Media Notes: Teddy Bears, The $60 Million Man, Red Carpet Kagan
FOX weather gal Janice Dean sleeps with a teddy bear, according to her FOX fan interview // "The O'Reilly Factory" is worth $60 million a year, Business Week says in a fascinating piece // This MediaLine poster objects to a FOX lower-third about gay marriage // Daryn Kagan will host a 7pm red carpet show live from the Academy Awards on CNN Sunday night... 11:10:28 PM

Aaron Brown's Outrage: "Last night was an exception"
In his newsletter today, Aaron Brown offered a footnote of sorts to his commentary last night: "NewsNight is not a talk show and I have no interest in being a talk show host. I have no intention with beginning the program with pointed commentaries though as long as they are so labeled I have no problem with that. Last night was an exception. It is something I thought about for several days. You have the right to know when I feel that strongly about something because that is one way you can judge the program's overall fairness. But it remains the exception and not the rule." Sounds fair to me... 8:33:06 PM

Aaron Brown's Outrage: The AP's Story
The Associated Press picks up on Aaron Brown's scathing commentary last night, calling it a "step into political activism." "This was Aaron's commentary," CNN spokeswoman Christa Robinson said. "Obviously, the views are his own and not the network's." CableNewser reported on Brown's comments last night; a transcript is now online. 8:32:40 PM

Greta Blogs; Why Don't Other Anchors?
Greta's blog post today leaves me wondering why other anchors don't use the 'net so effectively to communicate with viewers. "Our show was a bit of a technical nightmare last night," she writes, and explains what happened. // Best quote: "It is too bad we don't have a camera in the makeup room in the bureau. That is where you see people interact and talk about matters in a much more relaxed forum." Greta gives this site a shoutout, too, so welcome to new visitors. Hope it becomes a must-read for you... 8:21:30 PM

Ashleigh Anchors 'News' Again
Ashleigh Banfield hosted 'The News' on CNBC again tonight. Is she John Seigenthaler's primary fill-in now, or is this just a temporary Friday stint? (Hat tip: MSNBC MSN group) 8:20:46 PM

Reese Reiterates Call for 'Dobbs on Jobs'
After reading the WSJ piece on Lou Dobbs, Reese Schonfeld reiterates his recommendation for CNN: "do a weekly half-hour roundup "Dobbs on Jobs.'" "I think Dobbs performed an important service," Reese says. Earlier this year, he asked: "When can Dobbs get CNN to do a full half-hour report every weekend on the job drain? That kind of reporting builds an audience." 8:04:14 PM

Taking NBC's 'Faith' Further: An Example from Europe
Ed in London writes in with thoughts on my suggestion for MSNBC: "Watching Sky News over here proves it can work...they take one issue and spread it out over their afternoon coverage. Most recently it's the fear that Eastern European immigrants are going to overrun the UK when they join the European Union in May. So, they brought on members of parliament for and against the issue, they measured the economic pros and cons, and then most dramatically, they sent a crew to Hungary to interview those that want to immigrate to the UK and directly asked them why they wanted to come. They had two people standing in front of the Budapest skyline and the two were very candid about their desires. It was great journalism. Rick Kaplan, if you're reading this, why not consider it? I'm sure Neal and Jeff would like anything that brings in warm bodies with remotes." 1:30:02 PM

"Will MSNBC ever be Must-See TV News?"
...That's a question Marvin Kitman asks. Good quote: "I don't think CNN or Fox should take him for granted. If there's any movement in MSNBC's ratings, it will be like seeing a body in the morgue suddenly moving. Just when they are thinking of starting the autopsy, according to this scenario, Kaplan pounds on the chest and the stiff is revived." 9:14:40 AM

"Only Fox News showed the truth" in Iraq, soldier says
Quoting the Fresno Bee: "When U.S. Marine Cpl. Chad Hardcastle wants to know about Iraq, he turns on Fox News. "Only Fox News showed the truth" of the Iraq War, said Hardcastle, who fought in it...Hardcastle said that U.S. troops got caught in the worst sandstorm in 100 years, but only Fox News reported what really mattered to the troops: "The rain that followed uncovered land mines." The suddenly visible land mines could be avoided, saving lives," the article says... 9:13:16 AM

TV is "trial and error," Steve Friedman says
The NY Post talks to Dennis Miller savior Steve Friedman: "The best way to look at it is that's the way TV is - it's trial and error, and you want to keep the trials and eliminate the errors," Friedman said. "No TV show starts off 100 percent great." Friedman stressed that "Miller's 10-day vacation was pre-planned." If so, that's 1 error that should be eliminated... 9:07:16 AM

Will FOX Mention 'Temptation,' 'Paradise,' 'O.C' in Indecency Special?
John isn't afraid to throw some punches: "So, Fox News Channel's going to do a special on indeceny on television...I guess this means that FNC's going to focus a whole hour on the FOX network, the home of Temptation Island, Paradise Hotel, Joe Millionaire, My Big Fat Obnoxious Dwarf Throwing Contest, and those heartwarming shows like Skin. And let's not forget that new reality show they have coming up that's something like Adam and Eve. And if it wasn't for sex and indecency, Fox News Channel would be nothing. Fox News owes its continued existence to Monica and her blue dress. But somehow, I think this FNC special will be focusing on Janet Jackson and Average Joe and bare breasts on ER." 8:16:49 AM

FOX's Baier Reporting From Afghan Border: bin Laden Catch Imminent?
Is this columnist a conspiracy nut, or is he on to something? From the Naples Daily News: "I have a feeling that Osama bin Laden is about to be captured. The reason behind this prediction is that Fox News Channel's Bret Baier is reporting from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border on military operations in the area. It's my feeling that Baier, the national security correspondent for the network, was sent to the area on a tip from the Bush administration. Why would he be there otherwise? Since Fox seems to be more pro-Bush than any of the other news organizations, it seems to be a reasonable conclusion that he might have some inside information...Keep an eye out for breaking news." 12:46:29 AM

NBC Explores "Power of Faith" Friday
NBC is broadcasting an "in-depth look" at "The Power of Faith" in a "cross-platform special series" all day Friday. 'Today' will do an interview, 'Nightly News' has a package, 'Dateline' has some reports, 'Hardball' will talk to Peggy Noonan, Joe Scarborough will talk to a pastor, CNBC will analyze 'Passion' merchandising, and MSNBC.com will offer streaming video. Good idea -- now take it several steps further, and take it wall-to-wall on MSNBC, from sunrise to sunset. Get people talking. Stand out. Be different, be unique. Compelling, focused television dedicated to a single topic all day -- try it. What do you have to lose, Rick?... 12:45:17 AM

Aaron Brown Calls 9/11 Report Delay "Unconscionable and Indefensible"
Aaron Brown was angry tonight, in a way I have not noticed in the past. "We admit we don't do causes very well on the program, and I don't do outrage very well at all," he introed. "Yet tonight, a cause and an outrage." Brown explained that the Senate Intelligence Committee has approved at two-month extension for the 9/11 commission investigation. He called the move "unconscionable and indefensible." "Perhaps the speaker [Hastert] and his team assume you do not care. I hope they're wrong. I hope you care enough to write them and call them...do it for the victims and their families. Do it for the country that was attacked. Do it for history." Later in the show, Brown noted that his introduction was "comment -- it always is," and noted that the Joe Johns package that aired was a "straight news report." 12:40:09 AM

FOX & Greta Shine Light on Missing Persons
Greta Van Susteren's 'On the Record' has latched onto several missing persons cases across the country recently. FOX has focused on the Hargon family's dissapearance since last week, and she was live from Mississippi "walking the area and talking to people" this week. Tonight, a "special edition" of her program featured missing persons cases, complete with poignant music. "Greta needs YOU!," the graphic on foxnews.com said. "You may have information that could assist in solving today's most chilling cases. Find out how." I love how she has posted photos from the area... 12:38:15 AM

What's Going On in the Minds of CNN HLN Management?
A TVSpy poster asked if CNN Headline News management is happy with "paltry .3 ratings." Interesting responses: "Where do you get that fantasy number?...They certainly don't even hit a .2 some 24-hour periods." But another poster thinks that's "really not bad for a bastard stepchild that has to depend on CNN's scraps." "Management is very unhappy," another person says, "particularly when you consider that they have LOST viewers over the past year in the demographic they try so hard to get...younger viewers." 12:10:03 AM