CNN Executive Called Out Over Hosting Dinner for Obamas (Exclusive)
During CNN town hall, network president Jeff Zucker said it’s not a conflict of interest for a D.C. executive of the company to host the President and First Lady
Jordan Chariton | February 17, 2015 @ 11:57 AM
Last Updated: February 17, 2015 @ 10:23 PM
During a CNN internal town hall Tuesday, network chief Jeff Zucker said it’s not a conflict of interest for an executive of the network to host the president and First Lady in their home, an insider familiar with the event told TheWrap.
Responding to an anonymous email question from a CNN staffer regarding an unnamed D.C. executive who hosted the Obamas — along with other parents of Sidwell Friends School [in D.C.] — in their home for dinner, Zucker said there’s no issue.
“Zucker said no [it’s not a conflict] because he goes to cocktail parties all the time with different parents of his children’s friends,” the insider told TheWrap.
An insider familiar with the gathering told TheWrap, “The dinner was for parents and kids from Sidwell Friends School [in D.C.], where President Obama sends his kids to school,” adding that it wasn’t a private dinner for the Obamas.
A CNN D.C. bureau spokesperson did not immediately respond to TheWrap’s request for comment.
'Game Change' Sequel: Who Should Play Obama, Romney and Everyone Else in 'Double Down' (Photos)
Could Jeff Garlin inhabit Chris Christie as well as Julianne Moore did Sarah Palin? We think he could.
Garlin is just one of our dream castings as HBO develops "Double Down," a sequel to the election drama "Game Change." Both are based on the books by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.
Just-released excerpts from "Double Down: Game Change 2012" feature inside dirt on the race between President Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney. So it's time to speculate on who should be the next Romney, Obama, Paul Ryan and more. Cast your own votes in the comments.
CHRIS NOTH as MITT ROMNEY
Noth has the jawline for it, and he already plays a politician on "The Good Wife." George Clooney would be a good choice too, if he weren't so distractingly George Clooney.
GIANCARLO ESPOSITO as BARACK OBAMA
The former "Breaking Bad" Chicken Man is a master of voices, and we're sure he could manage Obama's can-do staccato in his sleep. He and the president also share the same confident bearing.
JAKE GYLLENHAALl as PAUL RYAN
Wait, you say: Gyllenhaal is a bigger star than Noth. Wouldn't it be a problem if Paul Ryan were more charismatic than the man at the top of the ticket? Yes. Indeed it was.
CHARLIE SHEEN as MARCO RUBIO
Sheen, like Rubio, is famous for his mighty thirst. You may say Sheen lacks the gravitas to play a senator -- but only if you didn't see him as the president in "Machete Kills." The book "Double Down" says Romney's vice presidential search team dubbed Rubio "pescado" – Spanish for fish. And that was before they knew how much he loves water.
"Double Down" says Obama's team pondered replacing Joe Biden with Clinton, so she could pop up in the movie. NBC, meanwhile, has scotched plans for a Clinton miniseries starring Lane, so an HBO cameo would let us see what we missed. And Lane has a prior relationship with the network: She starred in its 2011 film "Cinema Verite."
Christie and Garlin are the same age, 51, and Garlin has a relationship with HBO thanks to "Curb Your Enthusiasm." Additionally, "Double Down" reports tha Romney's team dubbed the New Jersey governor "pufferfish." We know Garlin can take a joke.
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Jeff Garlin as Chris Christie, and TheWrap’s other picks
Could Jeff Garlin inhabit Chris Christie as well as Julianne Moore did Sarah Palin? We think he could.
Garlin is just one of our dream castings as HBO develops "Double Down," a sequel to the election drama "Game Change." Both are based on the books by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann.
Just-released excerpts from "Double Down: Game Change 2012" feature inside dirt on the race between President Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney. So it's time to speculate on who should be the next Romney, Obama, Paul Ryan and more. Cast your own votes in the comments.
