State Of The Union: Notes

  · Overheard on MSNBC around 11:30pm, Chris Matthews discussing viewership for the SOTU: “We know how hard it is, Joe [Scarborough] and I, to get an audience.”

  · When signing off the air, Brit Hume mistakenly called Brian Wilson “Brian Williams.” He noticed the mistake immediately.

  · ABC, NBC and CBS are broadcasting the SOTU in HDTV.

  · CNN’s coverage included comments from “bloggers” Andrew Sullivan and Ana Marie Cox. (Though I’m not sure labeling them as bloggers is fair anymore…)

  · FNC’s Brit Hume said the conventional wisdom in D.C. is that “the President has a very tall order on his hands tonight.”

  · NBC’s David Gregory said White House staffers “know there’s a lot at stake here.”

  · ABC’s Terry Moran: “Tonight is the night when he may enjoy his politically strongest position of his second term.”

  · ABC’s minimalist one-line graphics strip looks very nice.

  · Peter Jennings and Brian Williams mentioned their lunch date with the President.

  · The O’Reilly Factor ended ten minutes early so Brit Hume could begin coverage on FNC. Paula Zahn Now also ended around 8:45. On MSNBC, Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews hosted a “Countdown to the State of the Union” from 8:30 to 9pm.

  · All the cable networks dropped the ticker for the speech. “Look at CNN’s cool fonts,” an e-mailer remarks.