from dKos (h/t Sandy):

A world of ABC armchair hurt was right at my rating fingertips and waiting for me in my remote...

They picked the wrong time in the ratings and new show launch calendar to mess with us! I used to work for Fox back when they launched the Simpsons into the Cosby time slot. Afterwards, I worked for 3 large ad firms - two of them national top ten, as a broadcast media buyer.

This is a crucial ratings time for the networks as they are gauging their influence, market share and advertising rate buys in the run up to the new season programs. Those buys and rates are set in advance. The new rating scheme is measured regularly with Tivo, DVR and Comcast minute by minute data. It's a whole new playing field compared with the slow old Nielsen models.

Downrate all ABC programs (even if blocked) with your box. Let your fingers do the minute by minute gauged ratings slam. My box allows up to three "thumbs down." What's your setup?

Thumbs Down lets you give shows you don't like a negative rating. You can give a show up to three thumbs down. These ratings are used by the DVR to choose programs to record for TiVo Suggestions.

Read on...

Glenn Beck

His new show started yesterday and I tell you- what a scream it was! Here's a little of the witty dialogue he'll be bringing CNN's audience..

Download | play -WMP Video-QT later (rough transcript)

Beck: Tonight, we'll be joined by Erica Hill, the anchor of Prime News on CNN's Headline News, now at 6:00PM Eastern. (changes his voice) Her show started tonight like this one...

Hill: That's right...

Beck: We're newbies

Hill: It's a big night all around...

Beck: You are looking hot in leather..

Hill: Well thank you Beck, I'll be on your show every night just for that.

Beck: Oh yea, I'm wearing leather pants right now.

Hill, (garbled) Oh, that's...

Beck, Oh, no! I'm not wearing pants.

Hill: That's definitely' more information than I needed...

It gets worse after that. Hang in there Erica.

...will be teamed with Jay Severin on Tucker Carlson's new show called " The Situation"

I like Rachel. It's good news that an Air America personality will finally get on the tube regularly. Of course Severin will probably be the over the top panelist MSNBC is looking for. Tucker said that he is going to stay away from the "missing white girl" stories that dominate the rest of 24/7. The show premieres tonight at 9:00PM EST.

(Update)-I brought this up for two reasons. The first is: I didn't know that Rachel had been hired, and the second is: Imus just kicked Tucker off the air during a promo interview. I know how people feel about the Imus show, but Frank Rich and others do appear that I like and I'm usually up early. Tucker brought up the name Contessa Brewer who Imus fired off the show, and in an attempt at being witty got himself ejected off of the Imus interview. I'd say he's off to good start.

Wolf Blitzer will host a new show starting in the summer. Its a three-hour, late-afternoon affair that will replace "Crossfire" and "Inside Politics" The show, which does not yet have a name, will run from 3-6 p.m. ET. Blitzer, who already hosts two hours weekdays (noon-1 p.m. ET and 5-6 p.m. ET) and "Wolf Blitzer Reports" on Sundays, will be the primary host.

Details have yet to be worked out, but Jon Klein, president of CNN/US, said Tuesday that it would showcase the network's reporting and analytical assets with a special focus on breaking news.

"It will offer a new and enticing way to look at the world for busy people," Klein said.

I wonder what DC Media girl will have to say about his one. I kinda like Inside Politics. Cross Fire is hurting us, but couldn't they find a newer face that would breath some fresh air into a daytime program than Blitzer's? You have him for one hour a day now, but three..ouch.

Connected Coast to Coast interviewed the first blogger to receive a White House Press Pass: Garrett Graff of Fish Bowl DC. Garrett was at yesterday's news briefing.

Download | play

Connected is a new show on MSNBC that has been making a lot of time for bloggers and the blogosphere.

Now the big question. Why are all bloggers that appear on T.V looking like business people? Suits, ties and nice shirts. When is somebody going to go on and wear a bathrobe, or pajamas? lol

Media Matters has put together a mashup of FOXNews' attacks on Air America Radio and their new show FreeThought Radio, a show aimed at atheists and the growing number of Americans who take issue with organized religion. In what is surely a warm up for FOXNews' annual War On Christmas crusade, they not only attack atheists, but take their shots at science and evolution. Using religion has always been one of Fixed Noise's weapons of choice. But cowards that they are, in promoting the story, they use photos of favorite liberal targets Janeane Garafalo and Al Franken, neither of whom actually work for Air America or have anything to with Free Thought Radio.

Download | play Download | play

Video and Transcript Via Media Matters:

From the October 9 edition of Fox News' America's Newsroom:

HEMMER: In a moment here, a liberal radio network launching a new show aimed at folks who do not believe in God -- Air America, promoting a nationwide show focusing on atheism. Is this the new war on religion? We'll check that out.[...]

HEMMER: Also, do you think religion is a sickness? If you think so, the radio guys at Air America have -- they've got one heck of a show for you. Straight ahead: on the air and godless. Read more...