Scoop: Obamas prove stingy with school auction
By COURTNEY HAZLETT
Updated 11:30 PM PST, Sun, Apr 26, 2009
When Chelsea Clinton was a student at the Sidwell Friends School, the same school the Obama girls attend, the Clinton family’s involvement with the school’s annual benefit brought in big bucks. In 1996, a round of golf with Bill Clinton went for nearly six figures; another year Chelsea Clinton offered up her babysitting services to the highest bidder.
This past weekend was the Obamas’ first chance to participate in the Sidwell Friends School Dollars for Scholars benefit, and some families who remember the Clintons’ support are disappointed in the Obamas’ first showing.
According to a source with ties to the school, the only items up for bid from the Obamas included a signed copy of the Rolling Stone issue featuring the president and a signed copy of the January Vogue that featured the first lady.
“There were expectations that they might donate something more personal, like the Clintons did,” said another source who knew about the auction. “Lots of people were disappointed.”
Chelsea Clinton remains involved in the event — this year she and a fellow alumna Nicole Davison donated a “lunch or brunch” in New York City. The value, according to the bidding materials: “priceless.”
Modeling agencies clueless about Levi Johnston
There’s been plenty of speculation that Levi Johnston, the father of Tripp, Sarah Palin’s first acknowledged grandchild, has been giving interviews to the likes of Larry King and Tyra Banks so that he can land an endorsement or modeling deal. Vanity Fair did some poking about to see whether a modeling contract could be in Johnston’s future, and the prospects look bleak.
VF.com contributor Nell Scovell asked the agencies if they were considering taking Johnston up on his offer.
“I have no idea who he is or what he looks like,” said Erin Lundgren of New York Model Management’s men’s board. “I wish I knew more about who that is, but my computers are down.”
Hudson’s happy 30th birthday
Kate Hudson was reportedly less than pleased to be turning 30, newly single and with nothing planned but a dinner with friends and mom, Goldie Hawn.
“She was annoyed no one was doing anything for her,” Us Weekly reported.
The annoyance didn’t last long. Hudson arrived at Hawn’s house to be surprised by more than 150 guests, including Leonardo DiCaprio, Gwyneth Paltrow, Justin Timberlake and Cher, according to the magazine. Notably absent: ex Owen Wilson, who spent the night partying at The Palazzo in Las Vegas.
“No one asked about Owen,” said the source. “But she wasn’t flirting with anyone else, either.”
Weekend box office
Moviegoers were definitely “Obsessed” with Beyonce Knowles this weekend. The stalker flick made $28.5 million this weekend — a performance that far exceeded studio expectations. Exit polling showed that female moviegoers drove much of the films’ success. (Why it continues to be a surprise to studios that females have an impact on the box office is beyond me.) The number two spot went to “17 Again,” but just barely. It is impressive that three weeks out, Zac Efron is still drawing a sizeable audience. “Fighting” was right behind “17,” and “The Soloist” had a poor performance for a film with two Oscar winners headlining — it made $9.7 million.
Courtney Hazlett delivers the Scoop Monday through Friday on msnbc.com. Follow Scoop on Twitter: @ courtneyatmsnbc.
Copyright MSNBC
First Published: Apr 26, 2009 7:07 PM PST
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