The Daily Show Sets the Tone

NBC's news department headline writers have been taking their cues from The Daily Show staff, it seems. Recent news headlines on NBC that could have appeared on Jon Stewart's show include "Farris Hassan's day off" for a story about the teenager who skipped school to travel to Iraq, and "About last night...," borrowed from the Rob Lowe/Demi Moore movie for a segment on the State of the Union address airing the night after George W.'s performance.

Cut it Short

Big news from my favorite morning program, The Today Show: Ann Curry is finally getting a haircut (see November 3 post)! But she's not getting a haircut the same way you and I would -- make the appointment, get the cut, stop at the supermarket on the way home. Her cut will be a big production because she's donating her locks to one of the organizations that turn human hair into wigs for cancer patients and others. It's great that she's calling attention to the work of these groups, but what if she inspires other network newsreaders to do the same thing? Looking at all that too-long hair will drive us nuts, especially if Charlie Gibson jumps on the "Locks for Love" bandwagon.