Kristen Wiig's Farewell Tour; Republicans Need a Pitcher
Welcome to the Smart Set. Every morning we bring you the gossip coverage, filtered. Today: Kristen Wiig sure sounds like somebody who is ready to leave SNL, Republicans need a new pitcher for this year's Congressional Baseball Game, and John Kerry is a grandfather
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When the rumor began making the rounds last week that Kristen Wiig (along with Jason Sudeikis and Andy Samberg) would be leaving Saturday Night Live at the end of the season, Wiig's spokeswoman was quick to scold anyone for even suggesting the actress might want to depart the show to focus on her film career. But when the subject of her expiring contract came up during her appearance on Alec Baldwin's podcast yesterday, Wiig certainly made it sound like her time as a Not Ready For Primetime Player could be winding down. "This is my seventh year and that's my family. It's my heart. It's New York to me," Wiig said. "I will say that when I do leave it's not because I'm sick of it and not because I see something better or anything like that. It's just that it's time." [New York Post]
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This is good news: Lana Del Rey and Axl Rose are apparently not dating. This according to Guns N' Roses guitarist DJ Ashba. "I don't think they're dating," Ashba told TMZ. "Axl's a cool dude and he likes to hang out with cool people." (Note: this was intended as a compliment. He was elevating Del Rey to cool person status.) It should be noted that Ashba's comments represent one man's opinion, and that until Del Rey and Rose stop leaving the Chateau Marmont together on Friday nights, the canoodling chatter will almost certainly continue. [TMZ]
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According to Amanda Bynes' father, the actress was not intoxicated Friday at 3 a.m. when, as the New York Post put it, she went "careening into a cop car" and was subsequently arrested on suspicion of DUI. Rick Bynes says he was "told that she blew a zero on the Breathalyzer." He adds, "She didn't have a single drink that night. My daughter doesn't drink." He blames her arrest on the fact she "was upset and very emotional" after the crash. [People]
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Elle.com editorial director Keith Pollock is reportedly leaving to become co-editor of Du Jour, Jason Binn's soon-to-launch quarterly lifestyle glossy. [Page Six]
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On the baseball front: House Republicans are already fretting about will take the mound for the GOP squad in July's 51st annual Congressional Baseball Game. Illinois Rep. John Shimkus, who has been the Republican hurler in every game since 2002, says he's going to skip this year's contest. To replace him, the GOP is said to be considering a "a "pitching-by-committee approach, which may include [South Carolina Rep. Tim] Scott and [Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick] Meehan," while "[Pennsylvania] Rep. Lou Barletta...could also be a key part of the revamped staff." The change could end up being a good thing: Republicans are currently mired in a three-year losing streak. [Roll Call]
Also on the baseball front: David Axelrod apparently caught a foul ball "bare-handed, one-handed" at the Chicago Cubs home opener last week. Then he turned around and handed it to a little kid seated in the next row. Future Democrat, that one. [Playbook]
Stilted sports guy John Kerry is a grandfather for the first time after his daughter Vanessa delivered a baby boy named Alexander on Easter Sunday. [Boston Globe]
