Reliable Source columnists Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts were online Wednesday, March 26, 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 column: Separation of church and state maintained by Kevin Bacon, the still-with-us Jack Klugman, and that lady from "Just Shoot Me." What do you get when you cross Barack and Hillary? The Obamas' St. Thomas spring break. Plus, White House Correspondents' dinner early hype.

A transcript follows.

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Reliable Source Columns

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Amy Argetsinger: Good morning everyone! I didn't have to exercise the Tonya Harding option on Roxanne this morning -- she's here bright and early at the crack of noon. Lots of good questions -- please keep them coming.

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Correspondents' Dinner parties: People has the Jonas Brothers and Meghan McCain? Can't wait to see who's bringing Hannah Montana! Can this get any more ridiculous?

Amy Argetsinger: No, indeed, this year's Correspondents' Dinner is shaping up to be as brilliantly ridiculous as ever. Indeed, I was wondering who would bring Miley Cyrus -- seems like she'd be the bet "get" this year, but it's still early...

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Great endorsement: Spock for Barack.

I just wanted to type that. Thanks.

Amy Argetsinger: Really, how could Spock not have endorsed Barack? It's too perfect.

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Richardson's goatee: Definitely hot!

Roxanne Roberts: That seems to be the general opinion. We're thinking maybe he trimmed a few pounds off, too.

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Pittsburgh, Pa. I notice that former N.J.senator (and erstwhile Princeton basketball-star-turned Rhodes Scholar turned N.Y. Knicks all-star) Bill Bradley has been highly visible as one of Barack Obama's surrogates on TV programs. Any word on whether Obama might pick Bradley for VP?

Roxanne Roberts: Well, I can only imagine the behind-the-scenes jockeying about who would best balance the ticket. I'm afraid we don't have any advance word, but I assume Richardson thinks he would be just swell, too. The question is whether an old white guy is the best fit for Obama---or if Hillary would consider number two if he tops the ticket. Basically, it's a free for all----as always with the Dems.

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"...that lady from 'Just Shoot Me'": Do you mean Wendy Malick? The tall, attractive, acerbic brunette? I doubt you're talking about Laura SanGiacomo. The short, curvy, whiny brunette....

Roxanne Roberts: Wendy it is. We actually mentioned her name further down in the item, but most people say, "Hey, isn't that the lady from....you know, that show?"

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Celebrity lure: Do these hot names actually attend the Correspondents' Dinner or are they just there to accessorize the after parties? Granted some, such as Ben Affleck, have a history of being politically involved, but others seem rather...err...frivolous additions at a dinner for the hyper-political crowd.

Amy Argetsinger: Actually, they're all far more likely to attend the dinner than the after-parties, which is never a guaranteed thing. The dinner really is the centerpiece of the evening, and the celebrities are drawn in by the whole White House mystique of it all. Being in a room with the president is more novel for them than going to a super-glitzy party populated by a lot of journalists.

But you do raise a good question: Why are these celebrities there? Why do news organizations invite them? It's a crazy meaningless ritual, if rather entertaining.

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This Day in History: Apparently it was eight years ago today that Angelina Jolie won the Oscar for "Girl, Interrupted," and planted one on the mouth of her brother James. Amazing how she has transformed her image so quickly.

Amy Argetsinger: Isn't it? Truly the amazing thing is how quickly she shed the Homewrecker Angelina rep she got tagged with in early '05 after the Brad-Jen breakup.

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Ben Affleck: They're filming outside my building!! Is it bad that all I want to do is stalk them today (and attack their catering tents) instead of working?

Amy Argetsinger: No, that's a good thing. Let us know if anything interesting happens today -- reliablesource@washpost.com -- bearing in mind, of course, that they've been filming somewhere around here every day for the last three weeks.

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New York, N.Y.: Good morning ladies. I should probably be asking Caroline Hax to help me with this, but you did devote a lot of space to Gov. Spitzer in a recent chat, and I found it very interesting and helpful. Now that he's been replaced by Gov. Paterson, I find that I DON'T CARE about the new governor's affairs, indiscretions, cocaine sampling, or whatever the press digs up today. Why don't I care? Am I applying a double standard?

Amy Argetsinger: No, no, this is an excellent question, and perfectly suitable for us. (I'm also happy if you want to send me any question about your love life, as it happens.)

A couple things are at work here, and I don't think you're applying a double standard at all. For one, having an affair is different than transporting a $2,000-an-hour prostitute across state lines for illicit purposes. We could debate endlessly which constitutes a greater betrayal to your wife -- but clearly, the more illegal one is the latter. Secondly, the Spitzer stuff was that much more shocking because he had presented himself as such a Mr. Clean anti-corruption crusader -- so you got the hypocrisy thing right there. Which helps explain Paterson's strategy of divulging this stuff -- he's putting it out there voluntarily (it's not the press digging it up, really) so that no one can ever play "gotcha!" on him with it. Ergo, you don't care.

Roxanne Roberts: Ditto...plus fooling around with a state employee at a DAY'S INN is SO not sexy. Plus his wife is guilty, too, so no wronged-wife story line. Ho, hum.

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Jamie Lynn Spears: I heard she is engaged to the baby-daddy. True? Isn't she a little young....

Amy Argetsinger: People magazine is reporting that Jamie Lynn has been showing off a rock she says she got from her babydaddy. Young, yes, but young to be having a baby too, right?

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Silver Spring, Md.: I have a feeling this is beyond your control, but just what does "Doonesbury" (or the new tryout comic strips) have to do with The Reliable Source? I can see that "Doonesbury" isn't typical comics page fare, but why put it there? If a comic strip must be there, it should at least be "Non Sequitur," because that's what it is.

Roxanne Roberts: This is so above our pay grade----but from what we understand, the paper has a contract that specifies where and how big the strip runs. We are merely humble servants.

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Craig Ferguson: Totally hot. Cannot wait to hear about his hosting gig at the Correspondents Dinner. His novel (Between the Bridge and the River) was described as being for those "fond of deranged, slightly warped humor." This should be a perfect fit with contemporary media and politics.

Roxanne Roberts: Or at least our chatters. Are you going to crash the Capitol File party?

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washingtonpost.com: Fortunate Daughter ( Post, March 26)

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Indianapolis Ind.:"Amy Argetsinger: I didn't have to exercise the Tonya Harding option on Roxanne this morning......"

What exactly is the "Tonya Harding option"...signing on to do professional wrestling?

Amy Argetsinger: This is one of those memes that suddenly burst into the punditry world yesterday afternoon; by the time I turned on my brand-new cable TV last night, they were talking about it on all the news shows. Apparently the buzz (I traced its origins back to an ABC news blog post) is that Hillary Clinton may have to "exercise the Tonya Harding option" if she's going to beat Obama. Apparently this means kneecaping him with a tire iron, which I assure you I did NOT do to Roxanne today.

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McCain Bloggette: I really enjoyed the piece on Meghan McCain this morning in Style. I think she's fun and definitely someone I'd want as a friend. She just seems so nice and down to earth. I can't say that about Chelsea, but I'm sure in 10 years or so I'd want to say that about Obama's children (they're adorable!). I think it's great that someone like McCain, who's seen as so serious and stuffy has a very sweet and down to earth daughter. She SHOULD be thinking about makeup and shoes and movies!!

Amy Argetsinger: If it's not out there already, a link to Libby Copeland's story today on Meghan McCain will follow shortly...

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How I Met Britney Spears: She was great on How I Met Your Mom! She does the naive country girl act very well. What clinched it for me was when she told Ted, "That was funny. Funnysmartandgreat, haha!" It was just so cute. Ms. Spears could have a wonderful sitcom career, methinks.

Amy Argetsinger: For those who want to see it, video link to follow shortly...

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RE: Richardson's Goatee: He looks like the lovechild of Carlos Mencia and James Lipton. You're welcome.

Amy Argetsinger: Thank you.

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washingtonpost.com: Britney on How I Met Your Mother/Part 1 ( CBS/YouTube) and Britney on How I Met Your Mother/Part 2

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Pronunciation?: SNL is rhyming "attack" with Barack. And now we're rhyming "Spock" with Barack. Who's right? We can't have it both ways.

Roxanne Roberts: American accent: Rhymes with "attack."

British accent: Rhymes with "Spock."

Klingon accent: Rhymes with "Bark."

Parrot accent: Rhymes with "Bar---acckkkk!"

Try it--it works.

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The Sarkozy Visit to England: OMG. The British papers are going nuts with this. Have you seen Mme. SarkoZEE's arrival outfit?

One of my colleagues said she looke like a stewardess. And my colleague is French!

Someone page Robin Givhan, stat!

Roxanne Roberts: The beret was a big mistake---but she is wearing clothes, which is a nice change.

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Republican daughters: Do any of them have jobs? I mean, it seems like neither of the twins is currently employed, right? And the McCain kid blogs for a living? I'm just curious what the deal is here. Are they all just waiting for nice Republican men to support them in the lifestyle to which they have grown accustomed?

Amy Argetsinger: Meow! Meghan McCain, a recent college grad, is indeed doing her freelance blogging in vague support of her dad's campaign for now... McCain's older daughter, Sidney, has worked in the recording industry for years; his younger daughter is still in school.

RE: the twins -- do I need to start a FAQ? Barbara Bush has been working the past couple years for the Cooper Hewitt Design Museum in New York. Jenna was a public school teacher in D.C. for a couple years before going to intern with Unicef, then writing that book; she's still on the quasi-promotional lecture circuit in support of that effort; and yes, getting married in about six weeks.

Hey, not everybody can be lucky enough to work for a hedge fund!

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Re: bearing in mind, of course, that they've been filming somewhere around here every day for the last three weeks. : And all over town, too, it seems. The sister of a friend was at the National Museum of Natural History over the weekend and saw Ben, Jennifer and baby Violet, totally unobtrusively blending into the crowd. Honestly, this is no way for celebrities to behave. Where are the fits? The demands for diva treatment? This is really disappointing.

Amy Argetsinger: Please extend no thanks to the sister of that friend for not calling us about that -- that would have been a good sighting...

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Apparently this means kneecaping him with a tire iron, which I assure you I did NOT do to Roxanne today. : Good, because if you DO then she'll just have another excuse to be late.

Roxanne Roberts: Oh, please. Did Amy mention the bullwhip she has?

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C.: Amy: "by the time I turned on my brand-new cable TV last night"

Really? What caused this massive change in lifestyle?

Amy Argetsinger: I was wondering if anyone would pick up on that... As you know, I had resisted getting cable because I was afraid I would do nothing but sit around and watch hip-hop videos and John Hughes marathons and "The Dog Whisperer" all day. I finally gave in because I just felt like I was missing too much news coverage... I missed too many of the presidential debates and the live broadcast of the Obama speech on race and the endless Spitzer punditry. Also: I had really lousy reception for "America's Next Top Model."

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Doonesbury: I thought Doonesbury was located away from the comics page so as not to offend all the pantywaists who can't handle humor sharper than Beetle Bailey. These are the same people who tend to get their dander up about gossip columns, so their tender sensibilities won't be offended if both are located on the same page. Similar logic for Dilbert, which was long ago exiled to the business section, despite being the 2nd best comic strip in the paper (after Doonesbury).

Roxanne Roberts: Interesting theory. Plus it gives us a new slogan:

"Reliable Source: No Pantywaist Zone"

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Baltimore, Md.: Re the size of Doonesbury: I believe that Trudeau exercised his considerable clout during the shrinkage of the size of strips on the comics page to demand that Doonesbury run full width and depth. That would play hob with the makeup of the comics, so the strip went to page 3 of Style. Running the tryout strips there during Trudeau's hiatus means that they don't have to rearrange the comics pages --which, as longtime Post readers know, generates more angry reader mail than Watergate or Monica ever did.

Some other papers (like the Baltimore Sun) got around this by sending Doonesbury to the op-ed page, on the theory that so much of what he does is political commentary.

Amy Argetsinger: Something like that.. .

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"she is wearing clothes, which is a nice change": Says who?

Roxanne Roberts: Ha! Point taken. Let's say she's looking more first-ladyish.

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Reston, Va.: Way off topic, are you aware of any reason men's facial touch-ups and lifts come out so much worse than most women's? Off the top of my unredone head, we've got Wayne Newton, Stallone, Ahnold, Gene Simmons, who may have reduced their wrinkles, but look hideous. Women may look fake, plastic, way tight, etc., but can't match the boys for sheer repulsion power. So, is it some resistance by the male epidermis, or have they been trying to get it done on the cheap?

Amy Argetsinger: I think in part it's because we've gotten used to the look of plastic surgery on women, and it still jars the eye when men do it.

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Mme. Sarkozy: And she's wearing flats while he is wearing a seriously stacked heel.

I bet he and Tom Cruise could swap shoes.

Roxanne Roberts: I bet they could swap wives. Think of the headlines!

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PundUSTRY: according to Gene W it should be punusrty to reflect the industry-based way the pundits operate. Just saying

Amy Argetsinger: Yes, finally read Gene's story last night... after an hour of watching this Keith Olbermann fellow and this Sean Hannity fellow (seriously, I had never seen either before in my life), I could kind of relate to his ordeal watching 24 hours of this stuff.

"Pundustry" is a brilliant coining-of-a-word, and I think he's correct that it will soon enter common parlance. His story is also brilliant if you haven't read it; will dredge up a link to it.

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Pronunciation: Roxanne, you said, "American accent: Rhymes with 'attack.'"

That's only if you are from N.J. Not all of us have those clamdigger a's.

Roxanne Roberts: You could make a case for Midwestern "a's" too.

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Ambushing Chelsea?: Although I'm not particularly a Hillary supporter, I'm glad that Chelsea's started speaking up on behalf of her mother's candidacy. However, I think that asking her re Monica is below-the-belt, so to speak. After all, Chelsea was still a kid at the time -- the one truly innocent victim of the whole affair -- who got caught both figuratively and literally between her parents (remember the famous photo?). What questions do you think should be off-limits for all candidates' adult children?

Amy Argetsinger: What does anyone else think? The question here was, do you think your mother's credibility was hurt by the Lewinsky scandal? I don't know why she didn't simply say "No, I don't think my mother's credibility was hurt." What does anyone else think?

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Speaking of Chelsea: I LOVED her response to the knucklehead who asked her about Monica Lewinsky. Good for her.

And way to represent your school, moron.

Roxanne Roberts: And I hated it. Her mother is running for president, and some people have suggested the Lewinsky affair a) helped her mother or b) hurt her mothger's rep. There are a million other ways to deflect the question, but "none of your business" hit me as arrogant.

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Re: Please extend no thanks to the sister of that friend for not calling us about that -- that would have been a good sighting: Trust me, I did. I understand the importance of supporting your efforts in the No Pantywaist Zone.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks! I don't know what the No Pantywaist Zone means, but I like the sound of it.

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I have to say it...: Craig Ferguson...(swoon)

That is all.

Amy Argetsinger: This man may not realize what a good time he's in for in Washington.

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New York Gov.: Egad! You don't care about Gov. Paterson? We've got a whole office pool going on what's next. I've selected gambling problem with ties to Mafia. My cubemate put his money on wife's shoplifting problem at trendy designer boutiques, while our boss threw some cash down on inappropriate grabbing of staff body parts at office functions involving alcohol. This a fun couple.

Roxanne Roberts: What? No prescription drug abuse by their dog?

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washingtonpost.com: Cruel and Usual Punishment ( Post Magazine, March 23)

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Priscilla Presley: Saw her on "Dancing with the Stars" and was greatly disturbed by her face -- the obviously botched work, I mean. Today I see where she was the "victim" of some Argentine doctor peddling silicone injections. What other famous folk were taken in? And doesn't this serve as another warning to celebs -- careful with what you do!

Amy Argetsinger: Larry King's wife Shawn has blamed the same doctor for hurting her face as well.

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C., again: Amy: "I had resisted getting cable because I was afraid I would do nothing but sit around and watch hip-hop videos and John Hughes marathons and "The Dog Whisperer" all day."

Don't be surprised to find your self sitting in front of the TV for 8 or so hours the next time TCM has a "Thin Man" series marathon. You'll swear you won't, but you will.

Amy Argetsinger: You see? This is going to be a problem.

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Britney Spears: She was great on How I Met Your Mom!: If by 'great' you mean didn't have a nervous breakdown and show everyone she wasn't wearing panties, well okay...

Amy Argetsinger: Ha!

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Re: brand-new cable TV : I hear 'ya. I lived without any television at all for a year (before that I had a TV from the '50s with rabbit ears and broadcast only). Someone felt sorry for me and bought me a TV. I was really upset at first, thinking I'd do nothing but watch TV all the time. But I broke down and got cable and I DO spend a lot of time watching the tube. One week it's a marathon of design shows. The next week, a spurt of Millionaire Matchmaker. I'm having a hard time remembering what I used to do instead of watching TV. Did I read? Get projects done? Clean? Is any of that as important as finding out who's getting voted off Top Chef this week?

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, by the way, I have a pair of rabbit ears, free to a good home.

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Anonymous: Great move Amy. Let me make a few suggestions. You should absolutely watch Nancy Grace. If you get past her massive amounts of eyeshadow and hairspray, she's kind of funny. You must also become a Hills devotee. Additionally, not only can you watch America's Next Top Model clearly, but you can watch re-runs on the weekends on MTV. For hours.

Not that you would or anything.

Amy Argetsinger: Does this mean I have no more excuse for not knowing who Spencer and Heidi are, even as I know every single detail about their life?

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McLean, Va.: Does anyone know why Jeremiah Wright's church is affiliated with the United Church of Christ? It's just about the whitest, most cerebral, most self-consciously liberal church I can think of -- just slightly to the right of the Unitarians or the Quakers -- and not much more diverse. Seeing Wright at a UCC church is like hearing hip-hop on NPR. What gives?

Amy Argetsinger: Um, no, don't have a smart answer here; can't do that much research in two minutes. Anyone?

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the amazing thing is how quickly she shed the Homewrecker Angelina rep she got tagged with in early '05 after the Brad-Jen breakup. : and replaced it with the "Ice Queen too Good to Talk to the Reporters and Audience that Makes her wealth" persona

Roxanne Roberts: She's saving the world, which doesn't leave time for us, people. Plus, she busy having babies.

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Fortunate Daughter: So Meghan McCain appears to be a Valley Girl who is more interested in hair and fashion than in politics. Another rich kid who has had access to some fun and resume-enhancing jobs. If she really voted for John Kerry in 2004, she might ask herself why she would vote for someone with her father's absolutely awful positions on reproductive rights, who is apparently clueless about the (very important) differences between the Sunnis and Shiites, how economic policy actually works, and who has committed the U.S. to remain in Iraq for the next 100 years. Say what you will about him, but that statement does not describe John Kerry.

Amy Argetsinger: Okay, thanks.

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What does anyone else think? : The question was asked for the bragging rights of being the one to throw THAT in Chelsea's face, not becasue the asker wanted to know. It was gratuitous, not knowledge-seeking. So, it was below the belt and not worthy of an answer.

Amy Argetsinger: Good point, actually. It may have been a weak answer, but the question was no prize-winner.

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Chronically Late Support Group: Crap, did the chat already start? Roxanne: we would like to invite you to the next Chronically Late Support Group meeting. We meet at local restaurants at 7:00. You'll often find us out on the sidewalk around 8:00, having lost our reservations due to lateness.

Sincerely, your people

Roxanne Roberts: I LOVE you. You you sit in rush hour traffic----already late---and swear out loud? Where do we send dues? And is there a late penalty?

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Lancaster, Pa.: What's your assessment of the LeBron James/Giselle Vogue cover? I'm surprised nobody beefed about the Barack Obama Rolling Stone cover -- his skin looked really odd, almost hairy. Man evolving?

Amy Argetsinger: Apparently this has become quite controversial, some people arguing that it plays into racial stereotypes. I honestly haven't managed to develop an opinion. Anyone else?

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washingtonpost.com: Is It Fair to Ask Chelsea Clinton About Lewinsky? Including Video ( Channel '08, March 26)

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Did you really get cable?: Have you been using your new powers for good or evil? Meaning are you watching entertaining drivel or are you pulling a Weingarten?

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, you know what I did? I watched myself on CNN "Showbiz Tonight" talking about who should be cast in the Eliot Spitzer movie. My Matt Damon suggestion went down with them just about as well as it did here the other week.

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Face lifting: Is there no celebrity Consumer Reports that can be consulted before you put your face (or other body parts) in the hands of a plastic surgeon?

Roxanne Roberts: Really. I'm always amazed that people with gobs of money can't quite figure how how to find a fabulous plastic surgeon. The trick, of course, is to go to New York, where the mega-rich socialites get "refreshed" and rarely end up looking really "done."

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Vienna, Va.: Loved the article on Ms. McCain's easy going, upbeat but still private manner. She's obviously into fashion though studied art history; I wonder where she will be working in the future... It's fun to see a personal side of a family member of a candidate... for sure, we'll never see a blog from Ms. Clinton, though maybe that's because she's an ex pres daughter... what's your take on Ms. McCain? By the way, were you ladies present at the Easter egg hunt at the White house? Any interesting tid bits?

washingtonpost.com: Fortunate Daughter ( Post, March 26)

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, here's another link, in case it didn't go out already... Love her or hate her, the Meghan McCain story is an interesting read... and Libby Copeland nailed it-- Meghan is definitely taking things in a different direction than Chelsea or the Bush Twins.... No, neither of us went to the Easter Egg Roll -- we were too busy laboring over our Tuesday column...

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Washington, D.C.:"wearing clothes, which is nice for a change." Being a straight male, I will have to respectfully disagree.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for sharing.

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Re: No Pantywaist Zone: I would check with Roxanne, who seems to have coined your slogan without consulting you, but I take it to mean that your column is for the urbane reader of The Washington Post, not the other unsophisticated, parochial, narrow kind of WaPo reader. The kind who doesn't like Doonesbury because the snark factor is greater than in Beetle Bailey.

Amy Argetsinger: Yes, Rox explained that that was her coinage (we don't have much chance to see each other's responses while mid-chat)... It's a good one!

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Angelina: Angelina and I subscribe to the same philosophy. We love mankind, it's people we can't stand. Now leave us alone.

Roxanne Roberts: Oh, you divas!

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Amy Argetsinger: Someone was asking for an explanation of the kerfuffle over the LeBron/Giselle Vogue cover. Links to follow...

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washingtonpost.com: LEBRON, GISELE AND VOGUE: THE COVER CONTROVERSY ( MSNBC, March 2)

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Massillon, Ohio: I was surprized when Carla Bruni-Sarkozy curtsied to the queen. Is that the ultimate suck-up or what? Maybe she thinks the British press will like her better or maybe she wants to impress Prince Phillip?

Roxanne Roberts: Yeah, but she's European, so it's normal suck-up. Lots of royals still hanging around over there. It's Americans who curtsy that really cause a flap.

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Washington D.C.: Wait, people are saying that the Vogue cover plays into racial stereotypes? I'm not sure I buy that. We seem to be in a hyper sensitive arena these days as far as race is concerned.. but hey, at least we're talking about it. I mean.. the Vogue issue is about shape. The face Lebron is making on the cover is the same face he throws down ridiculous dunks on his opponents. I don't know.. it just seems to fit. Now if it were an issue about who he is as a man (which there should be.. because he's stayed out of trouble and is a good role model compared to a lot of other NBA stars) then his publicist should have made sure he wore a suit. Because he would look amazing.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for weighing in.

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Chronically Late Support Group: The Chronically Late Support Group imposes Early Penalties upon anyone who shows up early or on-time or meets a deadline. We find it in shockingly bad form and gratuitously arrogant.

Roxanne Roberts: I'm forced by my editor to meet deadlines (or a least come close.) Does that mean I'm disqualified? I'm always running late in my personal life.....

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Kenny Rogers: Another victim of cosmetic surgery gone awry. And he kinda looked okay in the cragggy mode to begin with. Or Pat Boone -- in those infomercials he appears to have dallied far too long in the spray tan booth.

Amy Argetsinger: That's probably one of the oddest plastic surgery choices ever. I mean, it's not like Kenny Rogers was ever known for boyish looks that he'd then be at pain to preserve -- he was already craggy when he became famous.

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Meghan: While Meghan McCain seems like a nice girl, I agree she sounds like a shallow rich girl who has had too much handed to her. I have a 22-year-old daughter who is also into fashion, but she somehow manages to talk more intelligently about it. It's almost like Meghan is trying to project a bimbo image.

Amy Argetsinger: Thanks for weighing in. It is curious the image she's obviously working to project... maybe she feels like it's something The Kids can relate to?

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Clinton thoughts: Maybe Chelsea didn't like the way her mother handled it and is choosing not to say anything at all (because she can't say anything nice?)

Amy Argetsinger: I doubt that's the case. Definitely not the read I got on her reaction.

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Washington, D.C.: The N.Y. Times did an article about the Mayflower Hotel and its ilLUSTrious history. One incident they mentioned was Mayor Barry being caught there. Wasn't he set up at some other hotel near Thomas Circle? Or was he set up more than once?

Roxanne Roberts: They...cough, cough....got it wrong. The mayor's infamous "bitch set me up" arrest happened at the Vista a few blocks away.

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NBA fashion police threatened to fine him $10,000 if he showed up one more time in casual wear.: If I were going to be fined $10,000 for wearing casual, I'd just buy a lot of nice suits. Can't Mr. Arenas get a few nice suits for $10,000 rather than dishing that cash out on a fine? Is it really that horrible to dress nicely?

washingtonpost.com: For Arenas, a Sore Knee and a Pain in the Neck ( Reliable Source, March 25)

Amy Argetsinger: Apparently the NBA's dress code has been a boon for high-end tailors and big-and-tall-men haberdashers.... But I'm sure poor Gilbert never anticipated he'd have to wear suits for four straight months.

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Pennsylvania: I don't have a TV at the moment (and have never had cable). However, I still have my laptop and with Netflix, instant viewing online, YouTube, and these chats, I've been able to keep up pretty well. So no cable or even tv necessary.

Added bonus: I was able to get out of a telephone survey on television watching habits by saying that I didn't have a television. It was a good feeling.

Roxanne Roberts: Careful there....you're on the edge of precious, as in "I don't own one of those television machines." However, you do get points for saving $$$$$$.

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Chronically Late Support Group: Roxanne: As long as you harbor hidden resentment at being forced to meet deadlines, which goes against the merry insouciance that characterizes the Chronically Late, you're in.

Roxanne Roberts: EVERY journalist has open resentment about deadlines. It's part of the job description. Then again, if we didn't have deadlines, we'd never get anything done. Honestly, i have no idea how people write actual books.

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Pittsburgh, Pa.: Is the Reliable Source implying that our (ha!) Santorum family is presently homeless? Oh, the irony!

Roxanne Roberts: No---just that they were mum about where they're hanging their hats. Looks like they're still in Virginia, which makes it harder if Rick decides to run for office in PA.

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Cleveland Park, Washington, D.C., again, again: re: who to play Eliott Spitzer: Chris Merloni

Amy Argetsinger: That is not a bad idea...

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Re: not seeing each other's responses during the chat: How does that work? I thought you telepathically share your responses.

Roxanne Roberts: In an effort to serve you---the chatter---we just pound away at the keyboard without consulting each other so we can answer more questions. We CARE, man.

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Pennsylvania, again: Roxanne admonishes me: "Careful there....you're on the edge of precious, as in 'I don't own one of those television machines. 'However, you do get points for saving $$$$$$."

I should explain. I recently moved to Pa. My house in Illinois has not yet sold (a rant for another chat) and my TV is still there. Hence no TV here. But I find I am treating my laptop as a TV, so perhaps I really do have a TV...

Amy Argetsinger: Increasingly, the Internet is turning into TV, isn't it? And yet, I couldn't get any of that supposed live streaming video to work for me the morning of the Obama speech..

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I think in part it's because we've gotten used to the look of plastic surgery on women, and it still jars the eye when men do it. : I think men start to look feminine when they get work done. It's like they suddenly started wearing makeup. Not a good look for most guys.

Amy Argetsinger: No, indeed...

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Miley Cyrus: Hard to believe, but I actually like her new song (and I'm north of 40). Driving beat, kind of a dark edge to the lyrics. Seems to be more mature than her tween-y stuff. I suppose she's trying not to age out of her audience, a la New Kids on the Block, Hansen, and all those other '90s teeny-bop bands.

Smart decision.

Amy Argetsinger: But how do you feel about the Jonas Brothers?

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Richardson's goatee: He can get away with it because the guy is so totally comfortable in his own skin. (Which HRC clearly is not --i n her own, I mean, not his.)

Amy Argetsinger: So.. you're saying Hillary shouldn't grow a goatee? I agree!

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Union Station, DC: Cable eh? This means you can get Cartoon Network and Sci-Fi for your anime fix. And all the Law and Order one can stomach.

Of course, there's also Rock of Love...

Amy Argetsinger: I think I'm okay with the anime or the Law and Order... have heard good things about this Rock of Love, though... My editor keeps telling me about some show called "Morning Joe" that everyone watches. Also, the Weather Channel is very soothing.

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Ben, Jennifer and baby Violet: Can we all give a HUGE shout out to Mr. Afleck and Ms. Garner for giving their baby a regular un-pretentious name? We have enough of names like ZoeNova, Apple, or Kal-el...

Amy Argetsinger: ZoeNova? Whose baby is that?

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Cable TV: The best worst shows ever on MTV make it. Around 1-3 p.m., it's can't miss, can't stop laughing TV of cheesy lines and hillarious people.

Amy Argetsinger: Can someone tell me when they show the videos these days?

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Celebs and plastic surgery: What is it with celebs and botched plastic surgery? Surely the good docs are known. Are they trying to do it at a Costco price?

Amy Argetsinger: I have wondered this... I guess a lot of the really bad plastic surgery is on the stars who maybe don't have as much money. Though I would think Priscilla Presley wouldn't have that problem...

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Taneytown, Md.: Love you all, but what is it about Chelsea Clinton that so gets your goat? You have been hating on her for about 4 months without letup. First it was "She's arrogant because she won't talk to anybody on the camapaign trail" now it's "She's arrogant because of the way she answers questions on the campaign trail" -- and I caught your snark about people working for hedge funds. Whassup?

Amy Argetsinger: Honestly, I have no beef with Chelsea Clinton. I think she's handled a life that none of us would ever want with extraordinary grace. I for one am glad that she is now speaking up on the campaign trail, and taking the risk that she may say the wrong thing that we will all then debate and discuss, as we've been doing here today -- that's part of the game. I also think there's been a tendency in the media and popular culture to put her up on a pedestal, to treat her as a sacred cow -- to overpraise her for rather normal behavior, to regard her as a fragile child when she's a 28-year-old woman willingly putting herself out on the campaign trail (and then sometimes setting arbitrary boundaries around herself). And yeah, the fact that some of this mentality is driven by some of the same people who will slam the Bush twins without a whole lot of information...

Roxanne Roberts: No personal beef with Chelsea---by all accounts, she's lovely. But I think that when she chooses to campaign for her mother, she's subject to the same standards as anyone else on the trail. There's no way her father would get a pass for not talking (even if some people think he should shut up) or answering "it's none of your business" to a question at a rally. Are some questions dumb? Sure, but that is part of running for president. I don't think Chelsea gets a separate set of rules or a special pass. She's old enough to understand the process, and chooses to put herself out there. All the rest comes the territory.

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Botched Plastic Surgery: Zero, zero, less than zero sympathy for Priscilla, Shawn, etc.

It's this type of super-indulgent vanity that has distorted the perception impression of what women should look like at certain ages of their lives. They are contributing to overall bigger problem of women doing stupid (and dangerous) things to look good.

Rant over.

Amy Argetsinger: This is a good point. We are losing our ability to gauge what looks normal or age-appropriate. Which then ramps up the surgical arms race for people of a certain age... Gawker the other day linked to some NYC socialite-blogger showing off how she was getting Restylene injections for her alleged "marionette lines around her mouth and nose -- at the age of 27. Which of course then gave her the plumped-up look of a 45 year old who's had Restylene injections.

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No Pantywaist Zone: As a committed pantywaist, I guess this means I can't participate in your chats anymore. Oh, well. So I'll go off now to my old bedroom in my parents' house and cry while listening to my All American Rejects downloads. Goodbye.

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, you can come back.... please?

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Team Aniston: Not all of us have forgiven Homewrecker Angelina. Luckily most of her recent films haven't been very good, so no problem to boycott her movies.

Roxanne Roberts: Can't we all just get along?

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But I'm sure poor Gilbert never anticipated he'd have to wear suits for four straight months. : Does he know he doesn't need a brand new one each day? Suits can be dry cleaned and worn again.

Amy Argetsinger: I like to think Gilbert created this minor episode just to give us something to write about in yesterday's column. He's a top-drawer guy, our Gilbert, a prince among men.

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washingtonpost.com: Priscilla Presley ( ABC)

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MTV videos: At 4 a.m., or on their digital cable stations (although increasingly, VH1 Classic and other such stations are also showing reality shows)

Amy Argetsinger: That's so unfair...

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Jonas Brothers: I saw them on Dancing with the Stars last night and though they were/are awful. But I'm old.

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, me too. They were so bad I had to immediately flip back to Keith Hannity or whatever his name is.

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Methinks you protest too much: Your answer about not having a personal beef with Chelsea was such doublespeak. You have found fault with everything she has done for the past six months. She is, indeed, a private citizen. You get annoyed that she doesn't talk for the press, then when she does she gets a dumb bunny who asks something ridiculous. This is not her thing, obviously, and she should get points for putting herself out there!

Amy Argetsinger: She's a private citizen who decided to become a public citizen this year and campaign for her mother. Good for her. I mean that. I'm impressed that she is now actually TALKING for her mother, rather doing the silent photo-op approach, which struck many people as a having-it-both-ways maneuver. I think the question she got yesterday was kind of asinine, and I am glad she answered it, though as I noted before, she might have been able to answer it more artfully (I almost wonder if she misheard the question), but I'm sure it's not easy to field that kind of question and I don't know I would have done much better in a split-second.

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Washington, D.C.: I could have sworn I saw Jennifer Garner in the M Street Starbucks in Georgetown early last Saturday morning. Am I crazy or is she in town with Ben?

Amy Argetsinger: She was here -- they were spotted around in Georgetown the other day (alas, our tipster got to us late, without a whole lot of details...)

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Falls Church, Va.: I put on mismatched shoes this morning.

Amy, this is what cable does to you. Darn baseball games broadcast from Japan at 6 a.m. ...

Roxanne Roberts: With that, my friends, we're done. Next week: Reasons to Fear Cable, Part II. As always, keep your eyes open for celebs behaving well or badly, and write us at reliablesource@washpost.com. Happy Spring, kids!

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Rev Wright and The United Church of Christ: I am no expert on the United Church of Christ, just a member. But the UCC was inaccurately portrayed by a previous poster. While it is true that the UCC is generally considered to be a liberal mainline Protestant church, it is actually rather diverse. Each congregation (that is, each local church) is different. Some are "Open and Affirming," meaning that they openly welcome individuals with alternative lifestyles.... and others are much more conservative. For example, the congregation I belong to still says "Hades" rather than "Hell" during its liturgy; a holdover from a few generations ago.

While the basic core theology and beliefs are the same within the UCC, the way in which it is expressed during the church service varies from congregation to congregation.

Amy Argetsinger: Oh, just putting this out there... thanks!

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Amy Argetsinger: Okay, we're really done now... thanks so much for joining!

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