be deployed, the Empire not being what it once was?

Roxanne Roberts: I think it would cool if he was one of the Beefeaters in front of Buckingham Palace. No one would recognize him in that big hat, and he could hear all the tourists gossip about his family.

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"Godfather" Government: In response to Bethesda's comment about Comey rushing to the hospital being like the "Godfather" scene, I couldn't help but feel like I did at the end of "Jurassic Park," where the T.Rex (who we know is bad) saved the people by eating the velociraptors -- who IS the good guy?

Amy Argetsinger: There are probably some other movie analogies -- anyone?

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Mistress: Bring it back! Implied sexual power!!

Roxanne Roberts: Black lace underwear!

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Mistress again: But my honey and I got together before the ink was dry on my divorce papers, too. Does that make him my "mister"? You can see how this would get confusing.

Roxanne Roberts: Indeed.

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Falklands: Prince Harry will be sent here to the Falklands to guard our prized penguins. Or penguin. The other one ran away.

Roxanne Roberts: Not much room to run. Swam to Argentina and took up tango. Already has the tux.

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Wikipedia veracity: Didn't Wikipedia also say the comedian Sinbad was dead? And he was so not!

Amy Argetsinger: Did it? All I know is that I Imbed my way to the Too Close for Comfort page, and am devastated to learn that Ted Knight is dead.

Has been that way for 20 years now, apparently, but still.

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Amy Argetsinger: Confidential to the chatter asking about the candidate with the "skeleton in the closet" : Oh, you know they say that about EVERY candidate, don't you? And that if we knew what the skeleton was and could prove that it existed, that it wouldn't be a skeleton anymore because it would have been a story already? And that in the meantime we can't be using this forum to broadcast spurious rumors?

In other words -- catch me after a couple of drinks and I'll probably tell you.

Roxanne Roberts: Or maybe it's a REAL skeleton, pilfered after a drunken night from a medical supply house. Rattle, rattle.

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Grandpa Trump: So, does the new Trump baby have a "Georgetown" onesie? Most importantly, what will "The Donald" be called by his grandchild? "The Gramps"?

Amy Argetsinger: Probably not -- it's her auntie Ivanka, not dad Donald Jr., who went to Georgetown.

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San Francisco: Any Bush nickname yet for General Lute, the new War Czar?

Amy Argetsinger: Not that we know of. Looking forward to it though.

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Anonymous: Isn't Fatty Arbuckle the quintessential fall form fame? He was the first $1 million-a-year actor, and was at the peak of his fame when he was arrested for essentially crushing an over intoxicated woman to death while forcing sex on her. Classy stuff. It also didn't help that Hearst's newspapers all over the country proclaimed him guilty.

Amy Argetsinger: Good one. Worth noting that Fatty was acquitted. But the charges did ruin his career.

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IMDB?: I'm not up on my acronyns, what does this stand for?

Amy Argetsinger: Internet Movie Database -- you can find it at www.imdb.com. Tells you who was in every movie or TV show, like, ever. The most incredible resource on the web next to youtube.

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Bowie, Md.: No, Eric Trump is a Hoya, not Ivanka. I think she went to Wharton.

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, thanks for the reminder. Ivanka went to Georgetown for two years before transferring to Wharton; Eric did indeed graduate from Georgetown just last spring, as we reported at the time.

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Skeletons in closets: Well, you know, I'VE heard that Hillary Clinton sleeps with a former president!

At least some of the time.

Right?

Amy Argetsinger: Whoo, this chat is getting racy!

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"Most incredible resource on the web next to youtube": That would be "The Reliable Source"

Amy Argetsinger: Aw, shucks.

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Amy Argetsinger: Sorry for the late start, but thanks so much for joining us today. Time to write Thursday's column. Join us back here next week, and stay in touch all week long at reliablesource@washpost.com.

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