Week of November 1, 2003

A shoulder-fired missile brings down a U.S. Cinook helicopter in Iraq, killing 16

U.S. solders.

A slough of Democrats demand that Howard Dean apologize for saying recently

that he wanted to appeal to “guys with confederate flags in their pickup trucks.’

President Bush signs into law a ban on a controversial abortion procedure,

implementing the most significant restriction on abortion in three decades.

President Bush lays out a vision of an American mission to spread democracy

throughout the Middle East and the rest of the world, saying, “Freedom can be

the future of every nation.”

The Postal service closes 11 Washington D.C.-area post offices while authorities

ran tests to determine whether anthrax was detected at the Navy site that

handles mail for federal agencies.

Rosie O’Donnell takes the witness

stand to defend herself against a bitter

breach-of-contract lawsuit saying she

agreed to begin her now-defunct

namesake magazine only after being

promised full creative control by Gruner &

Jahr - the company now suing her.

Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick -

the original stars of Broadway’s “The

Producers” will return for 112

performances beginning December 30.

Federal prosecutors charge HealthSouth

Corp founder Richard Scrushy with

orchestrating a massive accounting fraud to bankroll an opulent lifestyle of

expensive artwork and flashy cars.

Radio news - the Democrats are putting up $1.8 million to syndicate someone by

the name of Ed Shultz - who now hales from Fargo. N.D. They think he can

compete with Rush Limbaugh. Let’s see.

Week of November 1, 2003

Entertainment news -

David Letterman’s girlfriend - Regina Lasko delivers a baby boy, making Dave,

who is 56 - a first-time dad.

Music news -

Donna Summer has a new book out - “Ordinary Girl.”

Donna talks about, among other things, her husband

of 23 years and three daughters.

Don’t miss the Madonna-Britney Spears video - “Me

Against the Music.”

Coming up on MTV2 - a live concert by Missy Elliott,

where she sings her first single - 1997’s “Supa Dupa

Fly” and others.

Penn State becomes the first university to make

Napster available to students. Schools are interested

in curbing illegal downloads and are trying legit music

downloading services such as the new Napster.

Passing - Bobby Hatfield - one-half of the

Righteous Brothers. He was 63.

Posthumously - Johnny Cash wins the Country

Music Assn’s album of the year, plus single of

the year and video of the year for “Hurt” - a

song written by Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails.

Alan Jackson got male vocalist of the year and

entertainer of the year. Martina McBride got

female vocalist of the year.

XM radio passes the $1 million subscriber count,

but losses expanded to $133.4 million from

$109.6 million a year earier.

Television news -

On “20/20” this week, Martha Stewart talks to Barbara Walters of her divorce

from Andy Stewart - the man who left her and then we her assistant.

CBS cancels Ted Danson’s Becker” after a five-year run.

Week of November 1, 2003

Fox airs the 200 th episode of Madtv.” The 8-year-old show focuses on parodies of

popular culture.

Responding to an outcry over Ronald Reagan’s legacy and how it’s portrayed,

CBS may not air “The Reagans” afterall.

Top TV -

CSI - 27.35

Survivor: Pearl Islands - 20.81

ER - 29.90

Friends - 19.37

Everybody Loves Raymond - 18.29

CBS at 75 - 18.19

CSI: Miami - 16.97

The Simpsons - 16.22

Law & Order - 16.17

Will & Grace - 15.89

Two and a Half Men - 15.82

Monday Night Football - 15.80

Without a Trace - 15.58

NFL Monday Showcase - 14.95

The Simpsons - 14.53

Still Standing - 14.17

The Bachelor - 13.85

Law & Order - Criminal Intent - 13.50

Navy NCIS - 13.50

Saturday night television -

CBS - 60 Minutes, 48 Hours Investigates, Hack, the District

NBC - Whoopi Law & Order, Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,

Saturday Night Live

ABC - Movie, L.A. Dragnet

Fox - Cops, America’s Most Wanted

MTV - Punk’d, Viva La Barn, Wild Boys, One Bad Trip, Jackass, MTV Cribs,

2003 Latino Video Music Awards

CNBC - Suze Orman

At the movies -

Scary Movie 3

Brother Bear

The Texas Chainsaw massacre

Radio

Runaway Jury