Nas' protest outside News Corp. wasn't the only activist-led television disruption yesterday. A group of picketers got their message across during the live broadcast of Today show, calling on NBC to stop ignoring the suffering in Darfur, which the American Jewish World Service said had begun as the network inches closer to broadcasting the 2008 Beijing Olympics and grows more wary of upsetting China, which stands accused of remaining complicit with Sudan's human rights violations. When, during the broadcast, a few of the protesters made their way in front of cameras, and their shouts drowned out the voices of Al Roker, Meredith Vieira and David Gregory outside 30 Rock, the jovial weatherman suggested they switch locations. But not positions. Though it's not like they haven't prepared themselves for something like this to happen again.

Angry that they're taking so much heat from activist groups for sponsoring the Olympics that's hosted in a Darfur-hating country, big name sponsors are fighting back against orgs like Mia Farrow's Dreams for Darfur.

That outfit issued a report card on 19 Olympics sponsors, awarding sixteen of them Ds or Fs. Giant corporations with billions and market value and shareholders with a tendency to bitch aren't taking it lightly.

Spits Coca-Cola: "For an organization that has not eased the suffering of a single individual on the ground in Darfur to criticize those who are helping thousands every day is more than ironic." Johnson & Johnson adds: "Given the complexities of the tragedy in Darfur, we are disappointed that Dream for Darfur has used such a narrow context by which to evaluate the company’s response." Fires off General Electric: "We commend Dream for Darfur for raising awareness of this tragic situation, however we strongly disagree with the organization’s approach as well as the use of the Olympic Games as a political platform and the assertions made in the report card." And also:

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There’s no better way to promote a new movie than appearing in the Economist’s The World in 2008, at least for Angelina Jolie.

Jolie, who stars in the upcoming Beowulf adaptation, has a piece on the accountability in Darfur for the Economist’s annual spin-off book. Other contributors include the Dalai Lama, Mayor Bloomberg and Nancy Pelosi. Presumably, Jennifer Aniston was not invited to contribute.

In the book, she is described as a goodwill ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. That’s the Economist’s way of pretending they didn’t use an actress to write about one of the greatest genocides of our time.

[Photo Credit: Wire Image]

Remember Mariane "Widow of Daniel" Pearl? It turns out she's joined Heather Mills one-woman crusade against the mainstream media. Unlike Heather, however, Mariane's concerns apply less revamping her well-deserved reputation as a "one-legged, no-talent hussy" in the press and more to the fact that nobody gives a shit about Darfur these days! In fact, Pearl evidently had some not-so-nice words about the press at last night's party (thrown by Glamour!) in honor of her literary debut. Reports Radar:

In a critique of the WSJ and a public blinded by tabloid drama, she [said]: "I think the Wall Street Journal has one person covering Africa." If celebrities like Angelina Jolie, who wrote the forward to Pearl's book, are drawing attention to issues it's because, as she put it: "Celebrities are doing the work that journalists are not. We can't afford to be cynical about that.'"

In response, our resident gay-slash-curmudgeon over at Queerty (rhetorically) asked, "What role does Pearl play other than journalist's book-writing widow and friend of Angelina?" Mariane's totally right. When did everyone get so damn cynical? And on a completely unrelated note: Great pose, Angie! The positioning of your hands totally helps obscure your unsightly varicose veins.

[Image via Radar]

What does $2 million get you? If you're OK! magazine, an excuse to plug a Darfur charity. The deep-pocketed yet circulation-struggling tabloid shelled out the seven-figure sum to board a yacht party in the South of France with the cast of Ocean's 13, where all anyone (people with names like Brad, George, Don, and Matt) had to talk about was Darfur.

It was a fundraising event, aboard the ridiculously expensive RM Elegant, for Not on Our Watch, the charity spearheaded by the Ocean's cast. And while OK! has some pretty photos to run (like the cater waiter serving "nautical nibbles," and co-stars Scott Caan and Ellen Barkin touching each other), there's nothing here that we couldn't have received from a press release.

In the end, $9.2 million was raised. As OK! notes, "guests had donated anything from $25,000 to $2 million to step aboard." Can you guess whose charitable cheque was the largest?