Forget that Portfolio launch — today is a bigger day in television. With Kiran Chetry and John Roberts taking over at CNN's American Morning and Tiki Barber making his Today show debut, it's a bit hard to get us to focus on some glossy new book when John is donning suspenders in honor of Larry King Day and that beautiful bald man is dotting NBC's broadcast.
And also, lower third scrolls are a much better distraction for all things Don Imus than a new table of contents.
With his big NBC debut only two weeks away, Tiki Barber is quick to remind everyone that he's no stranger to the television spotlight, or—as he puts it—"it's not like I'm jumping in as a virgin to this." Indeed!
After all, in addition to being a high-profile professional athlete, Tiki was also a morning sports anchor at WCBS-TV in New York (where he first honed his sports metaphors) and a correspondent for FNC's Fox & Friends (where, Tiki admits, he was "just kind of doing it.") Which, incidentally is exactly what Hannity & Colmes said! But while plans to "hit the ground running" as the newest member of the Today show team, there have already been a couple of minor fumbles.
"I have issues with my bald head and how they have to light me," said Barber, who'll turn 32 on Saturday. "The light has to be at my shoulders, otherwise I get a halo effect."
• Retired NFL star Tiki Barber to join NBC's Today Show; maybe this will help them "tackle" the male thirty-something market.
• In sad news for publishing moguls (and Anna Wintour's assistants) magazine circulations were way down in the second half of 2006.
• With the help of Walter Pincus, Tim Russert and Bob Woodward's testimonies, the Scooter Libby trial is now expected to replace Michael's as the newest hotspot for media elite.
• MTV job cuts have decimated its five business units. Still intact: those idiots on The Real World.
• After thinking about it for a week or two, Times' publisher Arthur Sulzberger Jr. has decided he actually does care whether or not the NYT is still in print five years from now.
• Ron Goldman's family continues to fight for the $40 million O.J. still owes them for "that whole murder thing." Related: USA Today can't write a lied to save its life.
