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Heard on the Hill

Stacks O' Love

By Mary Ann Akers
Roll Call Staff
October 11, 2005

Reality Bites. The show may be far from a hit with the American public, but that didn't stop Washington lobbyists from plunking down a cool $2,000 to host a viewing party for two local contestants on NBC's "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart" last week.

The domestic diva's new reality show, in which candidates compete at a variety of business tasks each week for the chance to earn a senior position at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, features GOP communications consultant and former aide to Rep. Henry Bonilla (R-Texas) Leslie Sanchez and event planner Sarah Brennan.

"I threw a very good party," boasted BellSouth lobbyist Troup Coronado, a longtime friend of Sanchez's, who said he was inspired to put on the soiree Wednesday night at Lounge 201 after gauging that interest in the show was high among Capitol Hill staffers.

About 60 guests crowded into the Capitol Hill lounge's back room to cheer on Sanchez and Brennan, take advantage of the open bar and chow on "Fancy Cakes by Leslie."

But no, it wasn't Sanchez making the cakes, despite the misleading name of the company.

"The best thing about being on the show is that now my friends think I can cook," quipped Sanchez, adding, as she leaned over to sneak a bite: "My friends think I made this cake."

Brennan and Sanchez's team won that night (which earned them a meeting at the swanky New York restaurant Jean-Georges with The Donald and Melania Trump), so they'll be back for future episodes.

As for how long they survive, they're sworn (and contractually bound) to secrecy.

"This is really an endurance race," Sanchez said. "You have to watch every week."

Bree Hocking contributed to this report.

Copyright 2005 © Roll Call Inc. All rights reserved.

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