While the eyes of America were on the floor of the House of Representatives for yesterday's historic vote on health care reform, First Lady Michelle Obama turned to Broadway, surprising a Memphis matinee audience by arriving just before the 3 p.m. curtain with her mother and daughters Malia and Sasha. There was no announcement accompanying their entrance, but one audience member tells the Daily News, "When they came in, everybody noticed and started taking pictures. Then people started clapping too and there was a standing ovation for them." Twitter user pooniepoonster may have summed up the reaction best: "OMFG MICHELLE OBAMA AND HER GIRLS are sitting 4 rows behind me at Memphis." (Apparently even when you're married to the President, pooniepoonster can still score better seats.) more ›

Toy manufacturer Ty is getting ready to ship its new "Marvelous Malia" and "Sweet Sasha" dolls to retailers eager to cash in on Obama fever. While Ty claims the dolls are not in any way related to the Obama daughters, the owner of Source, an Upper East Side toy and party store, told Crain's New York, “They’ll definitely sell, everybody’s Obama crazy." First Lady Michelle Obama's office was perturbed enough to tell Crain's Chicago, "We believe it is inappropriate to use young private citizens for marketing purposes," but Ty says, "There's nothing on the dolls that refers to the Obama girls. It would not be fair to say they are exact replications of these girls. They are not." The dolls are part of the TyGirlz Collection which sort of seem like Beanie versions of less slutty Bratz dolls. And we'll await the TyGirlz mix of Rick Warren's "Malia and Sasha" hit. more ›

With all the excitement over the appointment of the First Puppy-Elect, the Post has two very adorable suggestions. Last week President-elect Obama acknowledged that the family was looking for a hypoallergenic dog, due to daughter Malia's allergy, but they would prefer to get a shelter dog. A dog at Port Washington's North Shore Animal League fits the bill: Gisepy, a "sweet and energetic...10-pound Shih Tzu-Yorkie mix." And the Animal Lovers League in Glen Cove suggests Kody, "a poodle mixed breed," who is "smart, playful and willing to please." Aw, and another hypoallergenic pup from the North Shore Animal League--Ruffo, a poodle featured on NBC Nightly News for its First Dog story--was recently adopted! more ›