ABC’s David Muir is the subject of an AdWeek Q+A. The “World News” weekend anchor talks to Sam Thielman about reporting from Iran, transitioning to the “20/20″ anchor desk and the reason why he looks forward to trips to faraway places:

How does the new agenda compare to what you started off with?
It is sort of an insane schedule, I’ll admit it. Last year I worked every day; there was Tahrir Square and Fukushima, and then the famine in Africa. I thought, “At least this year will be easier,” and then they asked me to take on 20/20.

It does sound like an incredibly packed schedule.
When I hear “13-hour flight,” I get excited, because it’s 13 hours no one can get ahold of you on your BlackBerry.

Do you worry that moving to a more prominent position will keep you chained to the desk?
I think the best anchors out there are the ones who globe trot and who are hungry every day to explore another corner of the world. Once I’m done with one project, I’m already thinking, “What’s the next thing I want to investigate?”

Last night’s “Saturday Night Live” featured a farewell appearance for “Stefon,” played by Bill Hader, who is leaving the show after this season. Stefon, it seems, was leaving “Weekend Update” anchor Seth Meyers for someone new… a prominent TV news anchor.

WATCH:

After the jump, the “SNL” skit about “PoliticsNation with Al Sharpton”
Read more

CNN is hard at work constructing a brand-new set for “New Day,” the channel’s new morning show, which will debut June 17.  CNN senior producer John Griffin tweeted a few photos of the set under construction. So far there isn’t much to see, except for one big design choice: exposed brick. Lots and lots of exposed brick. There will also be an open green room.

While “Today,” “Good Morning America” and “Fox & Friends” rely on glossy studios with large open windows, and “Morning Joe” goes for the contemporary look,  there is another morning show that loves itself some exposed brick and an open green room: “CBS This Morning.” For what its worth, CNN president Jeff Zucker had nothing but praise for “CTM” at the press conference for “New Day” not long ago.

(h/t @Greg_Hanna)

In case you haven’t heard, the northeast is beginning to feel the brunt of an invasion, as billions of large insects called cicadas emerge from their underground homes to mate.

There are a few different broods of cicada, and this one last emerged in 1996. NBC’s “Today” helpfully shared a video of co-anchor Matt Lauer–then at WNBC New York–anchoring a newscast on the cicada, and featuring a report from correspondent Pat Battle.

WATCH:

In order to say you’ve really “made it” in the world, you should really have a cameo on Fox’s “The Simpsons” on your résumé. Now is looks like CNN’s Anderson Cooper is getting his chance.

“Simpsons” star Yeardley Smith (Lisa Simpson) tweeted a photo of herself and Cooper, adding “3 lines never sounded so good.”

TVLine has the scoop on Cooper’s role:

The story finds Lisa befriending a girl who is her match in every way, except one: she’s a conservative Republican. “They end up running against each other in the second-grade election,” explains exec producer Al Jean. “And then we flash to the future where they’re [engaged] in an actual presidential debate — and Anderson is the moderator.”

Poor Roz Kelly. The sports reporter was delivering the latest sporting news on Australia’s “Today” show when she fell victim to one of the oldest TV news tricks in the book: the TelePrompTer switcheroo.

“Today” co-anchor Karl Stefanovic attempted to catch Kelly up in the “Anchorman”-style prank, and it worked like a charm.

“How good are the cookies” indeed.

WATCH:

Kelly would try to get back at Stefanovic by sneaking footage from an appearance he made on “Dancing On Ice,” Australia’s ice skating with the stars show:
Read more

Entertainment Tonight went behind the scenes of “Good Morning America” earlier this week. Have you ever wanted to know where Josh Elliott hides his Grape Nuts? Watch, and ye shall see.

25-54 demographic (Live +SD)

• Total day: FNC: 305 | MSNBC: 96 | CNN: 124 | HLN: 263

• Primetime: FNC: 312 | MSNBC: 165 | CNN: 146 | HLN: 273

Read more

CNBC senior VP Kevin Krim and his wife Marina Krim are expecting a baby boy. The couple announced the news on the Facebook page of the Lulu & Leo Fund, a non-profit established in honor of their late children.

“Nessie can’t wait to welcome her new baby brother. We are filled with many emotions as we look to the future, but the most important one is hope,” the couple wrote.

Lulu and Leo Krim were killed by their nanny in October, 2012, discovered by their mother after returning home with their sister Nessie. It became a national story, and drew coverage from TV news organizations from across the country.

The nanny, Yoselyn Ortega, pleaded not guilty in November of that year, and was found fit for trial last month.

ABC’s “Nightline” posted its best Total Viewer ratings since moving to the 12:35 a.m timeslot for the week of May 6.

“Nightline” topped “The Late Late Show” on CBS by +476,000 Total Viewers and “Late Night” on NBC by +11,000 Total Viewers during the second week of the May sweep. “Nightline” was second to “Late Night” in both A25-54 and A18-49 viewers.

The ABC show improved on its prior week performance by +14% in Total Viewers, +4% in A25-54 viewers and +14% in A18-49 viewers.

ABC’s ratings are based on a 25-minute broadcast, while CBS and NBC are based on approximately :50 minutes (prior to the final national commercial break of each program).

• Week of May 6, 2013:

Show	Network	Total Viewers	A25-54	A18-49
Nightline	ABC	1.779M	715K	582K
Late Night	NBC	1.768M	823K	689K
Late Late Show	CBS	1.303M	630K	472K