CNN throws Bash at the White House – NBC’s Myers investigates
Dana Bash is joining John King on CNN’s White House beat.
Bash replaces Kelly Wallace, who’s taken on international assignments for CNN. Bash worked in CNN’s Washington bureau for nearly 10 years – everything from production assistant to Capitol Hill producer – and has appeared on CNN’s “Saturday Edition.” She also has a weekly column called “Roll Call.”
Over on NBC, meanwhile, Lisa Myers has been named the head of NBC’s new investigative reporting unit, with Jim Popkin serving as senior investigative producer and Rich Gardella a unit producer.
Myers was most recently NBC’s congressional correspondent. She’ll be replaced on that beat by Norah O’Donnell beginning Dec. 2. Joe Johns will continue to report from Capitol Hill.
Knicks say uncle to ‘Sopranos’ star
“Sopranos” star Dominic Chianese (Uncle Junior) was at Sunday’s Knicks game with his two grandsons, sitting courtside next to baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield.
Upon spotting the two together, Knicks trainer Said Hamdan said, “Who do you think has more hits – Dave Winfield or Uncle Junior?”
After the game Chianese and his family visited the locker room to meet the players. Latrell Sprewell and Kurt Thomas posed for photos with Chianese, while the other Knicks signed autographs for his grandchildren.
‘Millionaire’ is game in syndie ratings race
Lots of eyebrows were raised when Buena Vista decided to syndicate “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” – with “The View” co-host Meredith Vieira replacing Regis Philbin in the daytime, half-hour version (4 p.m./Ch. 2).
Well, so far, “Millionaire” is holding its own. It’s one of the top two new syndicated shows and the top new game show (and is ranked third in game shows behind warhorses “Wheel of Fortune” and “Jeopardy!”)
On Ch. 2, “Millionaire” has averaged a 3.2 (234,000 hhs) so far during November sweeps – besting its October average (197,000 hhs) and representing a significant increase over what “Weakest Link” averaged in that timeslot on Ch. 2 last May (131,000 hhs). That’s pretty good, considering “Millionaire” is up against “Oprah” on Ch. 7 and “Judge Judy” on Ch. 4.
Stewart talks about his ‘Generation’
“Star Trek: The Next Generation” star Patrick Stewart will host a three-day “Next Generation” marathon featuring the show’s many villains on TNN. The marathon will run from Dec. 10-13. It’s all to promote the new movie, “Star Trek: Nemesis.”
Stewart will introduce storylines from 16 “Next Generation” episodes featuring villains including Q, the Borg, Cardassians and Romulans. Stewart will also discuss the new “Trek” movie.
This just in . . .
Marj Dusay will replace Joan Collins as Alexandra Spaulding on “Guiding Light” beginning Dec. 26.
Ted Koppel interviews “Doonesbury” creator Garry Trudeau for a two-part “UpClose” airing Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 3 and 4 (12:35 a.m./Ch. 7). Trudeau’s wife is Jane Pauley.
Last Friday’s “The Roswell Crash: Startling New Evidence,” hosted by Bryant Gumbel, was SCI FI’s highest-rated original special ever (1.5 million hhs).
The Starr Report now runs on Sundays, too!