Live Q&As

Er, you want to give us some specific examples of this bias? Roxanne went to Tampa, and I went to Charlotte, and I think we had equally miserable experiences. Otherwise it may just be that Rox is a better reporter than me.

And you say "sparkling with celebrities" like that's an unequivocally good thing. Yes, the Democratic convention wasn't as celebrity-sparkly as last time -- and nothing like Clint Eastwood -- but we did highlight all these pretty people, if you're into that kind of thing. But go ahead, break it down for me, please.

Wife? Hahahhahahaha. The best a girl can hope for with George seems to be a memorable year or two. I keep waiting for George to have a Warren Beatty epiphany and find his own Annette Benning -- but I'm not holding my breath. Plus, his rep is totally denying these rumors, so I wouldn't get too worked up yet. 

I don't think either of us encountered any good swag. Roxanne says she got a Journey t-shirt. I think I got a cheapo pedometer. I'm sure we both got some pretty good free meals. But I think the good swag is reserved, rightfully, for people with an influential vote or the ability to donate $30,000.

My highlight moment was the morning (okay, noon) I finally racked up a breakfast tab larger than $10 at the Cracker Barrel next to my hotel. And managing to salvage and save our lead blog story moments before the networks crashed. But seeing Sebastian Bach in the flesh was definitely fun.

He seems to be doing both. Was very visible during the convention but also seems to be working a lot. . . . Doesn't Adam Scott always look bemused? He and Rashida Jones were campaigning at UofI, right?

Was just thinking the same thing. He married both ScarJo and Blake Lively after only about a year of dating each. . . . Yes, good luck to those kids. I found this guide to his future romantic life very useful, but then I'm a bad person.

Her publisher told The New Republic (and go read the entire story) that it sold 25,000 copies, which isn't bad, really, considering no one buys books anymore.

True on both counts. Malia (14) was already tall, and now has shot up; Sasha (11) has filled out and looks less like a litte girl and more like a pre-teen. 

Yes, but I didn't want a chicken fried steak. For a couple of days there, I was ordering enough food to fill up my table (usually variations involving eggs, oatmeal, pancakes, and the usual sides, plus bran muffin) and was still lingering in the $9 realm. By the way, that place is great. They need to open one on 14th Street.

He does indeed -- not just a a girlfriend but a fiancee, according to Dave Sheinin's fine RGIII story from the other day:

"Now 22, Griffin is already a man in full, with a $21.1 million contract, a ubiquitous nickname (RGIII) and the hopes of a franchise resting on his shoulders. The Heisman Trophy, earned as a junior at Baylor in 2011, sits on the mantel of his suburban Virginia home. He has a fiancee, Rebecca Liddicoat, whose high school class ring he wears around his neck day and night, alongside a dog tag with a Bible quote from Jeremiah 29:11: “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ ”"

I, a native of the upper Midwest, cannot recall ever dining at a Cracker Bareel. Amy brought back two boxes of Moon Pies (banana, chocolate) for the office, which I also had never tried before. I ate TWO chocolate. 

So, you wish them well, it sounds like.

It's definitely a different world, the conventions.

Having only seen one with my own eyes, hard to say which was wackier. Make sure you check out Todd Tiahrt's get-up before you decide.

Let's break this down:

1. Would a personal trainer currently working for a celebrity client diss that person? Unlikely.

2. Celebrities get extra credit for normal manners.

3. It's easier to be Down to Earth when you never have to fly coach. Just sayin'. The real test is what happens if they get bumped to the back of the plane, in a middle seat, next to a crying baby.

4. I think stars behaving badly is more newsworthy than stars behaving well. And more fun to gossip about.

It's a good season for baritone voice-over artists, though.

It's like a drug. Every girlfriend thinks they are going to be Ms. Right instead of Ms. Right Now. I wonder if they get parting gifts.

But Jayson Werth is already married! And soon, all of the rest of them will be too. Did you see Sarah Kogod's story on this? I linked to it the other day. Seven Nat have plans get hitched in the off-season, including Ryan Zimmerman, Michael Morse, Ross Detwiler, Craig Stammen, Jordan Zimmermann, Edwin Jackson and Corey Brown. So, if you were hoping that the Nats' amazing winning streak was going to be boon to Washington's social life along the lines of a Derek Jeter or A-Rod, I'm afraid that's not the case.

Hard to say what goes on in a marriage after three decades. You always think if a couple has been together that long, they might as well stay together---unless there's a third party involved. I can't begin to understand why they denied it for so long after it was clear to so many people that the marriage was over. Their spokesman was still insisting everything was fine when Karyn stopped wearing her wedding rings in public-- which is about the biggest "Hello?!" you can send.  All those denials just created more rumors, which is the opposite of what they apparently wanted. Weird.

Letterman and Dustin Hoffman and Led Zeppelin. (Also a jazz musician and a ballerina.) It's quite a baby boomer Mount Rushmore there. . . . Meanwhile, you know who deserves it next year? This guy, Paul Williams.

2012 Kennedy Center Honors

.....because Julia Roberts was on Line One, and Blake Lively on Line Two. Busy guy.

I'm sure the contract has provisions to dissuade that kind of behavior.

Oh, you should see our mailbox. We are routinely accused of bias in all different directions, not infrequently on the same story.

I think they'd go the Robert Zimmerman route and take the name "Dylan."

Seriously, I think that all the time . . .

I don't doubt they're nice to her, but it's like one of those humblebrags, "I work with Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds"--which probably doesn't hurt business. That being said, I hope she's right and they a sweet couple who treat everyone right, never ask for discounts, and always pay their bills on time. 

I don't envy him, the weight of expectations and glare of attention on him these days . . . .

Oh, I think these Honors are always a matter more of who can inspire a lot of big-dollar donations to fill the seats in the theater and who will get people to tune into a CBS broadcast between Christmas and New Year's. . . . After all, remember, it was during the Bush years that Barbra Streisand was recognized.

Yes, "Rainbow Connection" -- I don't know if it's his best, but it definitely has a lot of resonance for people my age, thanks to the original "Muppet Movie." It was robbed at the Oscars, I tell you -- robbed. 

I once read that people stay in unhappy marriages until they are presented with a better reality. It's an interesting theory, because it makes the other man or other woman a catalyst for action, rather than homebreakers. That being said, what happens next requires honesty and honor by all involved, which seem to be in short supply under those circumstances.

I would love to know more about the selection process. I know that "who will agree to show up" must be a bigger factor than we realize.

I think it's time for some urban Cracker Barrels, don't you?

I think that's the link we just put out, right?

No. The honorees never perform -- they sit in the box and watch as other artists perform in their honor. Which is always a little weird, especially with the musical honorees, because despite all best intentions, it's their music being performed by lesser artists. Best case scenario, the Led Zeppelin songs will be performed by (my rough guess, based on the kinds of stars they've lined up for past Honors) people like Dave Grohl, Melissa Etheridge, Bettye Lavette and Adam Lambert.

He's the one to watch, isn't he?

Ah, there a thinly-veiled novel here. Cate has done everything she could to hold the family together and loves her father, despite everything. But all this has to be so difficult for her.

Yeah, but, you're overthinking things. At the end of the day, the president -- whoever it is -- has bigger things on his plate than who gets a Kennedy Center Honor. And the people on the board (which, if you look at it, includes a lot of Republicans) know that their priority in that role is to keep the Kennedy Center solvent -- and the Kennedy Center Honors is nothing but a way to raise money for the place, from deep-pocketed donors who tend to come from both parties. Are a lot of the honorees liberal? Absolutely. As was the case during Republican administrations as well. Because the honorees are drawn from the world of show-biz, which is overwhelmingly liberal. Though Clint Eastwood got his Kennedy Center Honor in 2000.

What you call "mutual toxicity" others might call "destiny."

Oh, he's included in the lineup this time.

Hey, it's his new nickname.

Well, where's the sense of adventure in that.

No, I think the previous chatter assumes John's relationship with Rielle must be pretty aggravating for his daughter Cate.

Ha. No. 21, No. 8.

It's all about your childhood haunts -- I was a Dairy Queen kid. No snobbery intended.

Lots of news today, so thanks for taking the time to chat. Send your tips and sightings to reliablesource@washpost.com and enjoy these gorgeous fall days.