NBC

CNBC's David Faber reports on the impending acquisition of his network's parent company. "General Electric and Comcast are now expected to announce a deal over GE's NBC Universal unit on Nov. 16, not next week as originally thought," Faber writes on CNBC.com. GE will shed 51% of NBC Universal to Comcast and hold the remaining 49%.

NBC "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams made his acting debut returned to "30 Rock" playing himself, (and playing Nicky Mortarulo of Scotch Plains, NJ) last night. He was in two short scenes. Here's one of them:

> More: Tony Mortarulo of Scotch Plains, NJ is Williams' real-life uncle.

On NBC Nightly News last night, Brian Williams introduced a story about a flare-up in violence in Tehran related to the 30th anniversary of the Iran hostage crisis by saying, "We get more from NBC News Tehran bureau chief Ali Arouzi, the only journalist working for an American broadcaster who is currently in Iran."

Turns out, that's not the case.

CNN's full time, Tehran based producer, Shirzad Bozorgmehr reported from Tehran yesterday both on-air and online. He's been based there full-time for 12 years. Shirzad also contributed to Reza Sayah's coverage of the anniversary from Pakistan.

The "Nightly" story after the jump...

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Friday evening's "Dateline NBC" set a season high with 8 million viewers, winning the 9pm time slot and coming in second for the night in Total Viewers. The episode was "Mystery at Lost Dog Road" in which "Roger Brauburger recounts the troubling story of his childhood friend, Bob Duke, and the tragic crime that would change both of their lives."

The NY Times reports that Comcast is getting closer to a deal with GE for control of NBC Universal. According to individuals that have been briefed on the discussions, the deal could be reached as early as next week:

After a series of meetings last week, the two companies reached a tentative agreement on Friday over the main points of a deal, these people said. Comcast would own about 51 percent of NBC Universal, contributing several billions of dollars in cash and its own stable of cable networks to the new venture.

G.E., which currently owns 80 percent of the entertainment company, would retain the other 49 percent and would contribute about $12 billion in debt to the new entity, though it is expected eventually to sell its ownership interest over several years.

The question of what will happen with French conglomerate Vivendi is still a major issue in the negotiations.

One of NBC Universal's most notable personalities, Jay Leno, sat down for an interview with B&C and he discussed his take on the potential NBC Universal switch in ownership and the ever-changing nature of the TV business:

[Laughs] There's an ownership change here every six months. "Oh, you're the new programming guy, good to see you! OK, thank you." Then the phone rings, "Hey Jay, I want you to meet the new guy. OK, good to see you!" I've been through nine of them!

Brian Williams last week reporting from Afghanistan. (Photo: Subrata De/NBC News)

In a Q&A with the New York Post, NBC's Brian Williams talks about his other NBC life, playing himself shows including "30 Rock", "The Jay Leno Show" and SNL:

NYP: Are you concerned that your comedic appearances will detract from your image as a news anchor?

Williams: I do have the fear that somehow someone will confuse the two and think that it means in any way that I'm less serious about my work. But I think people are smart enough to differentiate. They get it when they see me cutting up with Jon Stewart or Tina Fey or Jimmy Fallon and they get it when they see me at 6:30 p.m. The NBC folks are all for it - they think it shows people more dimensions of me.

NYP: How do you have time for it all?

Williams: I have no other interests. I'm a non-fiction person in a non-fiction line of work. I don't read novels to relax - I read newspapers, magazines and Web sites. I go home every night with a briefcase full of work, the news on, and my laptop by my side. I'm always following everything that's going on and e-mailing folks on the staff, asking them what they think about this or that story for tomorrow. This job is probably done best if it's your life's calling.

In a email Q&A with the Huffington Post from Afghanistan, NBC "Nightly News" anchor Brian Williams discusses his recent experience there and his experience covering the war. Writing from a "dimly-lit room inside a barricaded, heavily-protected compound in Kabul," Williams responds:

To be in my job for the past 5 years and NOT have a ground-level familiarity with both of our nation's ongoing wars would be reckless, I think. Getting to know the military -- sleeping where they sleep, eating what they eat, going on patrol with them, learning about their lives here and at home -- has been one of the great blessings of my life...and anybody who knows me knows I feel that way. Its one thing to post an opinion on the web about what the U.S. is doing here, from the comfort and safety of home...and its quite another to be here and experience it...and come back and do it again and again. For all the pejoratives attached to the MSM label, it also means we have the money and means to get over here and report what we see and experience. Our viewers can make their own judgments. That's the way its supposed to work.

The NBC 'Today' show hosts dressed up as "Star Wars" characters on an elaborate set outside the studio for Halloween. Al Roker as Han Solo might be worth it alone. Plus, the Darth Vader reveal.

Also, did Meredith Vieira just get groped by an ewok?

Because of the escalation of violence in Afghanistan over the past few days, NBC's Brian Williams didn't think it appropriate to be on "The Jay Leno Show" last night, so "Meet the Press" moderator David Gregory pinch hit for the 10@10 segment. Williams was scheduled to do the Q&A with Leno from Afghanistan where he anchored "Nightly News" last night. "Because of late breaking news he cannot be with us," said Leno. Go to the :30 minute mark for the Gregory clip:

In his monologue last night, Jay Leno talked up several media stories, including fired ESPN analyst Steve Phillips, declining newspaper circulation, and the White House war on Fox News... complete with a presidential prop:

But what was not included in the NBC clip was Leno joking about MSNBC's Contessa Brewer who last week introduced Al Sharpton, when she was really talking to Jesse Jackson.

"Even worse than that," Leno joked, "after he told her I'm Jesse Jackson, she said, "Are you the one that's between Jermaine and Tito?"