The television producer trying to extort $2 million from American talk show host David Letterman by threatening to reveal his sexual affairs with women who worked on his late-night program on CBS plead guilty Tuesday.

Robert Joel Halderman was a former producer for the CBS news program called "48 Hours Mystery”.  Yesterday morning, he made a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to ‘attempted grand larceny’ in exchange for serving six months in jail, performing 1,000 hours of community service, and giving up his right to appeal.  This spares him 15 years in prison, had he been convicted.

Under the plea, Halderman has to give prosecutors the diaries (from his former girlfriend, Stephanie Birkitt) that he claimed he would be using to destroy Letterman’s reputation.  He is also required to turn over photos, screenplay notes and other materials he has concerning Letterman and must agree never to reveal the contents.  The scandal was made public back in October at which point a married Letterman admitted the affair with a female employee (later realized as Stephanie Birkitt) on air.  Neither viewers nor critic knew exactly how to respond to his approach…but as other sex scandals broke into the news (John Edwards and Tiger Woods); Letterman’s took a back seat.

Formal sentencing for Halderman will take place in May.

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The Children's Museum of Houston's 17th annual Parents and Families Luncheon was appropriately chaired by the mother-daughter team of dynamos Suzanna Brener de Stern, Jennifer Stern, and Jessica Stern Meyer.  Held at River Oaks Country Club, 460 gorgeous guest filled the ballroom to help raise $150,000.  Guest speaker Erin Gruell awed all with a brilliant explanation of her teaching methodology and authorship of book turned movie, The Freedom Writers.  

Erin’s story is one of becoming a teacher in a dilapidated neighborhood in Long Beach, California.  She found a way to “reach out” to her otherwise distracted, “delinquent”, and failing students.  Ms. Gruell realized that her students were living in a modern day war zone--gangs, drugs, violence, poverty-- everywhere they looked.  She thought that perhaps they could relate to other children their age who had kept diaries of “life in war”.  This was the panacea for her students’ lack of interest in education.  She gave her class “The Diary of Anne Frank”, “Zlata’s Diary”…and asked them to keep a journal of what was going on THEIR lives.  These journals became a book, “The Freedom Writers Diary”.  Paramount Pictures released "Freedom Writers" in January 2007, a film based on this remarkable story featuring Hilary Swank as Erin.  www.freedomwritersfoundation.org.

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The 7th Annual Gala benefiting Gaston Le Notre Scholarship/ Culinary Institute Le Notre, which supports high quality education in the culinary arts by providing financial assistance to culinary students, was an overwhelming success.  Entitled “An Evening of Romance”, this year’s Champagne and Chocolat Gala was perfectly timed for Valentines Day Weekend. Houston Dining “Sweetheart”, Cleverley Stone was the 2010 Honoree and graced the stage with fabulous auction items in hand, such as $100 gift cards from over 50 restaurants in town--dining for ever week of the year.

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Last week the Rotary Club of Houston presented its 48th Distinguished Citizen Award to First Lady Barbara Bush in a beautiful ceremony at the Houston Intercontinental Hotel.  The event was Co-Chaired by Lavonne Cox and Denis DeBakey with Honorary Co-Chairmen President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush.  Since it was first presented in 1962, the Rotary Distinguished Citizen of the Year Award seeks to recognize outstanding individuals or organizations that have shaped and molded our community. The luncheon event was attended by many Rotary Club members, Houston Politicos, socials, friends of the Bushes, and corporate sponsors.  Former Secretary of State James A. Baker III introduced Barbara Bush and presented her with the award.  After the award presentation and lunch, there was a moving performance by the Aggie Singing Cadets of Texas A&M University.  

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Sponsored by the Assistance League of Houston, “Books and Brunch” is designed to showcase Texas authors from different literary genres. Members and guests enjoy brunch while listening to authors share experiences from their writing careers. Books are available for purchase and signing, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting Assistance League of Houston.  This month, the league brought Lester Smith, Katherine Center and Merrill Bonarrigo to the beautiful Junior League Ballroom for a breakfast discussion of their journeys as writers and a compelling presentation of their work.

Merrill Bonarrigo began the morning.  She and her husband, Paul, founded Messina Hof Winery & Resort in 1977. Her newest cookbook, “Vineyard Cuisine”, offers recipes featuring wine, food and years of love at Messina Hof.

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Texas Gov. Rick Perry won the Republican primary Tuesday night with an outright majority (51%), avoiding a potentially costly runoff election against Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, who had 31% of the vote.

Hutchison called Perry to concede, when it seemed as if polls were indicating he would win.  She noted, “Now we must unite," she said. "We must win Texas for Republicans.”

Perry told his supporters at his election-night party that the message sent by voters was clear, “Conservatism has never been stronger than it is today.”  And that Washington must “Stop messing with Texas.”

Perry has just ended a year long intra-party battle against a tough moderate Republican and will be coming up against another tough race with a moderate Democrat in Bill White for the Governors seat in the November Election.  Perry is running for his 3rd consecutive term, which would be the longest in Texas history.

This should be an interesting race!  Stay tuned to RSVPsocial.com for all the latest.

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Bill White for Texas

Bill White got the Democratic Nomination!!!

Former Mayor Bill White defeated 6 other candidates to get the Democratic Nomination to run for Texas Governor.

White will face off against the winner of the Republican Primary in the November election.

Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and GOP activist Debra Medina are vying for the Republican nomination in a very close, very heated race.

White won the Democratic Nomination with over 75% of the vote. Wealthy Houston hair-care manufacturer, Farouk Shami, was also a Democratic candidate; and the other five were much lesser-known.

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Chaired by Deborah and Stephen J.J. Letwin and Enbridge Energy Company, the American Heart Association continued to “Keep the Beat” with the 2010 Heart Ball. With more than 400 guests and $1.2M raised, the event featured red-frocked Houstonians dining, dancing and bidding (Audi A5 Cabriolet/vacations to Riviera Maya and Napa Valley) at a fabulous black tie event perfectly timed for Valentine's Day weekend.  The evening honored Lilly and Thurmon Andress, Noble Energy, Inc. and James C. Grotta, M.D., and was catered by celeb event producer Paul David Van Atta.  Darryl Murchison of Darryl & Co. designs created a fabulous décor of magnificent golden sheer table linens with rose buds and matching chair liners making the room feel like a magical garden. Before the event, there was a glamorous underwriters reception on the 24th floor, Skyline room of the Hilton Americas.  Sponsors seen at the reception were from Marathon Oil and Texas Children's Hospital, as well as notable guests:  Debbie and Steve Letwin, Dr. James C. Grotta and Kathy Dreyfus, Chuck Davidson, Philamena and Arthur Baird, Roz and Alan Pactor, Margaret Alkek Williams and Jim Daniels, Laura Davenport, Leisa Holland-Nelson, Jan Carson and Tim Connolly, David and Mary Ann McKeithan, Nancy and Chuck Davidson, Laura Zehl, Judy and Wayne McConnell, Brittany Cassin,  JoAnne and Bill Crassas.

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The Bar-B-Que cook-off, just got started last night…which means RODEO SEASON IS HERE!!!  LET the crazy TEXAS traditions begin. 

Nearly 300 tents/teams are competing for top prizes this year.  

To get into the main camp grounds at Reliant Park (right by the Rodeo Carnival), it’s $10 a person (which includes a basic BBQ sandwich, chips and a drink).  There is also food in private catered tents, but you need an invitation.  So, if you have friends who work for big companies (TV stations, Radio stations, ad agencies, temp agencies, food companies, restaurants, etc)….now is the time to call in favors and ask for passes.  Parking was a bit of a challenge (very crowded and costs about $12-$15); so I’d suggest showing up early, carpooling or taking a taxi.   

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Celebrity trainer Bob Greene (Oprah’s personal trainer) made a stop in Houston this week on his Nation-wide book tour to do a little counseling and book signing.  His latest cookbook “Best Life Diet Cookbook” gives some great ideas for healthy living and is an extension of the Best Life Diet brand that has become highly acclaimed through Greene’s books and work with Winfrey on her show.  There was also a food demonstration, in which Chef Efrain Cuervas prepared two delicious samplings from the Best Life book for patrons of the Buffalo Speedway Kroger to taste as Greene signed books.  Chocolate peanut butter smoothies and egg and veggie breakfast wraps were hits with the crowd.

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