A Big Hoffmania Howdy

...to all the newspeople who thought they were going to have today off. Welcome back to your desks!

Why No One Cares About Dana Milbank Any More

He goes off on Obama for calling on HuffPo's Nico Pitney in a press conference...but never said a word about the 200 times Jeff Gannon threw softballs at Bush. Your horse ain't that high, Dana.

HA HA!

Rupert bought the wrong social network!

Elisabeth Hasselbeck - Another Republican Fail

The View's house con is being sued for plagiarism over her big diet book.

Another Fox Producer Ambushed

This time, the Gawker's John Cook went right for O'Reilly's hitman Jesse Watters at Watters' driveway. Guess what? Jesse didn't like it. What a surprise.

Ambushing FOX News - and Let's Take It to the Next Level

We can see how Adam Green of OpenLeft.com took it to the FOX News posers in this video taken in front of ACORN HQ. Notice how Griff Jenkins - trying to be funny as a red carpet reporter costumed in a tux - meekly plays the "Hey, I'm a journalist!" card. Yes. While dressed like a clown with a red carpet prop. And what a shock. Griff got irritated at being ambushed.

This is a great start. Let's kick it up a notch.

First, let's start taking the "lefts" and "progressives" and "liberals" out of our names and actually take a cue from Jeff Boom-Boom Gannon. He named his "news service" Talon News. How about launching, oh - Minuteman News, or Patriotic Press, or The American Eagle Network. The FOX schmendricks will immediately think "Hey, a kindred spirit" when we are really indeed American patriots. Just not ones who agree with them.

Secondly, wear a suit. And not the 1979 Levis corduroys still hanging in your closet. And not a Griff Jenkins / Mo Rocca tux either. Stop by The Men's Warehouse. They'll make you look all newsy and stuff...even on a blogger's budget. George Zimmer guarantees it. In fact, you really don't need the whole suit. Any newsperson will tell you - dress up from the waist up. Your jeans will rarely get on camera.

Now drop 60 bucks on an actual handheld microphone. The all-purpose AKG D88 is the one you always see on teevee. Then go to Radio Shack for a 10' cable - female XLR (for the mic end) to mini-plug (for the camcorder). They'll know what to get you. Pick up a nice windscreen for the mic while you're there - around 4 bucks.

Speaking of the camcorder, the little handheld is nice - but too home grown. The other night at Dodger Stadium, one of the foreign press guys had a tiny handheld camcorder, but it was hooked up to this bad boy. It really gives you some cred - that you're serious about your news gathering. Get one for your cameraperson.

Voila. Instant TV journalist. Hey, it's more journalistic than Griff Jenkins' little dress-up party. Now go wherever FOX News is, roll camera and ask them if Steve Doocy still giggles at right-wing domestic terrorists.

Cronkite "Gravely Ill"

The last newsman.

TVNewser has learned legendary CBS newsman Walter Cronkite, 92, who once held the title of "Most Trusted Man in America," is gravely ill, according to multiple CBS News sources. The network began updating his obituary more than a week ago, a source adds.

When I was a pup, I used to think Captain Kangaroo and Walter Cronkite were the same person. Hey, they both lived on the same channel. Once I discerned the difference, "Uncle Walter" was the central figure in practically every major news story - especially his brilliant ongoing open reporting on the war in Vietnam. Here are some of the biggest news stories as told to America by America's real anchorman.

And his reporting from/on Vietnam:

Watch CBS Videos Online

Symptoms Include Jitterbugging, Jumping and Jiving

Story at the Huffington Post:

FOX News: Lie Loud, Lie Often and It Eventually Becomes the Truth

Krauthammer's right. It's an alternate reality. O'Reilly is caught in a head-spinning lie here, demanding an apology from the San Francisco Chronicle for reporting something he actually did say.

Quote This

"What Fox did is not just create a venue for alternative opinion. It created an alternate reality."

-Charles Krauthammer

Stewart: Funny. Scarborough: Snotty.

C'mon, Joe. You're coming off as cranky now.

CEO of Snotty Murder-Inciting Media Corporation Speaks

Rupert Murdoch, owner of the network which called for the demise of Dr. George Tiller, calls President Obama "dangerous."

CNN Fills Void Left by Olbermann

Now that KO has banned Bill O'Reilly from any further publicity on Countdown, CNN has picked up the gauntlet. They actually force an apology out of Skeezix.

Of course, Skeezix couldn't apologize without the trademark FOX News snottiness, calling Rick Sanchez "snide and surly" for pointing out O'Reilly's lying.

Goddamn FOX News infants.

TDS - and FOX News - Continue to Marginalize FOX News

Seriously. FOX News and its newsmodels have now completed the goal of becoming the snottiest channel on cable. Nothing more. Just snotty. Watch Jon Stewart go after them - again.

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Keith Olbermann "Retires" Bill O'Reilly

In response to O'Reilly's repeated attacks on Dr. George Tiller over the years (for which O'Reilly was unrepentant), Keith Olbermann announced at his show's closing tonight that he's no longer going to air the caricature, impersonation - the Ted Baxterlike voice - and any more publicity of the Factor host. Video on the way.

UPDATE:

Weirdest Sponsor Partnership Ever

Has Starbucks even heard Joe Scarborough speak?

John Bolton and Rep. Heather Wilson on "Real Time"

WOW. There ya go. It's time for this show to stop trying to prove you can craft an hour of riveting TV when you book only broomstick-up-their-asses wingnuts as guests. Last night was just one full hour of buzzkill which Bill Maher kept desperately trying to save with jokes these two airsucks didn't understand.

Lesson learned, Bill? You keep trying to prove us wrong, but last night cinches it. The silence is deafening every time you do an "all-conservative" show. Stick with a mix - it's the show's wheelhouse.

And while we're on the subject - if you don't like audience response to stupid things that are said on your show, stop doing it in front of an audience. Why you keep trying to kill the things that make your show sizzle is beyond me.

The Sad Story of Shannon Burke

Here's a guy who took a radio act too far.

Once a beloved Texas liberal talk show host, he changed his tune for job preservation and embraced a tough-guy wingnut persona in Florida, which he took to an incredibly destructive level. Burke took to tattoos, guns, motorcycles and worst of all, drinking and drugs. His friends and family were stunned at his metamorphosis. Last month, he landed in jail after firing a bullet which hit his wife and his dog in what seems to be a fit of rage.

He's been released today with a laundry list of rehab demands. Here's one: Take inventory of your life, pal. If there is indeed a dark side, you've gone beyond crossing over - you're the mayor. Rethink this fake tough-guy right wing life you've carved out for yourself, and get your failing ass back into reality.

I'm not sure how the Shannon Burkes and the Glenn Becks in the radio world get so street rat crazy, but it sure looks like it's rooted in a cowardly alter-ego-driven will to succeed quickly. Sadly, jail time sometimes translates into a more robust radio career.

I never said radio was without dysfunction.

Today on Fair and Balanced FOX NEWS!

(Source: foxnews.com)

TV News Again Annoys Me

At least newspapers have (or had) some oversight on content by editors.

This morning, during Obama's speech on national security, the President discussed how politicians and media played fast and loose with facts to make people more afraid. He then said he "would not release anyone who remains a threat" to America. Moments later, the CNN lower-third asserted that Obama said he "would not transfer" anyone who remains a threat - which is the polar opposite of what he really said about transfers.

Another day at CNN.

They Really Don't Know They're Being Mocked, Do They?

I'd like to see this deal go down if Rush can go 30 days without mentioning Democrats.

Rush Limbaugh is challenging MSNBC to go 30 days without saying his name.

"I challenge you, MSNBC! 30 days without anything mentioning me. No video of me, no guests commenting on me. See if you can do it."

Limbaugh says the cable network is trying to "build its ratings on my back.".

Limbaugh even called out the guy who precedes him on the radio in New York. "It seems that the liberalism that is MSNBC isn't selling as well as they would like because they cannot - from the Scarborough show in the morning, all the way to night, they cannot - go any appreciable length of time without showing video of me, the CPAC speech or excerpts from this radio show or having a bunch of hack guests on to discuss me."

Aw, but it's so much fun to watch.

"'American Idol' Might Be Higher Than #1! It Could Be #1/2!"

To paraphrase a Patton Oswalt bit, the right wing media is like a brain damaged kid who has to have his way or he'll make your life miserable. DISNEYWORLD!

We're Guessing Jon Stewart Will Still Sleep Well Tonight

Jim Cramer still hasn't gotten over it and has vowed payback.

All because he agreed to be questioned by Jon Stewart on TV and he blew it by not knowing how to play defense.

What a jackhole.

Radio Got a Voice Back Yesterday

Randi's back after three months missing, and she's running with the torture stories in a big way. Green 960 in San Fran is a good place to hear the podcasts.

Roxana Saberi Freed

Good news indeed.

An Iranian-American journalist who was sentenced to eight years in jail on charges of spying for Washington was released Monday after an appeals court reduced the sentence, her lawyer said. The journalist, Roxana Saberi, will be able to leave the country, he said.

The lawyer, Saleh Nikbakht, who defended Ms. Saberi in a hearing on Sunday, said the court rejected the original jail term and issued a two-year suspended prison term in its place.

“The verdict was given to me in person today,” Mr. Nikbakht said. “The appeals court has accepted our defense.”

Ms. Saberi had been held in Evin prison in Tehran since January. Her father, Reza Saberi, told journalists that Ms. Saberi was “exhausted but in good condition.” He added: “Her release was a big surprise.”

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said in a news briefing at the State Department that Ms. Saberi had been reunited with her family and that she would leave Tehran for the United States in the coming days.