For its White House Correspondents’ Dinner party, BuzzFeed brought its entire politics team to D.C., but one of its members was noticeably absent from the party.

Andrew Kaczynski, the prolific tweeter and Internet video resurfacer, skipped out. He was at the actual Dinner, the one BuzzFeed had failed to secure a table at. CSPAN brought him as a guest.

“It must be nice, right,” BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith told FishbowlDC that night. “He’s like our celebrity.”

Even without their own version of a celebrity in attendance, the party was packed with hundreds of people, causing long waits at the bar, but even worse: Long lines outside to even get in. Senior Press Director Ashley McCollum manned the mess outside. At one point the general guest line stretched almost 100 people-deep.

For Dorsey Shaw, BuzzFeed‘s resident TV news watcher, it was his first time down from New York since the publication celebrated the launch of it’s Washington bureau in early August last year. He told us he was disappointed that he wouldn’t have time to see the monuments and other sights but that he’d make sure to schedule them in next time he’s in town. (He ended up being able to schedule in some time to see them Sunday, we hear.)

What and who else did we see? Read more

Quotes of the Day

Oh no she didn’t.

“I just wrote a Scandal scene that actually made me blush while writing it. Did not know that was possible.” — Shanda Rhimes, creator of ABC’s provocative Washington-oriented drama “Scandal.” As of late, viewers have been treated to strange shower scenes between the President and first lady — one goes well, one doesn’t. There was also a passionate scene that upset some female fans when the President grabbed Olivia Pope and gained entrance through, ahem, a back door.

NBC’s Chuck Todd gains popularity in Israel

“Ha, @chucktodd made a Passover joke. Netanyahu responds with a pork joke. It’s like the Borscht Belt over here. #ObamainIsrael.” — Avi Mayer, Israel resident.

Journo gets emotional

“I just have so many feelings right now. #TheLastFiveYears” — BuzzFeed‘s Chris Geidner. The Last Five Years is actually a Broadway show, not specifically the last several years of Geidner’s life, although we’re sure he’s emotion-filled about those too.

Supreme Baier Vomit

PinkieKue writes, “Starting to wish Bret Baier came on at 7PM east coast, I always miss it..darn work #foxnews.” FNC’s Bret Baier retweeted and replied (complete with emoticon), “That’s what DVR is for ”

Loesch isn’t buying Sanford’s rehabilitated image

“Who’s to say Sanford wouldn’t get distracted again, disappear to pursue another ‘trail?’ Cannot get over this ‘comeback’ ridiculousness.” — Conservative radio host Dana Loesch.

Politico Playbook Publish Time: 7:10 a.m.

Advice for CNN’s Jeff Zucker and a peculiar cyst afflicts blogger… Read more

Meghan McCain, who is still a contributor at MSNBC despite being entirely absent from the network of late, is back on speaking terms with BuzzFeed‘s Chris Geidner. She even says they’re “besties.”

“Chris Geidner and I are so cool now!” McCain tweeted Monday. “Apparently I once blocked him, but now we’re besties!” Included in the tweet was a photo of the two after she spoke in support of same-sex marriage at an event in D.C.

While speaking with McCain, Geidner says he casually slipped in the fact that she had blocked him on Twiter. “I told her something along the lines of, ‘I’ll be honest, you had blocked me a long time ago when we got in some Twitter fight over something,” Geidner told FishbowlDC.

“Neither of us remember the situation, but we were younger then,” he said. “I’m sure I said something intemperate and, as Meghan said, she was more sensitive back then. We’re both grown ups now (allegedly), so we made up and, as Meghan tweeted, it’s all good.”

A true coming of age story.

The audio was kind of a wreck but the second installment of BuzzFeed Brews, this time a Q&A with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), otherwise went just fine.

Gillibrand is apparently unafraid to drink with the big boys. Literally, big boys. She gave the towering D.C. Bureau Chief John Stanton a bottle of Jameson whiskey at the end of the interview, during which she downed the beer that sat at her side. Her glass of water went hardly touched.

Afterward, the open bar continued for another hour. What was Gillibrand doing? Read more

Quotes of the Day — the Oscar edition

Oscar coverage, attendance

“I just used a port-a-potty while wearing a tux. #glamour#oscars” — WaPo‘s Dan Zak.

“I love that my ticket for the Oscars tonight specifies ‘formal’ attire.” — Garance Franke-Ruta, senior editor, The Atlantic, whose work in ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, was made into an Oscar-nominated documentary, “How to Survive a Plague.”

Editor dreads need for reading glasses

“Getting gray hair didn’t bother me. Hitting 40 was no big deal. But new realization that reading glasses are necessary isn’t sitting well.” — The Hill‘s Managing Editor Bob Cusack.

Sighting: rapper at DCA

“SPOTTED – @2chainz at DCA Washington Reagan National Airport this morning #DMV” — Marky Mark, a.k.a. Mark Wilkins, DC Celebrity. 2 Chainz’ real name is Tauheed Epps. His previous nickname was Tity Boi.

Dana Perino: a slave to travel size products

“Very glad to have found @3floz - products to save a woman traveler’s life. Take THAT airport security lines!” — FNC’s Dana Perino.

“On our way to the Oscars.” – Former Rep. Dennis Kucinich, with wife, Elizabeth.

D.C. Oscar Observers

• “Reese Witherspoon says she let her 13-year-old pick out her dress. It shows.” — Roll Call’s Meredith Shiner.

• “Seacrest, you really don’t need to stoop down to talk to Little Q.” — Conservative freelancer Lisa De Pasquale.

• “I know everyone loves her… but every time Kerry Washington opens her mouth and I’m watching, I swear I lose brain cells.” — D.C. socialite Katherine Kennedy.

• “It is now time for me to turn off and stow electronic devices. BUT HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SEE WHAT ANNE HATHAWAY IS WEARING? Ugh.” — The Daily Caller‘s Taylor Bigler.

• “Somebody get a box for Ryan Seacrest to stand on.” — Paul Brandus, of West Wing Reports and a columnist for The Week.

• “Whoever is pregnant lady in the black lace cap sleeve dress, it suits you vvery nicely. you are w/channiing tatum who suits well too. #Oscar.” — NPR’s Kitty Eisele.

• “OMG, Beasts of the Southern Wild won’t win because it’s too good to win, too good for this world!” — NYT‘s Jonathan Weisman.

• “John Travolta introducing the muscials tribute is pretty gay.” — BuzzFeed‘s Chris Geidner.

Splish Splash…“Just gave the one-week-old a bath. To thank me, she drenched me with urine.” — BuzzFeed Political Editor McKay Coppins.

Um, use the rear entrance

“TONIGHT: Fashion Industry Sunday Party in DC at Huxley w/sexy deep house and live sax. Open bar 8-9pm! Use rear entrance, knock twice!” — Real Housewives of D.C.’s favorite stylist Paul Wharton.

D.C. journo finds a new pet peeve and more D.C. scribes offer Oscar observations, some are even worth reading… Read more

Asked to describe the idea behind “BuzzFeed Brews,” John Stanton says, “It’s like a first date. Get them a little drunk and relaxed so they can talk about things people don’t normally hear them talk about.”

Stanton is the Washington Bureau Chief for BuzzFeed and last night was the launch of the website’s new series wherein newsmakers are invited to sit before an audience and answer questions. And there’s free beer.

It’s essentially the same thing as Politico‘s Playbook Breakfast, “minus the stale bagels, plus the beer,” cracked BuzzFeed‘s Politics Editor McKay Coppins to FishbowlDC. (The site’s publicist Ashley McCollum boasts that she came up with that description.)

The first guest: Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.). For roughly 45 minutes Rubio answered questions from BuzzFeed Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith about immigration, gay marriage and the future of the Republican Party. Of course, lengthy segments here and there were spent on why Rubio prefers Tupac over Biggie Smalls (“His lyrics are more insightful in my opinion.”) and whether he had to “think long and hard” before letting his son play recreational football. Stanton said that’s another thing distinguishing the Brews series from Playbook Breakfast, whose audience may not be interested in those things. Read more

In the second season finale of ABC’s political drama “Scandal,” the president, having just been the victim of an attempted assassination, is in critical condition. Sally Langston, the V.P., becomes the nation’s first female president. (And she’s a complete wacko, privately referring to one Supreme Court justices as “gay-loving” and “baby-killing.”)

Hey, this sounds like something the real-life news media would dive right into, publishing stories round the clock.

Not so in Scandal, the episodes of which almost always feature some kind of angle relating to journalists. In this episode, however, there’s hardly a word about how reporters are treating such an historic occasion.

But if such a thing were to happen in real life, here are hypothetical headlines the public could expect from D.C.’s news organization… Read more

While heading to pre-tape an appearance for MSNBC’s “Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” on Friday, BuzzFeed‘s Chris Geidner broke two of his four eyes right in half.

Sadly, he was forced to sit through the segment largely unable to see and without his usual stylish frames resting on his face.

BuzzFeed‘s publicist Ashley McCollum forwarded a photo of the tortoiseshell casualty. Note that they’re Burberry brand (fancy!).

Though his vision may have been a blur, Geidner didn’t let it show on camera… Read more

Quotes of the Day

Are cabbies devils in disguise?

“Cab drivers in DC may be some of the most soulless human beings on the planet.” — The Hill‘s Alexandra Jaffe at 2:39 a.m.

A BuzzFeed reporter’s bout with insomnia

“BREAKING: There is no ice cream in my house, yet I am still up and stuff. THIS IS A NATIONAL TRAGEDY.” — BuzzFeed‘s Chris Geidner at 3:43 a.m. Minutes later at 3:51 a.m. he added, “ALSO: @dcbigjohn is like, the best, EVAR. He’s the boss of being a boss. And making my life awesome (minus ice cream).” He was referring to BuzzFeed D.C. Bureau Chief John Stanton.

Colby Hall notices Lindsay Lohan’s boobs

“A bra-less @lindsaylohan is rapt with attention as she casts her gaze on @TheWANTED playing live at #z100jingleball.” — ClearChannel‘s Colby Hall. He links to this picture.

From the Dept. of Bragiculture…

National Journal Editor-in-Chief turned National Reporter Ron Fournier (or should we blame CNN’s Howie Kurtz for this?) got us all choked up this weekend (or rather, choked us) with Fournier’s vanity piece on his son’s Asperger’s syndrome and the access Fournier got to two ex-U.S. Presidents. On CNN’s “Reliable Sources,” Fournier explained that his editor, who sometimes plays psychiatrist, urged him to write the piece. Good news: Fournier paves the way for journalists to use their personal experiences and guilt to ramp up their careers. And isn’t this cathartic for all of us? Noted a Washington editor to FBDC, “Fournier’s behavior would qualify as just the usual vanity of journalists if this weren’t about his son. But it is. Which makes it unseemly bordering on obscene.” Bad news: We have to keep hearing about it. “Watching more CNN than I ever have waiting for @ron_fournier#lovethatboy” — wrote a fan named Abby4nier (i.e. his daughter). To which Fournier replied, “Making good choice.”

From Ron and Sara Bonjean’s Xmas party… “Dom DeLuise does not know Ron Bonjean raided his closet.” — Public Relations Consultant and ex-TWT Editor Sam Dealey. More on the party and Bonjean’s flower bombed purple blazer later and we’re talking about Ron, not Sara…

Unnecessary Tweet of the Day

“Video storytelling, when executed well, can be very emotionally compelling.” — NBC Washington cameraman Jim Long. Indeed, such sage advice.

Peter Ogburn and Eddie Scarry contributed to this report.

See the humblebrag… Read more

Say hello to Justin Snow, Metro Weekly‘s political reporter and bacon lover. Earlier this year he replaced Chris Geidner, who went to work for BuzzFeed. Before he joined the gay news magazine, Snow was a reporter for MarylandReporter.com and Baltimore magazine. He also freelanced for the New York Post and the American Prospect.

Snow told FishbowlDC he never “set out” to cover the gay beat. “I’ve always been a political junkie and a reporter who has covered a wide range of topics, which have included LGBT issues, but that has never been my sole interest,” he said. We asked him to help save a hypothetically dying out population and gave him three options of media women with whom to procreate. That went over real well. On a more serious note, mags are Snow’s preferred medium and he said working for Metro Weekly has so far been “fantastic.” On a cheery note, he added, “I hope to be writing for magazines for as long as readers are still reading them,” he said.

Let’s begin.

Diane Sawyer, under the condition that the Chardonnay flow as freely as it did on election night.