respublica

Daily Show reports on the floods

Jon Stewart did a midwest flood segment last night and had two of his regulars reporting from Quincy.  Supposedly. 

Who's to replace Russert?

The worry about who can replace Tim Russert on Meet the Press began to creep into the weekend long tributes and this morning two names were mentioned as possibilities and two names were tossed out.

First the two who were discarded and rightly so.  Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann.  Too caustic, too partisan.  And not just partisan in favor of democrats, but these two did a real number on Hillary Clinton during the primary.

The two men who may/should have a trial run at moderating Meet the Press if the plan is to stick with NBC/MSNBC talent, are David Gregory and Chuck Todd.  Gregory has the wider name recognition, but Chuck Todd may be the perfect choice.  His political analysis during the primary was top notch, more in line with Tim Russert.   

Planet Green launches today

Planet Green, a 24 hour with an "eco-lifestyle television network with a robust online presence and community", hits the cable airwaves today.

Planet Green will feature hours and hours of original green lifestyle programming.

For viewers in the St. Louis and Metro East area, Charter will carry Planet Green on channel 115.

I hope it's better than that insane Living with Ed show featuring actor, Ed Begley Jr.

News about the news

We see way too many political polls these days.  So for a change of pace, how about seeing the cable news channel ratings for last week in prime time.

For all the blather coming from their nighttime hosts, MSNBC is still lagging way behind the other two major cable new networks.  Fox-292  CNN-271 and MSNBC-167

And, for the 77th straight month, FOX news has finished first in both total day and prime time ratings for the month of May.

McCaskill on Colbert

Tonight Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill makes an appearance on the Colbert Report on the Comedy Channel at 10:30 CST.  The show will be repeated tomorrow night at 7:30 CST.

I look for a good performance from the Senator.

Link Added Thursday.  The McCaskill interview was an easy going affair, the senator was very affable and Colbert wasn't trying too hard to be tough on her.  The clever part was her bringing Stephen a Missouri state flag which has bears at the center.  Part of Colbert's continuing stick is his fear of bears.

The other segments of last night's program were just plain weird.

McCaskill to face off with Colbert

Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill has agreed to appear on the Colbert Report next week, probably Wednesday.  She told reporters she is doing this as a birthday present to her daughter who loves Stephen Colbert.

I'm guessing the senator will be able to hold her own with Colbert unlike so many from congress who appeared not to have any idea of what to expect from his interviews. 

Colbert in Philadelphia

Last night's Colbert Report was top notch as they broadcast the program's last night in Philadelphia.  Colbert has been there all week in advance of Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary.

Hillary Clinton made an appearance early in the show, showing she could fix anything.  This was good, but then...

John Edwards showed up and took over Stephen's regular "Tonight's Word" segment and this was very good, but then...

Barack Obama appeared live via satellite and took over Stephen's regular segment "On Notice", a spot where Colbert brings out a big board with a list of things or people he wants to clean up their act.  Obama put "distractions" on the board.  This was excellent mainly because Obama was the most natural of the three, no evidence of nerves or memorization.

The show will be repeated tonight at 7:30 CST on Comedy Channel.

Calling Barack Obama

Stephen Colbert is broadcasting his Colbert Report live from Philadelphia this week in advance of next Tuesday's Pennsylvania primary.  Last night he had Chris Matthews as a guest.  Matthews was prodded into almost, but not quite, hinting he may run for the Pennsylvania senate in 2010.

But, the bigger news is that Hillary Clinton will make an appearance on Thursday, but that Obama, who has also been asked to come on the show, has thus far been silent.

Too bad.  This might be just what Obama needs, he's playing things a bit too tight lately.  Being on the Colbert Report will give either or both candidates huge exposure and video of their appearance will be played and replayed on national news feeds.  Come on Senator, go for it.

Travel Channel features O'Fallon restaurant

Tomorrow night, Wednesday April 2 at 7 p.m. CST, the Travel Channel will broadcast Barbecue Paradise, a program featuring a look a barbeque places nationwide and one of those places is in O'Fallon Illinois.

Mike Mills' 17th Street Bar and Grill occupies the same space that once held Super Smokers.  Mills has won numerous awards for his barbeque and, according to the Travel Channel, he once provided curbside runway-side service to Air Force One and President Bill Clinton. 

The Travel Channel was in the Metro East a couple of years ago doing a feature on Festival food and came to Collinsville during the Catsup Bottle Birthday Bash.

There's something very satisfying about getting to see local places spotlighted on national television, so often we sit and watch items about the east coast and the west coast and the south, all good, but not the same as having your own backyard featured.

Last season the Food Network's Alton Brown came to this area filming various eating places for his Feasting on Asphalt series, a program that had him and his crew riding large motorcycles from place to place looking for regional favorite foods.  They filmed in Alton at Pie Town and Fast Eddie's Bon Air.  Then then headed across the river to St. Louis, where for some reason they chose to take a look at local donuts.  This was the most surprising segment of the series, who really believes St. Louis is a donut hub?  And, they missed the absolute best donut baker in the region-Kruta's Bakery in Collinsville.  There is just no argument about this.

One more local tv program note:  A couple of weeks ago HGTV's National Open House was in St. Louis looking at what a certain amount of money will buy you in the housing market and featured the home of St. Louis police chief,  Joe Mokwa.

Live from New York, it is Saturday night

Do you suppose anyone in Texas or Ohio, those voting this coming Tuesday, will be influenced to vote for Hillary Clinton after her appearance on Saturday Night Live?

One thing.  She didn't get the tag line right, raucous applause or not.  It goes, Live from New York, it's Saturday Night!  Not, it is Saturday night.  It's.  Has been it's since the 1970's.

Funny, that's the only thing I remember about that entire sketch.