FishbowlDC: Not that we’re usually in the habit of having giveaways, but FishbowlDC has free tickets to see Bill Maher.  So get ready, caller number 11 they’re yours! (kidding)

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

The grouping, gathered by intelligence and research firm Wealth-X, includes several big name media personalities.

Rush Limbaugh is atop the list. Limbaugh’s estimated earnings are $58.7 million. He is heard weekdays on WABC Radio from noon to 3 p.m. as part of his nationally syndicated show.

Glenn Beck, whose syndicated program is heard from 9 a.m. to noon on WOR Radio, is number two. His estimated earnings are listed at $33 million. (Beck also hosts a show each day on Fox News Channel.)

Sean Hannity secured number three on the “Power” list. The WABC afternoon drive host (syndicated through Citadel Media) made $22 million in 2010.

Also syndicated with Citadel Media is Don Imus. The legendary morning man, who is number seven, pulled in $11 million. 

Additionally, Mark Levin made Newsweek‘s survey. The evening show host, heard locally on WABC, tied for 13th with an estimated $5 million.

President Obama, who many of the above consistently railed against, was tied for 19th (with Bill Maher), earning $4 million in 2010.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

So The Washington Post Co.-owned magazine decided to end December on a high note, combining its interviews with some of the world’s biggest names into several different segments. There’s Newsweek editor Jon Meacham talking to both Hillary Clinton and Henry Kissinger about the role of Secretary of State (or “Hey, we’re relevant too!”), Bill Maher and Joe Scarborough thinking they are witty while discussing what it is that makes someone a pompous pundit good talk show host (was Dennis Miller not available?), and director Peter Jackson talking with James Cameron about how to make billions of dollars without ever technically selling out.

It’s an interesting tactic to pit one interviewee off another, and one that’s certain to sell copies, even without all the other interviews in the issue, like Bill Clinton, Timothy Geithner and Gen. David Petraeus.

Read More: Newsweek’s Interview Issue

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

— DIANE CLEHANE

As I’ve been reporting for weeks, it was SRO at Michael’s today as the movers and shakers, undeterred by the unsettling economic news, were out in full force plotting their next big move — or looking for a safe place to land. On the menu today: plenty of talk about President Barack Obama‘s speech last night and the Oscars. There was a strong consensus that one was a big winner, while the other got surprisingly mixed reviews. While everyone in the audience on Oscar night thought Hugh Jackman killed, plenty of folks here were less than impressed. “Movie people don’t like Broadway,” sniped one Hollywood insider. “And it was too Broadway.” Okay then…

Everyone I talked to about President Obama’s speech felt his oratory skills are nothing short of amazing and that he struck just the right tone where he basically told us its time to pay the piper and think of our children’s future. Personally, I was impressed at his unflappable ability to mix his formal and seemingly off-the-cuff remarks with ease — and he didn’t even blink when he forgot to follow protocol and let House Speaker Nancy Pelosi introduce him. She had to stop him mid-sentence, but he never faltered. Talk about cool under pressure. But here’s what wowed the women in the dining room — his affectionate introduction of the First Lady Michelle Obama and her mouthing, ‘I love you’ back to her smitten husband. “They’re marriage is obviously hot,” one divorcee told me. I’m telling you, no one wants to admit it, but that’s what people are really talking about.

As for the president’s remarks, “Inspirational but realistic,” is how one media summed things up. Others were scratching their heads asking why Wall Street wasn’t feeling the same way. More than one person said, “With everyone feeling a little bit hopeful, I don’t get why the market is down.” (It had dropped by more than 100 points by lunch). A question for the ages, no doubt.

On a much lighter note, I asked the always dapper Dr. Gerald Imber what he thought of the Botox-ed beauties on Oscar’s red carpet. But this plastic surgeon to the stars never cuts and tells — “I didn’t watch,” he confessed. He laughed when I asked him why he’d pass up the chance to admire his handiwork and did offer his assessment on why movie stars make better plastic surgery patients than mere mortals: “They come in with headshots saying, ‘I’ve changed a little here, I want to fix this here.’ They know what they want. There’s no whining.”

Here’s the rundown on today’s crowd:

1. The ‘Imber Gang’: Dr. Gerald Imber, Jerry Della Femina and Andy Bergman. Here’s a fun fact: A little birdie told me that Andy wrote the screenplay for Blazing Saddles. Now you know…

2. Hallmark honcho Henry Schleiff with two other well-dressed fellows

3. No one puts a lunch together like ‘The Mayor’: Joe Armstrong, Glamour editrix Cindi Leive, George Stevens and Kerry Kennedy. I was thrilled to meet George (who was sporting a very patriotic red, white and blue shirt and tie ensemble). He’s the man behind the television broadcast of the Kennedy Center Honors and the amazing broadcast of the concert on the Mall in celebration of President Obama’s inauguration. Kerry and I met once before at a lunch given by Henry Schleiff in this very dining room, where we talked about her then yet-to-published book, Being Catholic Now. I was so fascinated by her interviews with the likes of Bill Maher and Gabriel Byrne (who spoke about being abused by a priest) that I got through the terrific tome twice. Today the conversation was all about how stirring and inspirational the group found the president’s speech last night. “It made me proud to be an American,” Kerry told me. And we both totally melted over the young school girl who was seated next to the First Lady having written to the White House looking for aid for her school, which is in a serious state of disrepair. “I had tears in my eyes,” said Kerry. She wasn’t the only one…

4. An early-arriving Matt Blank who chatted with Joe and I before The New Yorker‘s David Remnick and Lisa Hughes joined Showtime’s head honcho for lunch. I was happy to reconnect with Lisa. Way back when, she was my sales rep at Self when I was the marketing honcho for a fashion company. I knew then that Lisa was destined for big things at Conde Nast, and she’s risen through the ranks like the pro she is. Well done and congrats!

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

— DIANE CLEHANE

As much as we love our bird’s eye perch from the bar, it’s always a treat when we’re invited to dine in the grown up section — especially when the scene is as head-spinning as it was today. Hallmark Channel’s senior vice president Jen Geisser and her power publicist Jaime Saberito made room for me at the table at a luncheon hosted by their fearless leader the consummate showman Henry Schleiff and attended by a tasty stew of bold-faced names and top executives from UNICEF that made for one interesting afternoon of Cobb salads and conversation. Henry, newly ensconced on UNICEF’s board, brought the group to together to kick off the TAP project during ‘World Water Week’ (March 16-22). The initiative was created to raise funds and awareness by asking NYC diners at select eateries around town to forego their Fiji water for good old NYC tap water and donate what they would have spent on it to help fund clean water for kids around the world. And, yes, Michael’s is participating.

The reigning queen of the celebrity diet wars Valerie Bertinelli (A 40-pound weight loss thanks to Jenny Craig!) was the guest of honor (arriving with her boyfriend Tom Vitale) having made one movie for the network with another one in the works — Mrs. Washington Goes to Smith (Catchy title!). The still adorable actress and newly minted best-selling author was busy signing books for everyone (Henry thinks of everything!) but still made time to chat with me. Her big news — her book, Losing It — And Gaining My Life Back One Pound at Time will debut at No. 1 on this week’s New York Times‘ list. “I’m so thrilled — it’s on my son’s 17th birthday and I dedicated the book to him,” she says. “I couldn’t be more blessed.” Val (we’re on a first name basis now) also confided that she’s hot on starting another book and already has an idea that’s bound to strike a chord. “I’d like to write something like Divorce & Children: Love Your Child More Than You Hate Your Ex. The list is long when one considers who might benefit from such a tome. For now, at least, it appears Silda Spitzer won’t be needing it but we’re not closing the book on that one just yet.

Here’s the rundown on today’s crowd:

1. The white wine was flowing in celebration of Linda Fairstein‘s latest book, Killer Heat with a table full of gals that know a little something about the subject. In attendance: Cosmo editrix Kate White, super agent Esther Newberg, former Law & Order SVU star Stephanie March, Lesley Stahl (I promise to keep my eye out for that 60 Minutes watch!) and Cynthia Lufkin (Congrats on being named The American Cancer Society’s Mother of the Year!)

2. Bobby Zarem and a Jake Gyllenhaal doppelganger.

3. Mayor Joe Armstrong who has been traveling far and wide hard at work on his upcoming book with some lovely looking ladies. Welcome back Joe, we missed you!

continued…

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

GOP Slaughter

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter, a Democratic representative of New York’s 28th district, is calling for the restoration of balance on Sunday morning talk shows, which, she says, have had a “disproportionately large” number of conservatives on them for years.

“Millions of Americans trust Sunday morning programs to provide balanced news and analysis, but far too often, that isn’t what they receive,” Rep. Slaughter said in a statement e-mailed to media this week. “It is a reality that hasn’t changed, even after the establishment of new Democratic majorities in both chambers of Congress.”

“As trusted sources of information, Sunday morning news programs have an obligation to provide their viewers with equal representation from both sides of the political aisle,” Slaughter added. “A failure to provide balance is a disservice to the public and renders voters less able to evaluate the performance of our government. They deserve better.”

Bill Maher, of course, would call Slaughter a “pussy.”

EARLIER:

Bill Maher Calls Democrats ‘Pussies’ Twice On Larry King

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

]]> Dylan http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/slaughter-ny-congresswoman-calls-for-balancing-gop-heavy-sunday-talk-shows_b4568#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/slaughter-ny-congresswoman-calls-for-balancing-gop-heavy-sunday-talk-shows_b4568 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/media-events-03-15-07_b4587 Wed, 14 Mar 2007 07:00:57 +0000 Last night on Larry King, comedian Bill Maher was working his blue material while discussing Ann Coulter‘s “faggot” utterance:

MAHER: You have to think like a right-winger. First of all, it’s interesting to note that she made that comment in front of that right-wing convention. She was not booed. There was actually a moment of ooh and then they all burst into applause. It went over like a cross on fire. They actually liked that comment. And to people, normal people, you know, people who think like human beings, it was just confusing. It was like why is John Edwards gay? He’s good looking. OK, is that equivalent with gay? No. And then she explained it and I kind of thought about it and I see what she’s saying, is that, no, she really meant to say — what she was trying to say, it’s code word for the Democrats are — I hope I can say this — you said faggot — pussies. Can I say that?

Then, later:

KING: The Democrats have pulled out of the Fox debate.

MAHER: Well, and this is why she has a point. They’re pussies, OK?

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.

]]> Dylan http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/bill-maher-calls-democrats-pussies-twice-on-larry-king_b4566#disqus_thread http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/bill-maher-calls-democrats-pussies-twice-on-larry-king_b4566 http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/getting-in-to-cbs-mmod-is-madness_b4585 Tue, 13 Mar 2007 17:06:49 +0000