Mrs. Obama & teen TV stars play table tennis for Worldwide Day of Play video...First Lady Obama took on the guys from Nickelodeon TV band Big Time Rush--James Maslow, Kendall Schmidt, Logan Henderson and Carlos Pena--for a big-time game of table tennis in the Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House on Saturday morning. The TV stars were in town to perform at Nickelodeon's massive Worldwide Day of Play event on the Ellipse, and they stopped by the White House to film a video with Mrs. Obama that served as the countdown for the network going dark for three hours during the event. The First Lady made an appearance on the Ellipse to announce a milestone for her Let's Move! campaign. (Above: This photo of Mrs. Obama with Schmidt and Henderson is Photo of the Day on the White House website).
"Just played ping pong... At the white house... WITH the first lady.... Can't believe I just said that." Pena tweeted (sic).
The historic Diplomatic Reception Room at the White House is where royalty, world leaders, and other dignitaries enter after being received by the President on the South Lawn. It was also the location for many of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's fireside chats. Former First Lady Jackie Kennedy selected the panoramic wall paper in 1961, which recreates painters' views of North America. (Above: the Band and Mrs. Obama, mid-countdown)CLICK HERE to watch Mrs. Obama's preview video for the Worldwide Day of Play, filmed in July.
"Just chilling in the White House. Xoxo, JM" Maslow tweeted, with the photo, above."I agree with Maslow! Very cool that we get to go to the White House. Never thought that would happen lol" tweeted Schmidt.
The day on the Ellipse was Nickelodeon's biggest edition of its annual event, with more than 50,ooo kids and families on hand, according to the network. Superstar hoopsters including LeBron James, Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Dwyane Wade, as well as Nick TV stars joined the fun. Olympics gymnastics champion Dominique Dawes, co-chair of the President's Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition, was also on hand for the fun.
*Top photo by Chuck Kennedy/White House; second via Nickelodeon; third from Maslow