THE SILLY SEASON

BY JANET DONOVAN

The laughs don't stop (who says Washington is too serious?), women of NPR in the spotlight and a new pair of social scribes hit town.

Send in the clowns September 27th was a lucky night for Congresswoman Linda Sanchez. She didn't have to compete with Matt Cooper to be "The Funniest Celebrity in Washington" contest this year, so she won. "Maybe I'm just being sensitive," sniffed Sanchez, "but I think the Republicans have gone way overboard with this immigration stuff...I mean, they built a 200-mile wall around my office."
Chicago Tribune's Clarence Page emceed and ABC's George Stephanopoulos and wife Ali Wentworth threw out the ice breakers: "Did you watch the Chris Wallace interview on Fox with Clinton? The amazing thing was that Clinton basically lost his mind. The last time that Clinton exploded with such force, a dress was taken into evidence."
Anticipating a punctured ego, CNN's Pentagon correspondent Jamie McIntyre did a "fly check" (needlessly, since he came in third) before confronting the judges: Portfolio Magazine's Matt Cooper, The Reliable Source's Amy Argetsinger, The Palm's Tommy Jacomo, WTOP's Mark Plotkin, and promoter Lou Viola. "I love the The Improv, it has the best spinach," quipped Cal Thomas. Comedian Brett Leake: "Once you've said I'm speechless, you're already two words over the line."
Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former RNC Chair Ed Gillespie sparred in a Sean Hannity/ Alan Colmes act as duel ventriloquists and came in second. Other masochists: tax reformer Grover Norquist, The Examiner's Patrick Gavin, reigning champ Rep. Brian Baird and The Washington Post's David Burd. Event organizer Richard Siegel handed over the proceeds to Bread for the City.

Some like it Hot! The Fahrenheit at the 18th Annual Roast for Spina Bifida with CBS' Bob Schieffer reached fever level October 3rd at the JW Marriott.
CNN host & Washington Post columnist Mark Shields emceed the event on behalf of Bloomberg's Al Hunt and wife Judy Woodruff whose son Jeffrey is afflicted with Spina Bifida. Stingers abounded. On the "macaca" incident: "Today, [Sen.] Chuck Schumer said he thought George Allen did an awful lot of good for the American Jews by not being one." On roaster Tom Daschle: "He's been in Washington so long he remembers when James Carville had hair and Joe Biden didn't." On roaster Tony Snow: "Dick Cheney has not shot a single person since Snow took over."
Roaster Don Imus: "Good things about Bob: He never hugged an intern on a rope line or spilled anything on her dress. Bob hated Connie Chung before you or I or Dan Rather did."
Katie Couric by video: "When I was cleaning out his desk and found suspect items such as magazines and handcuffs I said I would gladly return everything to him." Schieffer's reply: "Katie, you can keep the magazines, but send the other stuff back." Schieffer on future plans: "I am going to be a songwriter." No More Gettin' up with the Chickens said it best.

Girl Power "I credit women like my mom who went before me," said radio talk show host Rebecca Roberts at the 2006 Awards ceremony at the Sewell-Belmont House on the occasion of "Women Pioneers of National Public Radio." Cokie Roberts, Susan Stamberg, Nina Totenberg and Linda Wertheimer were presented the award by WJLA anchor Maureen Bunyan. Any more ground for women to break? "Basically what women are going to do in every field of endeavor is really break and exceed and crash whatever barrier there is," said visionary business leader Edie Fraser.

He said, he said They're not Mutt and Jeff according to the Yeas and Nays team of Patrick Gavin and Jeff Dufour of The Examiner, but definitely Oscar and Felix. Feted by friends at The University Club on the occasion of their new column, guests included Chuck Conconi, CNN's Sam Fiest, Ron Nesson, WUSA9's Mike Walter and Examiner boss Herbert Maloney, III. While they split the work, it's doubtful that Patrick split his $500 finder's fee for acquiring Jeff. What's next for the duo? Namesake drinks at The Ritz Carlton bar: Yea.

Couple No. 2 Newsweek's Michael Isikoff and The Nation's David Corn, who co-authored Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal and the Selling of the Iraq War lightened up at an ultra-hip party thrown for them at The Reef in Adams Morgan. It could be because Isikoff is now engaged to Heard on the Hill's Mary Ann Akers or perhaps because Rep. Mark Foley gave them plenty of party fodder. Right on the heels of Pagegate, Corn was later quoted as saying, "If it were a book it would be a pageturner." Nothing like a good sex scandal.

California Rep. Linda Sanchez was named this year's funniest celebrity in Washington.	Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former RNC Chair Ed Gillespie (not pictured) sparred in a Hannity/Colmes act as duel ventriloquists and came in second.

Susan Stamberg, Cokie Roberts, Nina Totenberg and Linda Wertheimer at the 2006 Alice Awards.	Bob Schieffer and Judy Woodruff at the 18th Annual Roast for Spina Bifida at the J.W. Marriot.