Dishconnect
A storm of tension is brewing between two local society arbiters who claim to have the last word on the “dish.”
Earlier this year, former Miss District of Columbia Kate Michael, the leggy brunette behind the social blog K Street Kate, launched “The District Dish,” a Web show featuring Miss Michael and company “dishing” with a new guest each week at a local restaurant.
The Web show was picked up by Comcast public-access stations in the Greater Washington area and has “thousands” of fans, according to Miss Michael.
Enter Beth Solomon, a journalist and communications consultant who, like Miss Michael, is flush with the “right” friends and invites to the “right” parties.
One party Miss Michael skipped was a Wednesday night soiree at the Tackle Box on M Street Northwest, where Ms. Solomon held the launch party for the Georgetown Dish, a new Web site she has created. Its mission, much to Miss Michael’s dismay, is to “inform, entertain, and amuse” local scenesters.
“I do wish they had been more considerate of the potential confusion with their name,” Miss Michael tells us in an e-mail. “I have heard from several businesses and friends in the area that they were confused.”
This “confusion” is news to Ms. Solomon, who explains that she only recently became aware of “The District Dish” and that while she welcomes working with Miss Michael on events and projects, “The Georgetown Dish is trademarked, and we have no intention of changing the name.”
As for Miss Michael, she is “going through the process now” of trademarking her own dishy moniker. “We just never expected anyone to copy,” she says.
“We don’t want to compete with Kate,” Ms. Solomon adds, striking a conciliatory tone.
Politics of comedy
“I abandoned politics for entertainment,” Comedy.com Vice President Josh Spector told us by phone from his office in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
But with the rise of Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” and “The Colbert Report,” can anyone tell them apart these days?
“It’s been a very good year for comedy,” said Mr. Spector, who grew up in Gaithersburg, Md., and attended the University of Maryland. “The Internet continues to impact comedy and the way people process everything including politics. All the big events of the year exploded online in comedy.”
We asked Mr. Spector about what some feel is the kid-gloves treatment President Obama has received during his first year in office from comedians, who had a field day with President George W. Bush.
“It’s been very interesting to see how comedians’ treatment of Obama has changed over the year,” Mr. Spector said. “Before somebody takes office, there isn’t a lot to go after. Once you take office, suddenly start making decisions, there are more targets to go after.”
Sooner or later, he concludes, comedians are “always going to find something funny about a politician.”
Elmo loves you
Some “sunny days” are here in the dead of winter, thanks to our cuddly friends at Sesame Street, who will perform “1-2-3 Imagine! With Elmo & Friends” at the Patriot Center this weekend.
Elmo, the star of the show, will take a break from rehearsals to visit patients and their families at Georgetown University Hospital Thursday.
We hear he’ll be around from 11:30 a.m. until 12:30 p.m. if you want to catch him for a photo and autograph before he heads back to his hotel to get some R&R before the show.
Hot for Heritage
Though partying may not be the first thing that springs to mind at the mention of the conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation, it threw quite a holiday fete on Tuesday. On hand to offer joy of the season were several Heritage luminaries, including President Edwin J. Feulner and distinguished fellows Ed Meese, Elaine L. Chao and Lee Edwards.
Fox News Channel’s Shannon Bream and Catherine Herridge, National Public Radio’s Juan Williams and the Weekly Standard’s Mary Katharine Ham also were spotted at bash.
To contact Stephanie Green or Elizabeth Glover, e-mail undercover@ washingtontimes.com.
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