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Miller Cleared of Contempt (NYT)
Bill Keller, The Times's executive editor, said: "It's a great relief to have Judy out of legal jeopardy. And it should clear the way for The Times to do what we've been yearning to do: tell the story." Huffington Post: By all outward appearances, the hour Miller spent testifying this morning was not an easy one, writes Arianna Huffington. WaPo: Times staffers reportedly more demoralized than during the Jayson Blair scandal, writes Howard Kurtz. WaPo: Miller was told by special prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald that she is done testifying in the case. WSJ: Miller free to go back to reporting. E&P: Will Miller probe go "public?"

Apple Unveils Video iPod, Disney Deal (LAT)
It won't be long before you see commuters with white ear buds watching the latest episode of Desperate Housewives on their 2" monitor on the train. Guardian: It isn't certain that the latest incarnation of the iPod will change our viewing habits, writes Dominic Timms.

HBO Nabs Koppel (Page Six)
The Nightline host, due to leave his job next month, has reached agreement with HBO on a three-year deal that will net him many millions of dollars for 14 hours of programming a year.

National Book Awards Finalists Named (NYT)
Historical novels and first-time nominees dominate the list of finalists for the annual prizes. Because of their ability to affect book sales, they are among the most closely watched awards in publishing.

Anderson Cooper Gets $1M From HarperCollins (Book Standard)
Basking in high praise for his coverage of Hurricane Katrina and having stolen the spotlight from many of his competitors, CNN's Anderson Cooper has officially landed a book contract.

Pimp My News (NYP)
CBS boss Les Moonves is considering is moving MTV entertainment chief Brian Graden (who developed Laguna Beach, The Osbournes, Pimp My Ride, and Jackass) to head CBS News.

Stein Movin' on Op (LA Observed)
Revamping of the LAT Op-Ed page continues. Joel Stein, who has been writing a column for the Sunday Current section, will "migrate to the Op-Ed page to write a general-interest column."

Next Up: Geriatric Housewives (NYP)
ABC, CBS and NBC have all seen the median age of their primetime viewers go up this television season. Even viewers of the youth-obsessed WB has matured dramatically.

NBC to Zucker: We've Got Your Back (Lowdown)
Lloyd Grove: Execs at NBC Universal and General Electric are circling the wagons around network president Jeff Zucker after a Radar hatchet job that has mediabiz-watchers buzzing.

Charge: Esquire Writer Demanded Special Treatment From Restaurant (Page Six)
A Chicago chef says John Mariani, Esquire's influential food columnist, sent his PR people a four-page list of requests, asking the restaurant to pay for everything from cab fare to his hotel bill. FishBowlNY: Esquire editor denies claim, has receipts.

Google, Comcast Seeking Stake in AOL (Reuters via MSNBC)
An investment would marry Time Warner's trove of programming and Google's popular search and email services with Comcast's high speed Internet portal and experience in cable video distribution.

Times Writers in New Orleans Get Southern Hospitality (WWD)
Reporters covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina for the paper are staying on a 19th-century plantation in Baton Rouge, La., and a few of them are evidently even sleeping in former slave quarters. [Second item]

Remember When Everything Was So Simple? (USAT)
The Simple Life is over—at least for now. Fox has pulled the plug on the reality TV show starring ex-pals Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie

Flash! MTV Soulless! Nation in Shock! (LA Weekly)
Nikki Finke: MTV used to be all about the issues—subversive and usually liberal. Now the network is all gab about the glam lifestyles, love triangles, mean girls and staged cat fights on unreality shows.

Blogbuster (Salon)
Steve Almond: My cyber-nemesis had been trashing me for months. Then we met, and I had a chance to take a terrible revenge.

Top 10 Up-and-Comers (Boston Phoenix)
Mark Jurkowitz: With the news industry at a confusing crossroads, one thing is certain: no matter how information is delivered, the future belongs to skilled journalists who can report, edit, and deliver it.

The Pajama-Clad Lion in Winter (MSNBC)
"It's a magazine of quality," says Hugh Hefner of Playboy. "People refer to it as a sex magazine. I've never thought of it as that. I think it's really a lifestyle magazine, with a romantic connection between the sexes."

Paper Receives Threats From Angry Muslims Over Pics (Editors Weblog)
Danish Muslims have strongly condemned one of the country's largest newspapers, Jyllands-Posten, for publishing drawings of the Prophet Muhammad.

—David S. Hirschman

IN YESTERDAY'S MB BLOGS:

Tony Perkins Resigns From ABC; Last GMA Day Is Dec. 2; Returning To WTTG In D.C. [TVNewser]
Tony Perkins' email to Good Morning America staff this morning [Emphasis added]: It is with mixed emotions that I inform you all that I have resigned from ABC News and will be leaving the company and "Good Morning America" on December 2nd.

The Miller Spiller Thriller[FishbowlDC]
Who knows what? Is everything not what it seems? What are the alliances? What is Patrick Fitzgerald doing in that hatch (i.e. grand jury investigation) of his?

Esquire responds to the Huffy Chef: "We're Degusted!" [FishbowlNY]
What to do when an irascible chef claims that you swept into his restaurant imperiously with an arm-long list of demands -- including that all remotely-connected expenses be picked up by the restaurant? Well, if you're John Mariani you say it's "preposterous," and are likely disinclined to kiss the cook.

The Rise and Fall of the Media Novel [FishbowlLA]
I have a theory. The theory is this: the sub-literary mini-genre of Novels About And By Media People will evaporate in about four years, because whatever para-literary pleasures they purportedly offer are now supplied more efficiently by blogs, not to mention the New York Observer. PLUS: 'Wedding Crashers' Reloaded: Warner Bros. pays $1.25 M for Dobkin-directed pitch EXCLUSIVE: You heard it here first: Fishbowl L.A. has learned that "Wedding Crashers" Director David Dobkin has just set up his new project at Warner Bros. Pictures. The mega-sale reunites Dobkin with his fellow "Crashers" producer, Andrew Panay on a pitch for which the studio has paid a hefty $1.25 million.

There's All That New Closet Space to Consider [GalleyCat]
Last week, Nina Collins was professing a love for four-figure handbags. This week, she might feel like treating herself to another new Mulberry, as big changes are underway at the Collins McCormick Literary Agency.

Since When Are Graphic Designers Total Hotties? [UnBeige]
There's something in the editorial water that's got everyone from the Observer to the Post (ok, there's our explanation) writing about public pickups and outdoor makeouts and hot High Line action.

Three the Easy Way: Or the Path to Publication Of My First Novel--How I Made It Work [mbToolbox]
Marcy Dermansky, author of the book Twins, kindly shares with you today some of her success tips for getting your books published.