AUDIO: The fate of Bubbles the Chimp

And other news from Michael Jackson Media Circus week 2 as Chip Franklin and I anticipated the funeral at the Staples Center. We were on KOGO Radio. d/l

AUDIO: Putting the Jackson media coverage in perspective

Paul Harris and I talked about the Michael Jackson coverage just after the four-day media bonanza immediately following his death. And I answered the existential question: How did 10 million people know to tune to the "BET Awards"?? Paul was filling in at KTRS Radio in St. Louis. d/l

AUDIO: Understanding the Jackson media circus

Chip Franklin and I talked television, especially the Michael Jackson media craze, on a recent chat on KOGO Radio. d/l

AUDIO: My fearless "Jon + Kate + 8" prediction!

On San Diego's KOGO Radio this morning, Chip Franklin and I talked about baseball, then golf, then something that mattered to the female half of our audience: the very special episode tonight of "Jon and Kate Plus 8" airing on TLC.

I wagered a wild guess what might happen tonight. We also talked about why the fascination with the show. (d/l)

If you want to get all my audiocasts, or alerts of same, you just have to follow me.

Letterman-Palin: There are no (a) winners (b) losers here

This morning on San Diego's KOGO Radio, Chip Franklin and I discussed the no-harm-no-foul tempest stirred up last week by David Letterman's on-air typo. But before that, we talked about what San Diego would look like without an NFL franchise.

Remember, you can follow me on iTunes, Twitter and Facebook. (d/l)

Were Laura Ling and Euna Lee "irresponsible"?

KOGO Radio's morning man, Chip Franklin, has been arguing with me for over a decade. I wait for his producer's call every Monday morning, never quite sure where we're going to go.

We were wrapping up today's show, talking about shows that jumped the shark, when I abruptly changed the subject to the sentencing of Euna Lee and Laura Ling overnight to 12 years of hard labor by a North Korea court.

As I tried to express my outrage at their sentencing, Chip interrupted to say that Ling and Lee were "irresponsible" and had "put 300 million people ... at risk" by daring to go anywhere near Kim Jong-Il country. I told him, in so many words, that he was an idiot.

Click to listen

Here's the audio. If you are listening to my weekly podcast with Chip for the first time, be aware that he's a good guy, and even holds a few non-reprehensible viewpoints. Some listeners may be upset that we sandwiched a discussion about two journalists whose lives are in peril between discussions of "Freaks and Geeks" and "Royal Pains." But that's just the nature of the beast that is talk radio. My feeling is that we need to be talking about Laura and Euna every chance we get. (d/l mp3)

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Bye, Jay. Heeeeeere's Conan!

AUDIO: I talked about Jay Leno's final shows with KMBZ Radio this morning. (d/l) I'm also being taped by CBS Radio News tonight for use in their weekend and Monday coverage.

In his final appearance in February as the most dangerous guest on “Late Night with Conan O'Brien,” Norm Macdonald described Jay Leno's decision to stay at NBC as only he can.

“He outfoxed you again!” Macdonald told the host as O'Brien winced. “Your agent's like, 'There's good news and bad news. You are doing the “Tonight Show.” It's true. But -- remember that discussion we had where you said, “I'll never have to f---ing follow Leno again?”'”

Leave it to a former fake newscaster to invent a fictional scene that rang oh-so-true. Macdonald's joke certainly speaks to the anxiety many people feel about Conan O'Brien's move into the “Tonight” throne after nearly a 16-year wait.

The Sotomayor pick: What's it mean?

Chip Franklin and I debated President Obama's Supreme Court choice this morning on KOGO Radio. Chip played an old video clip that he thought would be the first piece of evidence used against her. Chip even used the word "Bork," which I smacked down as nonsense. We also debated whether justices could make policy or not.

After the break, we talked about Jay Leno's last week on "The Tonight Show" and what it means to NBC, and I gave my picks for "See It Or Skip It." (d/l)

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Why the FCC won't be bleeping cable; Spike replaced by Sykes (yikes) in late night

Chip Franklin and I had our weekly chat on AM 600 KOGO in San Diego today.

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End of the season questions...

Will "Friday Night Lights" return? Simon Cowell — is he in or out? These and other topics bubble up during my chat with WBAL Radio's Shari Elliker.

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The fate of humanity ... and "My Name Is Earl"

Chip Franklin at KOGO Radio and I started talking about the Kentucky Derby, but in no time we'd segued to the H1N1 virus, and then the declining audience for print, the future of democracy, a funny Jayson Blair story, the outrage over Arlen Specter's remarks and ... the demise of "My Name Is Earl." Well, you gotta end somewhere. Go Royals!

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What's on your DVR that you're not watching?

KOGO Radio's Chip Franklin and I talked about shows that are backing up our DVRs. But first we talked about media coverage of the swine flu outbreak and the new Columbine book that shows how often the media gets even basic knowledge wrong, wrong, wrong. And "24" and the gawdawful "M*A*S*H" finale and some other things. Thirteen lively minutes with the dude who wakes up San Diego.

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"The Fairness Doctrine is starting to take on 9/11 conspiracy theory dimensions"

In light of yesterday's announcement that the Society of Professional Journalists opposes the return of the Fairness Doctrine, KOGO Radio's Chip Franklin had me on today to talk about what this means for the future of the Fairness Doctrine. Chip tried to talk over me most of the segment but I still got my points in.

Last week, I debated a nostalgic liberal here in Kansas City — one of a dying breed of Democrats who think bringing back the Fairness Doctrine would be a fine idea.

Earlier, the president came out against the FD during the campaign.

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"I Want to Save Your Life": Women, it's OK to hate your bodies again!

Shari Elliker of WBAL Radio and I discussed two upcoming programs this week. One is the "Frontline" special I've raved about elsewhere; the other is this strange new WE tv program coming up this weekend, "I Want to Save Your Life." I just found its negative imagery and alarmist tone little different from the same kind of body-hating subtext underlying most media aimed at young, insecure women these days.

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The Flash news: Will it help indie producers?

What does today's announcement from Adobe about bringing Flash to the TV mean? Chip Franklin and I chew it over on KOGO Radio today. But first, we had to yak about the role of anniversary coverage in branding certain cities in the U.S.

Seriously, though, what's the opening up of TV -- if it really is opening up -- mean for the indie producer?

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Katie Couric's Palin interview: Great TV but ... award-worthy?

Today on KOGO Radio in San Diego, Chip Franklin and I talked about the Annenberg School giving Katie Couric an award for her grilling of Sarah Palin last summer. Number one, who didn't take a swing at that piñata and number two, since when do we give out awards to journalists just for doing their job?

I know that awards are good fundraisers and everyone likes a little recognition and affirmation. And I would even go so far as to say that there was something redemptive about seeing Katie Couric get singled out for doing the kind of hard-nosed interviews that everyone knew she was capable of doing. She certainly seemed to turn the page on her rather nightmarish first couple of years at CBS with that interview. It was all good.

But .. a Walter Cronkite award? Really?

We talked about it on KOGO this morning. Along with a show called "The Cougar." By sheer coincidence, of course. (d/l)

Previewing "The Unusuals" on ABC, "Parks and Rec" on NBC

WBAL Radio's Shari Elliker and I looked at half of the new network TV shows debuting this week. I'm not entirely sold on each, but the day is young. (d/l)

From NCAAs to Augusta, a big week for sports on TV

Chip Franklin and I reviewed what's coming up in sports on TV this week on San Diego's news-talk blowtorch, AM 600 KOGO, this morning.(d/l)

And here's the updated info on the snow-delayed Opening Day game for the Royals.

"60 Minutes" Conficker freakout, the end of "ER" and an era

Chip Franklin also had a question I should ask Bill Maher later today when I interview him, and some more stuff. We talked today on KOGO Radio in San Diego. (d/l)

Letterman ties the knot! Also, "Lost" v. "Idol" and the return of Goldblum

Shari Elliker and I covered a lot of territory during our twice-monthly chat today on WBAL Radio in Baltimore. Listen as we discuss why David Letterman chose NOW to finally get married; where you can see Jeff Goldblum on series TV real soon; and how "Lost" will do competing against "American Idol."

(d/l)