Today on the media- bistro.com Morning Media Menu podcast, hosts Jason Boog of GalleyCat and AgencySpy‘s Matt Van Hoven welcome the latest editor of TVNewser Kevin Allocca to talk about the daily media headlines.

They discussed the recent news about e-mails sent by reporters to Gov. Mark Sanford during his disappearance and affair scandal, MTV‘s new web ads and ABC‘s interview with Joe Jackson and it’s low ratings.

“I think it shows how quickly the public reaches a saturation point,” host Jason Boog said. “Back when Princess Diana died in that tragic car accident, I think a traditional piece like this looking at old footage would have been gangbusters back then. But now people reach a saturation point so much faster because it just bombards you for a week straight after Michael’s death.”

Also discussed: Kevin’s interview with Al Roker about his new morning show on The Weather Channel, why ratings are so low for Sonia Sotomayor‘s confirmation hearings and “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince” shattering the midnight screening ticket sales record set last summer by “The Dark Knight.”

You can listen to all the past podcasts at BlogTalkRadio.com/mediabistro and call in at 646-929-0321.

AgencySpy: Following in the footsteps of the Coneheads, Mary Katherine Gallagher and Stuart Smalley, MacGruber (played by Will Forte) is set to become the latest “Saturday Night Live” sketch to make the jump to the big screen. Next up: Forte for governor.

TVNewser: Michael Jackson‘s memorial yesterday drew 31 million U.S. viewers, less than the number that watched Princess Diana‘s funeral (33.3 million).

FishbowlDC: Former Washington Post blogger Dan Froomkin shares more details about his new gig at The Huffington Post.

Associated Press: The Washington Post was also a target of cyber attacks that hit the White House, Pentagon and New York Stock Exchange starting on July 4.

ASSME: Calling all unemployed or work-from-home types! ASSME, an organization representing those many media workers who have been laid off over the last year or so, has designated this Friday as “Freelancers Put On Your Pants” Day, asking all freelance, unemployed, or underemployed employees to put on some freakin’ pants already.

Forget Jon & Kate, Michael Jackson‘s death may be the latest event to help resuscitate the faltering magazine industry. After news of his death broke on Thursday afternoon, magazines rushed to honor the pop star.

Today, Time magazine has a commemorative issue hitting newsstands. The issue features memories of Michael from a laundry list of his famous friends and admirers, including Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Tina Turner and Nancy Reagan.

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— DIANE CLEHANE

Between the heinous weather that has us nursing what must be walking pneumonia, a deadly dull award season (Does anybody really care about the Oscars without the parties?) and some mind-numbingly bad television we’ve been forced to endure (What the hell happened to Nip/Tuck?), we were yearning for some excitement today at 55th & Fifth. Alas, there was nary a bold-face name in sight. Except for a delightfully random celebrity sighting — Patrick Stewart, looking quite collegiate in a grey crewneck sweater — we loved you in A Christmas Carol! — things were pretty much business as usual in the dining room. The staff, though, was abuzz that none other than Captain Picard had landed in the dining room.

Here’s the rundown on today’s crowd:

1. Showtime’s Stu Zakim hosting his “bi-monthly guy’s lunch.” In attendance: ABC’s Jeff Schneider, recruiter Arnie Huberman, SIRIUS’ Patrick Riley and Portfolio‘s Jeff Bercovici. I congratulated Jeff on tapping into the zeitgeist in yesterday’s Mixed Media column where he reported on the tipping point that seems to indicate some — but clearly not all — in the media seem to be having a (slight) attack of conscience when it comes to reporting 24/7 on the sad spectacle of Britney Spears’ alleged mental illness. Jeff emailed the editors of the celebrity weeklies to weigh in on the subject but only People‘s managing editor Larry Hackett responded. Larrys take: the whole thing has Day of The Locust feel to it, but in the unlikely event the media did back off, it’s “presumptuous” to assume the fallen pop star would finally start to get well. I agree. (Full disclosure: I am a People contributor). Interestingly, there’s also a piece in today’s USA Today that reports — duh! — “Britney’s collapse: Media not helping.” The collective sense among journos that cover celebrities and the business of celebrity that this story is going to end badly is palpable. The question is: how will those that have been the beneficiaries of the Britney media bonanza cover the final chapter of this tale? Us Weekly reported last month that AP has already written Spears’ obit. Remember when Princess Diana died and George Clooney held a press conference to blame the tabloid media for her death? Is there anyone besides Heidi Klum, who has said that Brit can come and live with her and Seal until she gets her life together, that can actually do anything to alter Spears’ collision course with tabloid infamy before its too late? George, are you busy?

2. Producer Jon Hart, who predicts a “low key” Oscars on Sunday, with two business-types we didn’t recognize …

3. Katherine Oliver celebrating her birthday with a table full of pals including Lisa Dallos and Chris Taylor.

4. Gerald Schoenfeld & Candia Fisher.

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Dominick Dunne made his only Fashion Week appearance at Carolina Herrera this morning (“We’re good pals”). Sandwiched between Vanity Fair‘s fashion director Michael Roberts and the unsmiling Fran Lebowitz , the intrepid chronicler of the social set’s crimes and misdemeanors was happy to chat about his latest passion: the Princess Diana inquest. “I’ve been back there twice,” says Dominick, who is filing his latest “diary” entry for Vanity Fair today. “There are a lot of fascinating things that are happening — it just comes out in bits and pieces.” Most intriguing, he says, is the fact that Mohamed Al Fayed’s remains doggedly determined to convince people that Dodi and Diana would have married.

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Oh, the media synergy:

Matt Lauer, who recently interviewed Prince William and Prince Harry for NBC for “Dateline,” will be hosting “Concert for Diana,” which will air on NBC at 8:00 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 1, which would have been Princess Diana‘s 46th birthday. The concert, featuring some of her and her sons’ favorite performers including Duran Duran and Elton John, will be a tribute to her life and her achievements. It is being presented from Wembley Stadium in London. A conference call with Matt Lauer has been scheduled for Monday, June 25 at 11:30 a.m. Pacific time and 2:30 p.m. East Coast time. Please let me know ASAP if you plan to join us for this call. Matt, who will be in London next Friday, will be contributing to the “Today” show from there to discuss Diana and the concert. A replay of the “Dateline” episode featuring Prince William and Prince Harry will be rebroadcast on Sunday, June 30 at 7:00 p.m. just prior to the 8:00 p.m. broadcast for the “Concert for Diana” special.

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