The Ticker: Carlson, Greta, Smith…

> E-mailers ask: “Why was the Situation with Tucker Carlson pulled last night in favor of a third airing of Hardball?” It was “pulled at the last minute apparently, with an announcement by Pat Buchanan that it would return on Monday, even though there had been promo commercials with Tucker for Thursday’s show…” Update: 12:11pm: Tucker went home because he was sick, according to MSNBC…

> FNC’s Greta Van Susteren is hosting On The Record from Miami as she investigates the six-month-old “cruise ship mystery” that MSNBC has been particularly fond of…

> Early Show anchor Harry Smith is preparing for his fifth trip to the region devastated by Katrina. He will report from Gulfport and New Orleans beginning Tuesday, Jan. 17…

> Anderson Cooper to an apologetic Larry King after King’s Wednesday interview with James Frey ran late because Oprah Winfrey called in: “Are you kidding? Even my mom, who watches, was happy that I got cut off. Are you kidding? For Oprah?” (Via the Tribune)