TVNewser writes that MSNBC is shuffling its primetime lineup. Scarborough Country will air at 9pm ET, The Situation at 10 pm, and Live & Direct at 11 pm. I wonder how Rita feels about this move?

UPDATE: FTVLive had this story first. Sorry Scott.

The Charlotte Observer’s Jeff Elder writes about Tucker Carlson addressing the Carmel Country Club…

Tucker Carlson, bow-tied MSNBC pundit, cracked wise Friday at Carmel Country Club as featured speaker for the Hood Hargett Breakfast Club.

• On President Bush’s speaking style: “Like watching a drunk man trying to cross an icy street. … But he’s genuine.”

Yes this happened last week but I was too out of it to blog it. I find it very strange that MSNBC announced that Mark Effron was stepping down as head of daytime programming and being replaced by Susan Sullivan during the crush of Katie Couric/Merideth Vierra news stories.

Susan Sullivan has been appointed Vice President, News Daytime Programming for MSNBC. In that role, Sullivan will be responsible for all live news programming on MSNBC during the daytime hours, as well as the primetime newsbreaks, overnight and the weekend news programming. The announcement was made today by Rick Kaplan, president of MSNBC.

“Susan brings great skill and experience and has the respect of all who know her,” said Kaplan. “She is a wonderful addition to our senior management team.”

The cynic in me wants to think MSNBC chose this time to bury the news. NBC almost certainly buried the news that it bought a controlling share in MSNBC from Microsoft when it made the release during the X-mas break. MSNBC has struggled in daytime while Primetime has seen a resurgance. But it may have just been a coincidence.

I got so much to go though I’m making these brief. HLN is shuffling it’s lineup to coincide with Glenn Beck’s arrival on HLN on May 8th…

As of Monday, May 8, the Headline Prime line-up will kick off with Prime News hosted by Erica Hill at 6 p.m.; Glenn Beck at 7 p.m. and Nancy Grace at 8 p.m.; re-airings of both Glenn Beck and Nancy Grace at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. The Headline Prime schedule closes with its flagship entertainment show, Showbiz Tonight, hosted by A.J. Hammer, at 11 p.m., followed by Glenn Beck at 12 a.m., Nancy Grace at 1 a.m. Headline News then returns to its traditional half-hour news format at 2 a.m. All times Eastern.

Passing along for those who are interested that FNC’s Alisyn Camerota has a new web site. The site includes a FAQ that has been answered by Alisyn…

What do you do when not hosting?

Well, because I have a hybrid job (anchor/reporter), when I’m not hosting, I’m usually writing or researching a story. I spent much of this morning with a producer trying to figure out how to report on a story when many of the main protagonists are not in the U.S. I also try to catch up on emails, expenses, mail, phone calls, etc.

Which do you prefer, anchoring or reporting?

I like both reporting and anchoring. Whenever I do one for a stretch, I miss the other. Reporting is more challenging in many ways because it’s harder to be in the field than in the studio. There’s nothing quite as complicating as wind and snow — standing in a Nor’easter is always tougher than sitting in a warm, comfy studio. However, in the field you’re in charge of your own script and reportage.

On shows like FOX & Friends, you have to rely on others for much of your info and research, which makes me a little uncomfortable. Being tethered to the teleprompter is also less than ideal but I do love breaking news when we’re scrambling to bring accurate info to the viewers.

The Phoenix’s Mark Jurkowitz takes CNN (and the Today Show) to the woodshed over this morning’s interview of the 9 year old whose mother died while he tried and failed to get 911 to pay attention…

Not only should a young child who just lost his mother not be subjected to a nationally televised effort to have him recount the horror, he was clearly unwilling and/or unable — as is completely understandable — to discuss what had happened. This was cruel and calculating exploitation of this poor child in the hopes that he would do or say something that would be able to give your network a clip it could play throughout the day.

The segment was nothing short of a disgrace.

P.S.– I didn’t have the misfortune of seeing the Sunday “Today” story that included the young boy, but the same goes for them.

My concussion and cracked skull problem took a sudden and bizarre complication the day after I posted the last blog entry. I was given antibiotics and, wouldn’t you know it, had a nasty allergic reaction to them. At one point Friday I thought I might have to be hospitalized. Today I was able to start to getting about again a bit and I see a bazillion emails I have to sort through on the blog. Things will be up and running again shortly I hope…

ewww…