The New York Review of Barnhart

(UPDATE: Olbermann story pushed back to Dec. 28.)

My postings from NYC are starting to get out of hand. So for the sake of convenience — not to mention self-promotion — here's a handy guide to my 48 hours in the Big Apple:

Early Wednesday afternoon I received my handsome glass plaque and schmoozed with Tim Brooks (pictured) and other honorees at the first annual CableFAX 100 luncheon, held to celebrate the industry publications "power list" for 2007.

Later, during the entertainment portion of the program, I flexed some of my newfound power by single-handedly transferring 50 bucks from "Cash Cab" host Ben Bailey to this Charter cable executive, by feeding him the answer to a news question that he should've known (pssst! "John Malone"!).

Later Wednesday afternoon I headed over to MSNBC to interview Keith Olbermann, his producer Izzy Povich and his boss Phil Griffin for a story (running Thursday) on his "Countdown" show. MSNBC has recently moved into new digs at 30 Rock after spending the first 11 years of its existence in a New Jersey warehouse where someone could easily have shot a season of "24." (His new book is out later this month..)

Wednesday evening I headed over to ... MSNBC again, where I did my first "Hardball" panel. Chris Matthews berated me and Howie Kurtz as to whether the politicians were getting a "free pass" from the late night talk shows during the writers' strike (watch).

Thursday morning I trudged in a circle with 170 other striking WGA-East writers in sleet, snow and temps right around freezing, then wrote about it for Saturday's Kansas CIty Star. I also shot three videos: the key one was with several writers for "Late Show With David Letterman" (watch); another was with "Late Show" co-head writers Eric and Justin Stangel (watch); and the third with Steven Schirripa (watch), making his first ever visit to the WGA-East picket line.

Thursday afternoon I had a cup of coffee with Brian Stelter at his new employer's new headquarters and was asked about my rubbers by a nice Italian lady. (Must read to believe.)

And on Thursday evening my HBO publicist friend, Kat Pongracz, and I took in Aaron Sorkin's new Broadway play, "The Farnsworth Invention," which I hope to have reviewed in the next few days. I won't discourage you from seeing it but I will say I hope that the process of adapting someone else's work — as Sorkin did with "Charlie Wilson's War" — gets him out of his own head for a while, and that he comes back to TV with something new to say.

(No, seriously, don't let me rain on your parade! Uhh, but make sure you buy the half-off tickets. And act quickly, if you know what I mean.)

On Friday I caught my flight home with three minutes to spare. On a personal note, I'd like to thank the gate agent for American Airlines at Newark Airport for waving me through.

On Monday I yakked about my week with Chip, Dave and Shari. (Or click on the Podcasts jukebox in the sidebar.)

Comments

[ML]

Well, everyone has lots to say about the strike. I just want to mention that I thoroughly enjoyed these reports from NYC, especially the video interviews with the writers.

ML

[Dorrie]

Watching for the Olbermann interview. What's the new date for it to appear?

[Mark Jeffries]

This Fri. Dec. 28, as updated above.

[Aaron]

Pushed off till Jan. 4 -- probably just as well people read it when there's fresh TV airing again.

[Dorrie]

Pushed off till Jan. 4 -- probably just as well people read it when there's fresh TV airing again.
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Oh AB, I think you're just teasing us. ;-)