We had the opportunity to sit down with “PBS NewsHour” associate EP Simon Marks on Friday. Marks, who was recently promoted to President and CEO of MacNeil-Lehrer Productions, has traveled the world as an international reporter for several networks including Fox News. We asked him for his thoughts on the WikiLeaks debate.

“It changes the way you look at what in the past might have been a direct relationship between a whistle-blower and a newsroom:”

• Watch for the full MediaBeat interview with Marks coming soon…

As we reported, ABC “Nightline” anchor Martin Bashir is leaving ABC News for new opportunities at NBC News.

But one of the things we didn’t report was this hilarious anonymous tip from someone identifying themselves as a runner at a NYC music studio:

Just met lovely guy who is journalist from TV. Martin Bashir. He’s cutting a reggae album. He’s top class bass player like totally good. Do you know this? You should!

We did NOT know this!

So we looked into it…

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Can you guys believe the wedding of the century is finally here?! I cannot!

All the news networks had reporters live this morning from Rhinebeck, NY ahead of the Chelsea Clinton-Mark Mezvinsky nuptials.

The big event is scheduled for later this evening, but security is said to be extremely tight, so it will be interesting to see how much there is to actually cover here.

As we reported yesterday, one of the original HLN (formerly Headline News, and before that CNN2) anchors signed off yesterday.

Chuck Roberts joined the network before it went on the air in 1982. One of his colleagues, Bob Parker who worked at HLN for 24 years and is now at The Weather Channel, uploaded the first CNN2 broadcast from January 1, 1982 co-anchored by Roberts … without a TelePrompTer, apparently.

Also listen closely at the beginning of the YouTube clip to hear who was covering the Times Square ball drop. Before Anderson Cooper there was….

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Thursday’s broadcast of “The View,” featuring President Barack Obama, was the series’ most-watched broadcast ever in Total Viewers (6.59 million). That puts Thursday’s show about 2 million viewers ahead of the nation’s #1 morning show “Today” which last week averaged 4.68M Total Viewers. The network morning shows also have a larger available audience for their 7am broadcasts compared to “The View”‘s late morning airings.

The show was the most-watched broadcast since March, 2009 in the women’s demos: W18-34 (516,000/1.5 rating) and W18-49 (1.33 million/2.0 rating).

“The ratings indicate that our show continues to break new ground. ‘The View’ has proven to be an important stop for political candidates and is appointment television for our loyal audience who value our opposing views,” said Barbara Walters.

(h/t TVbytheNumnbers)

CNN founder Ted Turner was a guest on the season premiere of “The Valley Girl Show” a web series starring actress Jesse Draper.

While CNN only comes up fleetingly in the discussion, you get to see a side of Turner that we aren’t normally privy to.

For example: Turner sings the “Captain Planet” theme song after having a frank discussion about nuclear weapons… while sitting on an over-sized pink and leopard print stiletto.

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25-54 demographic: (L +SD)

Total day: FNC: 316 | CNN: 143 | MSNBC: 126 | HLN: 137

Prime: FNC: 572 | CNN: 192 | MSNBC: 205 | HLN: 179

	5p:	6p:	7p:	8p:	9p:	10p:	11p:
FNC	Beck:	Baier:	Shep:	O’Reilly:	Hannity:	Greta:	O’Reilly:
	446	398	311	576	581	557	435
CNN	Blitzer:	Blitzer:	KingUSA:	RicksList:	King:	Cooper:	Cooper:
	124	98	111	130	203	245	212
MSNBC	Matthews:	EdShow:	Matthews:	Olbermann:	Maddow:	Olbermann:	Maddow:
	189	231	222	228	224	162	125
HLN	Showbiz:	Prime:	Issues:	Grace:	Behar:	Grace:	Showbiz:
	74	76	140	228	183	139	171

Data by Nielsen Media Research. Live and same day (DVR) data.

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CBS anchor Harry Smith sits down with President Obama for “Sunday Morning” and Monday’s “Early Show.” In the interview — a portion of which will air on tonight’s “Evening News” — Obama comments for the first time since ethics charges were leveled against Rep. Rangel. Smith conducted a “court-side” interview with the president back in March.

Some new details are about to revealed about MSNBC’s new Lawrence O’Donnell show, but we have it first on TVNewser.

“The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” is the name of the new 10pmET program and it will premiere Monday, Sept. 27.

O’Donnell and MSNBC president Phil Griffin are about to appear before the Television Critics Association gathering in Beverly Hills to announce the news and take questions from the TV press.

> Update: Press release after the jump…

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The Wrap reports that NBCU Television Entertainment chairman Jeff Gaspin has seemingly confirmed what many have been anticipating: Piers Morgan will be splitting his time between NBC and CNN. Hunter Walker writes, “Asked whether the contract meant NBC would be sharing Morgan with CNN, Gaspin has a one word reply: ‘Yes.’” The exchange took place at the TCA summer press tour Thursday.

As was reported, Morgan’s NBC contract and the obligations involved would have likely prevented CNN from entering direct negotiations until a certain time.

CNN is declining to comment at the moment. TVNewser has learned, however, that negotiations are underway, which should not come as a surprise.

Update: The Wrap has just updated its story to include this addition: “Gaspin later spoke to TheWrap to clarify his comments saying, ‘We have relaxed his exclusivity and allowed him to talk to CNN.’ Gaspin said he could not speak to any deal between CNN and Morgan.”