NBC Universal - It Gets Better

The Office Says Goodbye To Michael

With a showtune. Oddly touching.

New Logo

NBC-Universal has a new really boring logo now that their merger with Comcast has been approved. And reviews are, uh, universally scathing. For you graphics geeks out there, Gawker has launched a "redo the new" logo contest.

FCC Approves Comcast-Universal Merger

CNN is reporting today that the FCC has approved the merger between cable giant Comcast and NBC-Universal. CNET explains:

The $37 billion merger between the companies has been a long time coming. The deal, which was first announced in 2009, provides Comcast with a 51 percent controlling stake in NBC Universal. General Electric will retain the remaining 49 percent. When the deal was first announced, the companies hoped to have it accepted by regulatory bodies at the end of 2010. However, over the course of the last year, the companies faced increasing concerns that their merger might unfairly impact competing content providers and harm consumers. The Department of Justice, which is also evaluating the merger with regard to antitrust rules, is also expected to vote to approve the joint venture. Both the Justice Department and that FCC stamps of approval are needed before the deal to form the joint venture can close.

The merger has been a subject of relentless lampooning on NBC's 30 Rock, where the acquiring company is called Kabletown.

OLBERMANN REDUX: Joe Scarborough Suspended Over Political Donations

As they did with Keith Olbermann, MSNBC has suspended commentator Joe Scarborough over his political donations.

MSNBC said Friday that it is suspending “Morning Joe” co-host Joe Scarborough for two days after he acknowledged giving eight previously unknown $500 contributions to friends and family members running for state and local offices during his tenure at the network, a violation of parent NBC’s ban on political contributions by employees without specific permission from the network president. “I recognize that I have a responsibility to honor the guidelines and conditions of my employment, and I regret that I failed to do so in this matter,” Scarborough said in a statement. “I apologize to MSNBC and to anyone who has been negatively affected by my actions,” he said, adding that after he was made aware of some of the contributions, he called MSNBC President Phil Griffin “and agreed with Phil's immediate demand of a two-day suspension without pay.”

RELATED: Scarborough has been rumored as one-half of a potential 2012 presidential "odd couple" independent ticket with NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg as his running mate. The top name on that ticket changes depends on which rumor you're reading.

Keith Olbermann On His Suspension

Keith Olbermann To Return On Tuesday

MSNBC has unsuspended Keith Olbermann and he'll be back on the air tomorrow night.

"After several days of deliberation and discussion, I have determined that suspending Keith through and including Monday night's program is an appropriate punishment for his violation of our policy," MSNBC President Phil Griffin said in a statement released late Sunday. "We look forward to having him back on the air Tuesday night."

Maddow On Olbermann's Suspension

Rachel Maddow says she understands NBC's rule, but that Olbermann should be un-suspended at once. Maddow devotes a large portion of the segment to ticking off a long list of candidates stumped for on the air by Fox News hosts.

NBC News Suspends MSNBC Host Keith Olbermann Over Campaign Donations

NBC News has indefinitely suspended MSNBC host Keith Olbermann over political donations his employers say he made in violation of their ethics policy.

The announcement came in a one-sentence statement from MSNBC-TV President Phil Griffin: “I became aware of Keith's political contributions late last night. Mindful of NBC News policy and standards, I have suspended him indefinitely without pay.” The donations were first reported by the Politico website earlier in the day. Olbermann acknowledged the donations in a statement to Politico, saying he gave the maximum legal donation of $2,400 to Arizona Reps. Raul Grijalva and Gabrielle Giffords and Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway, who waged an unsuccessful campaign for the U.S. Senate against Tea Party standard-bearer Rand Paul.

According to Politico, Olbermann's donations to Grijalva and Giffords came on October 28th, the same day both candidates appeared on his show. NBC's ethics policy reads:

"Anyone working for NBC News who takes part in civic or other outside activities may find that these activities jeopardize his or her standing as an impartial journalist because they may create the appearance of a conflict of interest. Such activities may include participation in or contributions to political campaigns or groups that espouse controversial positions. You should report any such potential conflicts in advance to, and obtain prior approval of, the president of NBC News or his designee."

Olbermann notes that he has never urged anybody, publicly or privately, to make campaign donations to any candidate.

Texas NBC Station Apologizes For Homophobic Viewer Call-In Segment

Calling it "poorly worded at best and inappropriate altogether at worst," the general manager of the Texas NBC affiliate that broadcast yesterday's "Will homosexuals bring about America's destruction?" segment has issued an apology. The story became national news after being posted here on JMG thanks to a tip from a reader in Texas. CORRECTION: The below apology is from the manager of the radio station whose program was simulcast on the television station referenced further down in this post.

There are many issues surrounding homosexuality that are fair game for discussion in the media and in opinion journalism. The proper role, if any, for openly gay individuals in the military, the legitimacy of same-sex marriages and the public behavior by some individuals at gay and lesbian events held outdoors in public view are among topics about which reasonable people may disagree. These and other topics surrounding homosexuality are topics that talk radio hosts and opinion journalists may legitimately pose to their respective audiences.

With that said, the way our Talkback question was posed might be seen as asking, “Do homosexuals, by their very existence, threaten to bring down America?” We believe that such a question, posed in such a manner, is likely to generate more heat than light. I understand how those who either heard, or heard about, KTBB’s Talkback question on Wednesday might have been offended. For the offense that was taken, we sincerely apologize.

GLAAD has gotten involved and convinced the station to remove the offending clip from their site. (My mirror of the clip remains on YouTube.) Additionally GLAAD is working to have Fort Worth City Councilman Joel Burns appear on the station to talk about homophobia in the media. GLAAD reports that the above-mentioned station manager will go on-air to denounce the piece.

General Manager Dave Tillery has also responded to our request that he appear on-camera to speak on behalf of the station. Dave realizes how important it is that the station acknowledge in front of their viewers what they’ve acknowledged to GLAAD over the phone – that a segment like Wednesday’s has no place on the airwaves of a reputable news organization. Furthermore, Dave plans to acknowledge the potential harm that could be caused by Wednesday’s report and will commit, on behalf of the station, to being more careful in the future. Lastly, KETK is rethinking how they will repackage KTBB Talkback content for future newscasts. KETK General Manager Dave Tillery shared with GLAAD that he will be meeting tomorrow with Paul Gleiser, KTBB’s owner/general manager.

This story isn't over yet, but we've seen quick movement in the right direction thanks to GLAAD and to the readership of this blog who deluged the right parties with complaints.

Homophobia Literally Kills: Texas Edition

The latest edition in the series by JMG reader Sean Chapin.

Texas NBC Station Asks Viewers: Will Acceptance Of Gays Destroy America?

Clearly taking their cue from the Westboro Baptist Church, Texas NBC station KETK wants its viewers to weigh in on the question, "Do you think this country's acceptance of homosexuality could lead to its downfall?" SRSLY. Unfuckingbelievable. Who's got the right email at NBC Universal?

UPDATE: I've moved their clip to YouTube. The unbridled hatred is staggering for a supposedly mainstream television station.


UPDATE II: A Facebook complaint page has been launched by JMG reader Sean Chapin. Hit the link, please.

(Tipped by JMG reader Mitch)

Mitch Miller Dies At 99

Music and television pioneer Mitch Miller died in NYC this weekend at the age of 99. Miller's Sing Along With Mitch album series and television show essentially created the concept of karaoke.

Mr. Miller, a Rochester native who was born on the Fourth of July, had been an accomplished oboist and was still a force in the recording industry when he came up with the idea of recording old standards with a chorus of some two dozen male voices and printing the lyrics on album covers. The “Sing Along With Mitch” album series, which began in 1958, was an immense success, finding an eager audience among older listeners looking for an alternative to rock ’n’ roll. Mitch Miller and the Gang serenaded them with chestnuts like “Home on the Range,” “That Old Gang of Mine,” “I’ll Take You Home Again, Kathleen” and “It’s a Long Way to Tipperary.” When the concept was adapted for television in 1961, with the lyrics appearing at the bottom of the screen, Mr. Miller, with his beaming smile and neatly trimmed mustache and goatee, became a national celebrity.

When I was a toddler, my grandmother once got hysterical because she thought I had already picked up my father's famously filthy mouth. But I wasn't saying "son of a bitch," I was pointing at the TV and saying "Sing along with Mitch!" My mom still tells that story. See if you can spot the future superstar in the below clip around 2:50.

Networks Reject GOP's Mosque Ad

NBC and CBS have refused to air the GOP's Kill The Ground Zero Mosque ad. Politico reports:

In her letter rejecting the spot, NBC Universal advertising standards manager Jennifer Riley wrote: "An ad questioning the wisdom of building a mosque at ground zero would meet our issues of public controversy advertising criteria. However, this ad which ambiguously defines 'they' as referenced in the spot makes it unclear as to whether the reference is to terrorists or to the Islamic religious organization that is sponsoring the building of the mosque. Consequently, the ad is not acceptable under our guidelines for broadcast." A CBS official, Marty Daly, also rejected the ad, according to e-mails shared by NRT PAC executive director Scott Wheeler. "They have very selective standards — they’ll run anything MoveOn.org throws out there," said Wheeler, also citing a controversial 2004 NAACP ad invoking the slain James Byrd.

Yesterday World Net Daily, the nation's most widely-read conservative site, posted a top-of-page "emergency" plea for their readers to sign on to a petition condemning the mosque plan. WND's story includes first-person accounts of 9/11 and the below nine year-old photo showing the planned location for the mosque.

Law & Order Finale Open Thread

It's hard to believe it's really over after 20 years. Share your thoughts about the finale below. West coasters beware, spoilers within.

Is Law & Order: TOS Canceled?

Rumors began to fly yesterday the NBC is pulling the plug on the 20-season run of Law & Order.

Looks as though "Law & Order" will not beat out "Gunsmoke" as the longest running American TV drama. According to Deadline, NBC has decided to cancel the series, which is currently nearing the end of its 20th season. The "Law & Order" ratings have been dismal this year, but insiders were assuming that NBC would renew the series if only to let producer Dick Wolf break the "Gunsmoke" 20-season record. "Law & Order" will always be notable not just for its long life, but for pioneering the cool procedural approach to crime drama that continues to thrive. Cops and lawyers who reveal little of their personal lives, a step-by-step advance through crimes of the week, bad guys who slip through the law on technicalities -- these and other "Law & Order" trademarks are now de rigueur.

Earlier this year the show's longest-running cast member, S. Epatha Merkerson, announced that she would be leaving Law & Order at the end of the current season. In 2008 Merkerson broke the record for most episodes for an actress in a single series, when she surpassed Michelle Lee's 344 episodes in Knots Landing.

RELATED: I'm pretty sure I hold the world record for most hours of Law & Order reruns watched. I've seen some episodes more than 20 times, easily.