My Publicist Note Book

                     WASHINGTON, D.C. - President Barack Obama hosted his final  Kennedy Center Honors  gala at the White House. The president and first lady Michelle Obama were introduced after the inductees: actor  Al Pacino ; gospel singer  Mavis Staples ; Argentine pianist  Martha Argerich ; singer-songwriter  James Taylor;  and  Don Henley ,  Timothy B. Schmidt  and  Joe Walsh , the surviving members of the Eagles.    Sean Penn, Garth Brooks, Aretha Franklin, David Letterman ,  Diana Ross ,  Kevin Spacey  and  Ringo Starr  were just a handful of the stars drawn to the event to toast the five honorees and see the Obamas sing their Kennedy Center swan song. The Kennedy Center Honors is in its 39th year.  The ceremony will be broadcast Dec. 27 on CBS.  Earlier, at the White House, Obama welcomed the ho...

Muppets movie takes White House,  Kermit gets award Kermit the Frog kisses hand of first lady Michelle at screening of Disney's 'Muppets Most Wanted' for military kids and families, Kermit the Frog  gets around. On Tuesday night he and the rest of the Muppets were at the  Los Angeles premiere of their new movie; today he took to the White House to entertain military families via snappy repartee with first lady  Michelle Obama . Obama screened Disney's  Muppets Most Wanted for military kids and their families as part of her "Joining Forces" effort to support veterans and active-duty personnel and their families. Obama called the kids "heroes" who are just as "strong and brave" as their parents and who often have to balance homework and caring for siblings with frequent changes of address. The green one, invited to share the podium with her, echoed her praise. "I always say it's not easy being green, and that so...

First Lady Michelle Obama will guest on NBC’s “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” on Friday, Feb. 22. It will be the first late-night appearance for FLOTUS since her husband was sworn in for a second term and her first ever sit-down with Fallon.  As part of the Let's Move! initiative, Jimmy visits the White House to compete in a fitness competition with Michelle Obama.  Her upcoming visit is for the initiative’s third anniversary.   A year ago, she and Fallon did a comedy sketch at the White House to mark the second anniversary of her "Let’s Move" initiative.   No stranger to the late night circuit, the FLOTUS last year, paid visits to Jay Leno and David Letterman in August and Jimmy Kimmel in October.