Sean Penn Canoodles; The Rock Breaks Bin Laden News
Welcome to the Smart Set. Every morning we bring you the gossip coverage, filtered. Today:Mr. Penn and Mrs. Palin go to Washington, The Rock scoops the president, and Quentin Tarantino reunites with Christoph Waltz
Sean Penn was the Hollywood celebrity that did the most to offend staid Washington sensibilities at the White House correspondents dinner Saturday. The Oscar winner didn't put his hand over his heart when the guests rose for the national anthem before dinner. Then during dinner Penn was "all over" new girlfriend Scarlett Johannson, eventually leaving the Hilton ballroom with her for "an hour." When he returned, his tie was noticeably askew. [Page Six]
Does Dwayne "The Rock Johnson have a source inside the Pentagon? Hours before President Obama's speech announcing the death of Osama Bin Laden, the Fast Five star tweeted "Just got word that will shock the world — Land of the free ... home of the brave DAMN PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN!" He elaborated with a follow-up tweet: "AMERICA BROUGHT IT — TEAM BRING IT FOREVER PROUD." [Daily Intel]
The biggest name in Washington this weekend who didn't attend the correspondents dinner? That would be former Alaska governor Sarah Palin. She and husband Todd stayed at the home of Greta Van Susteren, who had the extra space (and an extra WHCD ticket) after Kate Hudson, her original invitee, canceled because she had to promote her movie. Palin didn't attend the dinner, but made it out to the Vanity Fair after-party. [The Reliable Source]
NBC White House correspondent Savannah Guthrie will reportedly take over the 9 a.m. anchor post on the Today show from Natalie Morales when the show reshuffles its staff in June. Ann Curry, currently news anchor, will replace the exiting Meredith Vieria as co-host, and Morales would fill Curry's spot. [The New York Times]
Writer-director Quentin Tarantino will reunite with Inglourious Basterds star Christoph Waltz on his new movie, Django Unchained, scheduled to begin shooting in the fall. Tarantino's agency WME is describing the film as "[a] western whose lead character is a former slave who is in league with Waltz to save his wife from an evil plantation owner." Last week, the title page to the script--written in Tarantino's trademark scrawl--leaked online. [The Daily Mail]
