Outside Cable News

>I can’t help but notice how many people arrive here specifically looking for these photos. So, here ya go.

>Earlier: CNN’s Kiran Chetry Has A Baby Boy

Via B&C
Ratings Good News for Fox News, NBC
Fox News Channel Wins Cable-News May Battle; NBC Takes Broadcast
By Marisa Guthrie

The ongoing and increasingly pitched battle between Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.), the presumptive Democratic nominee, according to media pundits, and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) continued to drive viewers to cable news for the just-concluded May ratings period.

CNN posted a gain of 58% compared with May 2007, while MSNBC, the third-place cable-news network, was up 46% and Fox News Channel, still the top-rated cable-news network, was up 19% year-to-year.

Fox News’ The O’Reilly Factor remains the top-rated cable-news program, averaging 2.49 million viewers, according to Nielsen Media Research live-plus-same-day data.

At 7 p.m., MSNBC’s Hardball with Chris Matthews posted a 138% gain, edging out CNN’s Lou Dobbs Tonight in news’ 25-54 sales demographic (278,000 versus 248,000). Fox Report with Shepard Smith, as usual, led in the 7 p.m. hour, averaging 318,000 viewers.

At 8 p.m., CNN’s Campbell Brown-hosted Election Center drew 274,000 in the demo and 857,000 total viewers while growing CNN’s 8 p.m. hour 100% versus May 2007, but nevertheless ranked third behind Countdown with Keith Olbermann (417,000 in the demo, 1.1 million total viewers) and perennial time-slot leader O’Reilly (539,000 in the demo, 2.5 million total viewers).
(more…)

Via MSNBC
Rachael Ray ad pulled as pundit sees terror link
Malkin claimed scarf similar to those worn by murderous Islamic extremists

Dunkin’ Donuts pulled a television spot featuring talk show host and Food Network personality Rachael Ray this weekend after a Fox news commentator associated it with terrorists.

In the ad, Ray is wearing a scarf that Michelle Malkin said in her nationally syndicated column resembled a kiffiyeh, Middle Eastern garb that is “popularized by Yasser Arafat and a regular adornment of Muslim terrorists appearing in beheading and hostage-taking videos.”

Dunkin’s Senior Vice President for Communications Margie Myers issued a statement saying the scarf “was selected by a stylist for the advertising shoot. Absolutely no symbolism was intended.
(more…)

Via RadarOnline
Is That Keith Olbermann on Water Skis? Are Those Sharks?

Maybe it’s time we remind you who first declared Keith Olbermann overrated, because now, on the back of his latest series of popped capillaries, more people are calling him predictable and “edging ever-closer to self-parody.” Could it be that the oh-sweet-baby-Jesus-make-it-stop, sans-anesthesia root-canal process that is the Democratic primary has driven him over the edge? Time’s Swampland makes the point that “Every time he turns up the volume to 11 like this lately, he sounds like just another of the cable gasbags he used to be a corrective to.” Yes, his position on Hillary Clinton’s assassination invocation is well researched and thought out, but does it add anything other than volume to the discourse? Is Chris Matthews getting to Olbermann? Was last night’s Special Commentary, above, the moment Keith jumped the shark?

>Video available at RadarOnline.

Via SportingNews
5 questions with … ‘Mad Money’s’ Jim Cramer
By Reid Spencer
Sporting News NASCAR Wire Service

Knowledgeable, opinionated Jim Cramer, host of CNBC’s “Mad Money” and one of the nation’s most influential financial advisers, visited Lowe’s Motor Speedway during Coca-Cola 600 week to see, as he put it, if the American Dream was still alive in the NASCAR infield. Last Friday’s edition of “Mad Money” originated from the speedway.

As an undergraduate, Cramer was editor of the Harvard Crimson. After college, he took a job as a sportswriter for the Tallahassee (Fla.) Democrat, and, to this day, a passion for sports remains with him. Last Thursday, Cramer, 53, got a chance to ride around LMS at 150 mph in one of the pace cars. Sporting News’ Reid Spencer talked with him after the ride.

Q. So how does a Harvard-educated lawyer and former hedge-fund manager become a NASCAR fan?
A. I follow the sport. Frankly, I follow every sport, so I follow this sport, too. I’m just aware of who’s winning and who’s losing. When I was single, I candidly did more than when I got a family.
(more…)

Via AP
Former Bush press secretary Snow, sick, cancels Ohio speech

ASHLAND, Ohio (AP) — Former White House press secretary Tony Snow, diagnosed with cancer three years ago, canceled a speaking appearance at Ohio’s Ashland University because of an unspecified illness, the university announced Wednesday.

The university said Snow’s doctors have told him he cannot travel, and that Snow will be replaced by the president’s brother, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, at Thursday’s fundraising dinner for the Ashbrook Scholar program.

Snow joined CNN as a conservative commentator in April. He became White House press secretary in April 2006 and served until last August.

In 2005, Snow had his colon removed and was diagnosed with cancer. In March 2007, he underwent surgery to remove a growth in his abdominal area. Doctors determined it was a recurrence of his cancer.

Ashland had no details on Snow’s illness and CNN’s public relations department had no immediate comment Wednesday.

Via NBCUNI Media Village
CNBC’s “UNTOLD WEALTH: THE RISE OF THE SUPER RICH” PREMIERE MOVED TO JUNE 26TH

CNBC’s “UNTOLD WEALTH: THE RISE OF THE SUPER RICH,” ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED TO PREMIERE ON JUNE 19TH, WILL NOW PREMIERE ON JUNE 26TH AT 10PM/1AM ET (PRE-EMPTS THE BIG IDEA).

THE BIG IDEA WILL AIR AT ITS NORMAL TIME ON JUNE 19TH.

>Earlier: Untold Wealth: The Rise of The Super Rich

Via The New Yorker
A Teachable Moment
By Hendrik Hertzberg

I have more reasons than most to love Chris Matthews. When I first met him, thirty or so years ago, his hair was a different color, he was skinnier, and his neckties were more random, but he was otherwise pretty much the same political jabber machine he is today. The biggest difference is that back then I was able to spend ten hours a week listening to him talk without recourse to electronic gadgetry. Nowadays that pleasure requires the use of a television set.

>Read the rest at The New Yorker.