• Just when you thought the MTA's near $1 billion surplus might let commuters catch a break on fares, Governor George Pataki is lobbying to shut down plans to offer discounted holiday prices. [NY1]

• Some people think Al Franken's joke about Karl Rove and Scooter Libby being executed for treason wasn't funny. Thankfully, we've never identified with "some people." [NewsBusters.org]

• While he's trying to finesse the image of the NBA by instituting a stricter dress code, the commissioner David Stern also greenlighted NBA Ballers, a video game based on the private jet, spinning rims and bling, bling, bling lifestyles of players. [Page Six]

• Mayor Bloomberg hit up the weekly gay bash Beige at B-Bar last night, meeting with new lackey and everyone's favorite commercial gay Brian Ellner. [Gawker]

• We're not really sure why NBC Universal CEO Bob Wright is even talking about The Peacock's dismal ratings, let alone using the word "desperate" to describe its status, but we're glad to know he's aware "we could use another hit or two in prime time." Serial smarts are needed to be at the top, people. [NYP

• Jon Stewart finally unloaded his West Village apartment for $3.995 million, which has been on the market since March when he bout a $5.8 million Tribeca flat, which he's spending $300,000 on to decorate. Or, in relative terms, 700,000 times more than Stephen Colbert is pulling in. [NYO]