Brian Williams, Barack Obama, Conan O'brien

***GET MORE***
-Vote in Jenna Wolfe and Glenn Beck surveys in the right column
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts
-THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS IN THE RIGHT COLUMN

Brian Williams, Barack Obama, Conana O'brien

***GET MORE***
-Vote in Jenna Wolfe and Glenn Beck surveys in the right column
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts
-THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS IN THE RIGHT COLUMN

NBC Nightly News Notes: Meet The Press, Pearl, Conan and Obama

A few special notes from NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams tonight. During one of the later commercial breaks, a promo for Meet the Press aired. It's a softer side of MTP. David Gregory is softly talking over lightly playing moving while promising. It just feels soft... way too soft for MTP. Notice a theme here: soft. It gets old. The music and tone do not match a hard news image.

Williams also announced that Nightly now airs on the Pearl network in Hong Kong. Williams pimped tonight's debut of Conan O'brian. And finally, he promoted his behind-the-scene at the White Hosue special for Tuesday and Wednesday night.
----
***GET MORE***
-Vote in Jenna Wolfe and Glenn Beck surveys in the right column
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts
-THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS IN THE RIGHT COLUMN

Some quick hits....
*Brian Williams' questioning during the interview with the commander of the Bainbridge was a little cumbersome. I hate when people ask a question, then try to explain the question and then ask it again. The commander was great. The questions could have been cut in hald.
*I don't know why but I flipped to watch the top of Barbara Walters' "The View" today. I wish I hadn't. It was not the show I liked years ago.
*It was nice to see part of a White House daily briefing in Spanish today.
*Remember to follow me on Twitter and twitter.com/JeffParsonsDC

***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts

Network Anchors In London

On the final night of the G20 Summit, the big three network anchors remained in London.
Brian Williams -- anchored outside in a trench coat while reporters stood beside him WITHOUT coats
Katie Couric - anchored outside in a coat while tossing to reporters with no coats.
Charlie Gibson -- apprently forgot the coat (JOKE) and anchored inside the ABC London bureau. Why do you think?

***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts

Brian Williams Finally Hears Pleas For Good News

If a tree falls in the forest, does anyone here it.
Brian Williams says he's getting pleas from viewers for good news. HHHMMM What a revelation. We have been seeing this for a decade in TV news. Perhaps it is what is leading to the erosion of people from TV news. Or, perhaps it is the lack of insightful journalism that built the foundation for today's flashy-I-look-pretty-on-TV journalism.

From the Boston Herald and AP.
"I’m looking at a stack of printed e-mails," Williams said Friday. "We have more stories than we could humanly cover if we combined all three network newscasts. It’s hit an unbelievable nerve."
Williams said he’s been hearing it repeatedly from people he meets on the street or viewers who send e-mails: The news is so bad every night that it’s a burden to watch. Wrote one viewer: "We all know it’s bad, but the news makes us feel like crawling under a rock."
He recently ran into colleague Al Roker on the street outside Rockefeller Center and was surprised that sidewalks normally crowded with tourists were empty.
So he made a plea seconds before the end of NBC’s newscast on Wednesday: We’re looking for good news. Nominate people doing good work, perhaps a random or regular act of kindness in a cruel economy, and we’ll tell some of their stories.
He’s heard about a man who keeps a full can of gas in his trunk and gives it to people who have run out of gas, asking only that they do the same for someone else. One woman goes up to strangers on the street and gives them money. A man nominated his landlord, saying he reduced the rent and even helps pay his bills.
"It really told me something," he said. "I have learned a lot. I thought I knew all there was about the good nature of Americans, and this was a flood."
Williams was set to read some of the letters on Friday’s newscast and do stories from across the country next week from some of the suggestions. His "good news" idea runs the risk of being cloying, but Williams said a newscast, like a newspaper, has room for a diversity of stories.
***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts

Do We Need A Full Hour Of NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams?

Do we need a full hour of NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams? The short answer is: NO. TV is so quick to try to expand on even a modest amount of success. Nightly has surged, somewhat, since the election. Credit the economic crisis if you want. But, that doesn't mean NBC should expand it to a full hour.... then two years later cry about the lack of viewership. On Twitter.com/JeffParsonsDC today I did suggest that a network might consider adding a half hour of news that actually holds the government accountable for getting us out of the mess we are in. The danger is that mainstream media often becomes the mouthpiece of liberal politicians and their agendas. We don't need that. We need solid, information, indepth reporting on a nightly basis. Forget the fluff. Give us substance.

Here's the background on Williams from TVNewser.
But NBC's surge in the evening has been strong enough for the news division president, Steve Capus, to suggest that NBC is positioned to be the first network to expand to a full-hour newscast. (He did not set any timetable for that move.)
In addition to listing some of the reasons behind Nightly News regaining, and holding the #1 spot (was it that SNL hosting gig?), Carter's story reveals what the NBC News stable means to NBC Universal.
Official figures are not disclosed, but a senior NBC executive estimated that NBC News, consisting of the broadcast news division, the all-news cable channel MSNBC and a much-viewed Web site, MSNBC.com, supplied about 13 percent of the overall profit of its parent company, NBC Universal.In January, NBC Universal announced a yearly profit of $3.1 billion. That would put the NBC News contribution at over $400 million.CNBC, the Weather Channel and Telemundo are not counted in the news profits. But with those outlets added, the percentage of contribution to NBC Universal's profits climbs to 25 percent - or about $775 million.

***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts

NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams Tease For Hillary Clinton Coverage

The headline/cold open of 'NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams" teased several stories including the Hillary Clinton confirmation hearings. Before my NBC point, news teases really should engage us the viewer... compel us to watch the broadcast. Don't try to be cute and clever. Don't hide the obvious. Why should I watch? Why should I care? Why should I keep the TV on instead of turning it off. TV news teases are often more a turn-off... than turn-on.

The Williams tease pointed to Hillary's tough questions, including questions "about a family member".
HHHMMM. I wonder which family member.
I wonder... could it be Chelsea? How about her mom? Maybe a cousin? Geez... I have to guess so much. Teasing that she was asked some tough question about BILL CLINTON by leaving Bill's name out of it was nonsense.

I watched the hearing. Two interesting, tease worthy things happened.
1. Hillary was challenged by Senator Lugar to explain why Bill Clinton would NOT stop accepting foreign contributions to his charity. I know this is what 'Nightly' was TRYING to tease... but "questions about a family member". C'mon. Gimme a break.
2. The second interesting part of the hearings was the somewhat combative, prostitution-loving, Louisiana Senator David Vitter. There could have been a whole piece about Hillary's body language during that exchange and the exchange with Lugar.

And we wonder why viewers are clicking off local and national network news programs by the tens of thousands daily.

UPDATE: 18 minutes into the broadcast, this tease... "a war that nobody wanted that had come to our country." HUH? The story turned out to be about the growing drug trade that keeps moving north from the Mexican border. ....Maybe I'm just picky tonight. That, or TV news teases just make me angry.

FOOTNOTE: Before anyone thinks I am picking on NBC, I am not. If you have read my blog much at all, you know that I am a life-long viewer of NBC news broadcasts. Yes, I remember Deborah Norville on "Sunrise" where she made her own suits (long before 'Today' and 'Inside Edition'). I remember Jane, John, Bryant, Tom,etc). I have been a true loyalist. While I am more of an equal opportunity news viewer now, I still generally start with NBC. I am not picking on NBC. I still love the network. Proof that I watch... comes in the blog posts.

***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts

Tom Brokaw At The Olympics; NBC Must Have "Needed" Him

Tom Brokaw has had a big presence at the Olympics.... even bigger than NBC News frontman Brian Williams.

• What drove me to post this morning about this was a simple promo for 'NBC Nightly News' Monday. The promo read simply that "Join Brian Williams and Tom Brokaw as they report from...." It was a bit odd because Williams has been in the main chair for a while now. Brokaw only really surfaced after the death of Tim Russert.
• The promo aired inside of a split edition of 'Meet the Press' with Brokaw in Beijing and David Gregory doing a roundtable back in D.C.
• Brokaw also has the lead package Friday night as the Games opened. Jim Lampley opened the show (and then rather quickly tossed to a commercial break. I wanted content!!!!) When he returned, Brokaw was in place to front a long piece about what the Games mean for China.
• As far as I have seen, Williams has only anchored his 'Nightly News' shows... with no contributions to the bigger Olympics broadcasts.

There's a lot of chatter about Brokaw and his future after the election at 'Meet the Press'. NBC has certianly woved him back into the fabric of its coverage of the Olympics.

***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts
-CAMPAIGN ALERT: Get Barack Obama and John McCain Soundbites at CAMPAIGN BITES

Katie Couric: The End of An Era (LA Times)

Katie Couric (and by default Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson) are the end of a era for evening newscasts on TV. Howard Rosenberg contributes a rather lengthy look at Couric, the CBS Evening News and evening news personalities in general. Read more here.

Here are two of the interesting paragraphs.

News media hero worship was mild prior to 1950 BC (Before Cronkite), when Walter surfaced on TV en route to getting picked to famously anchor the "CBS Evening News" a dozen years later. Though he'd worked on CBS, relatively few knew of his earlier record as a combat correspondent during World War II. So the Katie questions apply here too, in reverse: What gave Cronkite his transcendent cred? What made CBS viewers and others believe in him so totally, made them mentally sit in his lap and coo when he read the headlines?

Whatever the answer, it's foolish to invest such trust in one person -- news anchor or presidential candidate -- because of something intangible that one can't define. Yes, CBS News was blessed with a handful of talented holdovers from Edward R. Murrow's radio days, but Cronkite was The Man, at one point punctuating Vietnam War doomsday reports with such moral authority, for instance, that embattled LBJ was said to have remarked: "If I've lost Cronkite, I've lost Middle America."

***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts
-CAMPAIGN ALERT: Get Barack Obama and John McCain Soundbites at CAMPAIGN BITES

Tom Brokaw To Host 'Meet The Press' For Now

Brian Willaims hosted 'Meet The Press' this morning. At the end of the broadcast, Williams menioned that while he would host the show from time to time, Tom Brokaw would host the show for the near future. Williams added that Brokaw would handle the program at least through the election season. That's a great relief to this loyal viewer of the show. It provides some stability... and still allows NBC time to find the appropriate next anchor to follow Russert.

Here's the release from NBC News' Steve Capus (thanks to TVNewser).
TOM BROKAW TO SERVE AS MODERATOR OF "MEET THE PRESS" THROUGH 2008 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
(New York) - June 22, 2008 - Beginning on Sunday, June 29, NBC News' Tom Brokaw will serve as moderator of "Meet the Press" through the 2008 presidential election. The broadcast will continue to originate from the NBC News Bureau in Washington D.C. The announcement was made today by NBC News President Steve Capus.
"A lot has been said in recent days about what 'Meet the Press' means to NBC News and to the nation," said Capus. "To have someone of Tom's stature step up and dedicate himself to ensuring its ongoing success is not only a testament to his loyalty to Tim, but his enduring commitment to NBC News and our viewers."
“Some of my best memories from covering the last several presidential elections have included working closely with Tom, so I know just how lucky we are to have him step in as moderator for 'Meet the Press,'" said executive producer Betsy Fischer. "His intellect, focus and calming presence is exactly what we need to move forward smartly and remain the No. 1 public affairs show on television as we head into one of the most pivotal elections in our nation's history."
For his part, Brokaw said, "I've been appearing on 'Meet the Press' since the days of Watergate when it was moderated by Lawrence E. Spivak right through the distinguished tenure of my great friend, Tim Russert, so I feel right at home. Tim made 'Meet the Press' the center of the universe for informative and lively discussions of public affairs, particularly the exciting 2008 campaign for president, and I intend to continue that commitment to our viewers."
Betsy Fischer is the executive producer and Michelle Jaconi and Rebecca Samuels are the producers of "Meet the Press," which is seen on the NBC Television Network from 9-10 a.m. ET in most markets. In Washington D.C. and New York City, the broadcast is seen from 10:30-11:30 a.m. ET. Please check local listings or the "Meet the Press" website (www.mtp.msnbc.com) for television and radio broadcast times in your area.

READ: Who Should Host 'Meet The Press' From that post:
Here’s my two cents: TOM BROKAW needs to do ‘Meet the Press’ at least through the November election. He should be named interim host to lead the show through one of the most historic elections in modern history. The show needs it. NBC needs it. The election process needs it. As Russert often said, ‘Meet the Press’ was the star of the show… not him. Brokaw may not want to ink the deal for the long haul but he certainly could help stabilize things through November. NBC does not need a distraction of bringing in a new face and a new approach during this election process. Please, please, please NBC. Use Tom Brokaw now. And, use this time to search for an appropriate anchor for this show. Don’t make a rushed or rash decision that could harm the show so many of us political junkies love!

***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts
-CAMPAIGN ALERT: Get Barack Obama and John McCain Soundbites at CAMPAIGN BITES

Who Will Moderate 'Meet The Press' Sunday?

TVNewser reports that Brian Williams will anchor 'Meet The Press' Sunday. No word yet on what NBC plans to do in an interim or long-term basis. No doubt Williams is one of the canddiates to host the show, although that would add a sixth work day for him.

***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts
-CAMPAIGN ALERT: Get Barack Obama and John McCain Soundbites at CAMPAIGN BITES

Who Will Replace Tim Russert On ‘Meet The Press’

It’s the question causing a lot of chatter since Tim Russert’s sudden death Friday at NBC’s Washington, DC bureau. Who will replace Russert on the ‘Meet the Press’ anchor desk?

Here’s my two cents: TOM BROKAW needs to do ‘Meet the Press’ at least through the November election. He should be named interim host to lead the show through one of the most historic elections in modern history. The show needs it. NBC needs it. The election process needs it. As Russert often said, ‘Meet the Press’ was the star of the show… not him. Brokaw may not want to ink the deal for the long haul but he certainly could help stabilize things through November. NBC does not need a distraction of bringing in a new face and a new approach during this election process. Please, please, please NBC. Use Tom Brokaw now. And, use this time to search for an appropriate anchor for this show. Don’t make a rushed or rash decision that could harm the show so many of us political junkies love!
Having said that, who else may be a good fit for the long haul if Brokaw doesn’t want it? I’ll begin with some names that few people are talking about… but could really be good for the show.
Ted Koppel – This was an interesting suggestion I heard from a friend who works in TV news in Indianapolis. Koppel is a respected, known quantity in TV news.
Unfortunately he is battling a sickness... but Tony Snow would have the political chops to handle the chair.
Aaron Brown – Many seem to have forgotten that Brown was a strong force for CNN during 9/11. He’s a respected journalist.
Harry Smith – This may be highly unlikely… but Smith is the strongest interviewer on the “Early Show’, I also enjoy watching him on Sunday morning’s when he subs on ‘CBS Sunday Morning’.
Chris Wallace – It would be a return for Wallace. If given a chance to anchor ‘Meet the Press’, Wallace should jump at it. Like Snow, he would have the political insight to keep the show at an elevated level.
Dan Rather – How about that? LOL. It would create a lot of chatter but even I can’t make that case.
Now the rest of the list…
David Gregory – He’s on everyone’s list. I like him but I believe ‘Meet the Press’ really needs a veteran news person at the helm.
Katie Couric – Some are making the case that it’s a good fit. I don’t think so. I like Katie too… but ‘Meet the Press’ is not for Katie.
Brian Williams – He too is on many lists. But he needs to stay focused on keeping the ‘Nightly News’ ship full steam ahead.
Andrea Mitchell – I like her too… but even she admits she’s not an anchor.

OTHER LISTS/SUGGESTIONS: New York Times, Associated Press, Gawker, Newsday

Be sure to vote in the poll in the right column. Spread the link around… let’s see if any of the names I’ve mentioned above actually click in the poll.

***GET MORE***
-MORE MEDIA: See the home page of WATCHING THE MEDIA FOR YOU for newest posts
-CAMPAIGN ALERT: Get Barack Obama and John McCain Soundbites at CAMPAIGN BITES

WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING?
What's the big topic in the media that you are following? This is a Thursday OPEN FORUM day. Please feel free to add your comments and opinions about ANY MEDIA TOPIC in the comments below. Is it FOX News? MSNBC? CNN? Anderson Cooper? Bill O'Reilly? Keith Olbermann?
We'll follow-up on any issues you suggest.
----
FEEDBACK FROM A USER, WHAT ARE YOU WATCHING:
Brian Williams in AfghanistanMeredith Vieira in China
I haven't had a chance to see either of these in depth... just because of timing. I did get a chance to see Viera at the top of Wednesday's "Today' show. It was a bit awkward in one way: the tease for her in the show open was about the quake aftermath. She faced the challenge of tieing her visit to the quake zone to the Olympic location... where she was one year ago. She had to do it... it would have been just as awkward if she had not. I do think she was very easy-going and watchable in this clip.. Here's the clip I saw at the top of the show. Again, I admit I didn't get a chance to see her later in the program.
As for Williams in Afghanistan... I missed 'Nightly' last night. Here is the TVNewser story from Gail Shister... and here is an NBC, 'web only' clip of Williams' reporting.

Brian Williams Talks About Ear Wax and Jesse Jackson; Charlie Gibson Is Not A Fan of Katie Couric’s YouTube Channel

I'm sure Jesse Jackson appreciated this clip of Brian Williams talking about someone sucking wax off an earpiece and sticking it in Jackson's ear. The two were sharing a camera location during a remote. I'm sure Jesse Jackson appreciated this clip of Brian Williams talking about someone sucking wax off an earpiece and sticking it in Jackson's ear. The two were sharing a camera location during a remote.

And then, this is a classic reaction from Charlie Gibson regarding Katie Couric's YouTube channel. This clip is from a few days about when all three evening anchors appeared on the morning news programs to promote a cancer event in September. The best part of the clip about :45 in when Couric tells Gibson the photog is for her YouTube channel. Watch his face!

Subscribe in a reader

Katie Couric, Brian Williams, Charlie Gibson Together On Morning News Shows; SEE THE CLIPS

UPDATE: 'Good Morning America' had the most creative use of Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson. The trio opened the 8:30 half hour with a few words and then a sing-along of 'Good Morning America'. ... On another note, Williams appeared most uncomfortable on CBS's 'Early Show' and 'GMA'. Maybe it's just not his thing to be chummy on other people's shows. See them on 'Today' (where Williams was actually a little more relaxed.)

On the 'Early Show'.

This must be a first. Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson all together... on all three morning news shows Wednesday. The trio will appear on CBS's "Early Show" at 7:30, NBC's "Today Show" at 8 and ABC's 'Good Morning America" at 8:30. The three will promote the 'Stand Up For Cancer' event to be broadcast on all three networks on September 5. TVNewser has more.

“It just seemed like a great opportunity to reach out to the whole national community and say we need to galvanize the country,” Couric is quotes in the New York Times. You may recall her husband and a sister died of cancer. “Wanting to do it was sort of a no-brainer for everyone. Working out the particulars, the date, the length of the special, who will be involved, etc., etc., took a little effort.”

I missed the tease this morning on 'Today' when Matt Lauer apparently mentioned that Couric would return to 'Today' tomorrow morning for a big announcement. I wonder who determined the order of the live appearances... and how the 'Early Show' came out on top? I also don't know whether this will be awkward for viewers... as I'm sure it will be awkward for the evening news trio.

MORE COURIC POSTS
Give Couric's Show Another Look
Who Would Replace Katie?
'Immigration Nation' - Why I Wouldn't Watch After The First Night

MORE WILLIAMS POSTS
'Nightly' With The Dali Lama
Williams Anchors From Cleveland
When the 'Commercial Machine' Breaks
MORE GIBSON POSTS
Why Was Gibson in Chicago?
Gibson's Ugly Democratic Debate
Is It Really 'No World News'?
SEARCH FOR MORE COURIC, WILLIAMS AND GIBSON STORIES BY ENTERING THEIR NAME IN THE SEARCH BOX ABOVE.

NBC Nightly News Tag Line: America's Number One Evening Newscast

A quick note... NBC Nightly News' promo for Monday added the tagline: America's Number One Evening Newscast. It's interesting that this tag line pops back into use on ocasion. Of course, NBC and Brian Williams is locked in a tight back and forth battle with ABC News and "World News with Charles Gibson". Earlier in the year, Gibson seemed to be on a roll... but stumbled a bit. I come from a background of local TV news where these types of tagline are added more for concern than anything else. Usually there's a 'fastest growing'" line that comes along at some point in these cycles as well.

NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams... Anne Curry and the Dali Lama

'NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams" tonight proved just how casual the evening newscast has become. Williams, in his best 'I am your friend" delivery, introduced a 'world exclusive television interview' of Dali Lama by Anne Curry. Coming back from break, Williams said, "Our friend Anne Curry from Today..." He ended the report by saying, "Anne thanks for your good work." The typed words can not relay how folksy Williams was trying to be.
"Our friends"?
Are they reeeeallllyyyy?
"Thanks for your good work"?
Curry flew to Seatle. How about the good work of those embedded in Iraq? Or, those covering the crisis in Tibet?
It just felt fake... and overly dramatic in an attempt to be completely casual.
TV news, now more than eve, is fighting to be relevant by trying to be completely casual in its tone. That's good in so many ways... and bad in many different ways.
Watch More Of The Interview Here -- This Clip is 42 Minutes

Texas & Ohio Election Results Headlines; Clinton Wins, Second Guessing Starts

CNN Election Results = FOX Elections Results = MSNBC Election Results

ANALYSIS GOING THE WAY OF THE BLOWING WIND.
With Hillary Clinton winning in Ohio and Rhode Island.. and still locked in a tight race in Texas, the media starts analyzing how Obama’s campaign fell apart. I’ve heard one CNN analyst say the “NAFTA-gate” involving Ohama officials and Canada was like ‘keystone cops’. Another said Clinton succeeded tonight “not in her voice but by taking away Obama’s”. It’s certainly not just CNN. It’s across all the broadcast media. Analysis turns to questions of who did what wrong. How quick the broadcast media is to jump on early results in hopes of being the first to report on the “trend”. None of the pundits or cable chatters wants to be the last to report something. Everyone wants to be able to look back in a month and say ‘remember when I told you.” This political season is electric. It’s an historic time. The traditional broadcast media, losing viewers left and right, could benefit greatly from solid, insight, issue-oriented reporting in this campaign. That won’t happen when analysis goes the way of the blowing wind.

FOX News Launches Strategy Room
CNN has Wolfe Blitzer in the Situation Room. Now, FOX has the Strategy Room for coverage tonight. Here's the announcement on FOXNews.com.
Some of America’s leading political minds will participate in “The Strategy Room,” a unique broadcast to be featured on both FOXNews.com and the Fox News Channel during Super Tuesday II coverage on March 4.
FOX News Channel’s Brian Wilson will host the program beginning in the 7 pm ET hour, when our collection of Republican and Democratic notables will meet to discuss the votes as they come in, analyzing the results throughout the evening, working their own sources and debating the implications of the candidates going forward.
This seems a little silly with the name game on this.. and the "best political team" battle.

Anchors away... well almost.
Katie Couric anchored the CBS Evening News from Columbus, Ohio. Charlie Ginson was in Texas. Biran Williams stayed back at the NBC mothership in New York. All three are expected to anchor cutins as needed through out the night. It's a far cry from Super Tuesday coverage. From New York Times and TVNewser.com

Adding fuel to the cable news engine. From MediaLifeMagazine.
CNN in February pulled in 883,000 more viewers on an average night than it had in February 2007, with its audience jumping 113 percent. MSNBC had nearly 300,000 more viewers, up 62 percent, and Fox News pulled in 259,000 additional viewers, up 16 percent.

More debates to come?
What a great season for political junkies. Debates are a hot watercooler topic. Now, if there's still a race after tonight... expect more debates! From the Hollywood Reporter/Reuters via NYTimes.com
If the campaign continues to have the same fevered life beyond Tuesday, then there will be a big push for at least one more debate between Obama and Clinton. It's likely that ABC and NBC are vying for the next debate, if there is one, to be held somewhere in Philadelphia. Neither NBC nor ABC would comment about the possibility.

Ohio and Texas Election Results Preparation; Brian Williams on MSNBC

It seems every time a big election rolls around, Brian Williams takes a turn on the rotating MSNBC anchor desk during lunch. As with several other elections recently Williams anchored an hour of coverage at 1pm Monday. I would expect the same thing today as the networks ramps ups for the reporting the Ohio election results and the Texas election results.

You have to wonder if MSNBC just wants a little more firepower during the daytime. They usually rely on rotating anchors that include Amy Robach, Tamron Hall and other ‘B Team’ players at the NBC News. (Remember an earlier post: it’s not always a bad thing to be on the second line. Personally I really like watching Robach and Hall on weekend editions of ‘Today’. I rarely get a chance to really watch their performance on MSNBC daytime.) The other consideration is whether Willaims just wants to practice his craft before the big show rolls around at 6:30 and prime time. In this case, NBC and the other major networks are only going to do cutins in prime.