A guest booked on NBC’s Weekend Today yesterday was introduced as being a contributor for another network. While that’s not unusual, Dr. Michael Baden, who was live in Marion, Massachusetts, was described as “a special contributor for Fox News Channel’s On the Record with Greta Van Susteren.”
An insider tells me that Baden told NBC that his trip was paid for by Fox, so NBC would have to give Fox an on-air mention. The insider also says that NBC management was upset by the show’s decision. Baden is a familiar face on cable and network news. As New York City’s former chief medical examiner he has appeared on all the cable news channels over the years discussing cases from an M.E.’s perspective.
His appearance on Weekend Today was in relation to his role in the case of missing Illinois woman Stacy Peterson.
>Update: An FNC spokesperson explained that Baden is an exclusive contributor to FOX News Channel and he’s done special appearances on On the Record w/ Greta Van Susteren for the Peterson story. His appearance on the Today Show was done as a favor on a guest basis and he was asked to be identified accordingly.