Students hoping to escape GW’s constant political conversation can’t hide in the Smith Center anymore.

Jake Sherman, the co-author of Politico Playbook who graduated from GW in 2008, is hosting a new timeout interview series at men’s basketball games this season. The series, called Politico Playbook Timeout, will feature interviews streamed on the jumbotron with political figures and run at about five to seven games throughout the season.

The first interview of the series kicked off with Sherman questioning D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser at Friday night’s home opener.

The interviews take place during the second timeout of the game at the 12 minute mark. Friday night’s interview was a rapid fire series of questions lasting just under two minutes. Sherman said the interviews will take place during several home games this season, including the Dec. 16 game against Miami which he said is “the best game of the year.”

Sherman, who formerly served as The Hatchet’s editor in chief, said the future guests will include recognizable politicians and media personalities. Most of his guests will have a tie to GW or the opposing team’s school, but have not been officially confirmed, he said.

“GW is obviously a political school,” Sherman said in an interview. “So we wanted to find a way to highlight that and to give fans something new during games.”

Sherman kicked off the series Friday night asking Bowser questions about everything from her favorite D.C. sports team to her all-time favorite national politician. Bowser answered with former President Barack Obama, which was met with loud applause from the Smith Center crowd.

“It’s going to be light hearted,” Sherman said. “I’m not going to be grilling these people in the middle of a basketball game.”

In honor of Veterans Day, he asked Bowser what she was doing for veterans in D.C. Bowser said she was working on a program called VetsRide, which helps veterans get to work and medical appointments.

“I want to thank all the men and women who have served our country for all of their dedicated service,” Bowser said at the game.

The original idea was proposed by Nicole Fratianne, the assistant athletic director for development, as a way to liven up the games during a quick timeout and keep people’s interest, if only for a minute or two, he said.

“If I can, and I’m not sure I can, I want to make the games more fun and more entertaining and bring some more community to GW,” Sherman said.