All four major broadcast networks, along with the cable news channels, are bringing out the big name talent for coverage of the 2011 State of The Union address Tuesday evening.

On the broadcast networks, NBC has Brian Williams anchoring along with “Meet the Press” host David Gregory.

ABC has Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos anchoring, joined by a number of correspondents, hosts, and analysts, including Jake Tapper, Christiane Amanpour, Jonathan Karl and Deborah Roberts.

On CBS, “CBS Evening News” anchor Katie Couric will lead the coverage, joined by CBS reporters and analysts.

On the Fox broadcasting network, Fox News Channel’s Shepard Smith will anchor coverage. Smith will be joined by “Fox News Sunday” anchor Chris Wallace and correspondent Wendell Goler.

On the cable news channels:

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The Washington Post columnist and Fox News contributor Charles Krauthammer broke down the recent media frenzie over Saturday’s violence in Tucson, Ariz. into two points in his column today:

1) “The charge: The Tucson massacre is a consequence of the ‘climate of hate’ created by” Glenn Beck and other media figures.

2) “The verdict:” that the media jumped to “unheard of conclusions there were “reckless, so scurrilous and so unsupported by evidence.”

Jared Loughner‘s motivations are still being looked into. But preliminary findings show that — as Krauthhammer wrote — there is “no evidence that Loughner was impelled to violence by any of those upon whom Paul Krugman, Keith Olbermann, the New York Times, the Tucson sheriff and other rabid partisans are fixated.”

The New York Times’ op-ed columnist, David Brooks, wrote a similar piece today titled “The Politicized Mind,” which also called out those who tried to make Loughner’s motives political.

President Obama’s second Oval Office address was carried on the four broadcast networks as well as the cable news networks tonight.

On NBC, Brian Williams anchored. On ABC Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos shared the set. Harry Smith anchored on CBS and Shepard Smith on FOX.

Following the address, FOX and CBS were first out, followed less than 30 seconds later by ABC and finally NBC. Williams had NBC News correspondent Richard Engel on set for a debrief. Engel reported live last week as the final combat convoy left Iraq.

Click continued for cable news notes…

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Chicago Sun-Times film critic Roger Ebert turned away from the screen to focus on TV’s Bill O’Reilly, writing a scathing open letter to the Fox News host on his Website.

Ebert was responding to O’Reilly’s inclusion of the Sun-Times in his “Hall of Shame” recently. Writes Ebert: “To be in an O’Reilly Hall of Fame would be a cruel blow to any newspaper.”

Ebert also addressed O’Reilly’s syndicated column, which the Sun-Times recently dropped. “That newspapers continue to run your column is a mystery to me, since it is composed of knee-jerk frothings and ravings,” he writes. Ebert’s choice for a conservative columnist? FNC contributor Charles Krauthammer.

Before closing with a “famous story” that probably can’t be repeated here, Ebert writes about O’Reilly’s recent interview with Liz Smith: “Bill, I am concerned that you have been losing touch with reality recently. Did you really say you are more powerful than any politician?”

Every network will cover President Barack Obama‘s Address to Congress tonight at 9pmET (right after our TVNewser Summit party tonight in NYC — it’s not too late to RSVP). Following Obama’s speech is Gov. Bobby Jindal‘s Republican response:

• ABC — Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos anchor coverage from the Capitol, from 9-10:30pmET. Jake Tapper, Jonathan Karl, George Will and Donna Brazile contribute. Nightline provides additional coverage and analysis at 11:35pmET, with Terry Moran anchoring from D.C.

• CBS — Katie Couric anchors from 9-10:30pmET, with a live Webcast on CBSNews.com and CNET.com immediately following. Bob Schieffer, Jeff Greenfield, Nancy Cordes, Lara Logan, Anthony Mason, Chip Reid and Dan Bartlett contribute.

• NBC — Brian Williams anchors from 9-10pmET. He will be joined by David Gregory, Chuck Todd, and Kelly O’Donnell.

• FOX — Shepard Smith anchors from Washington, D.C., beginning at 8:55pmET. Chris Wallace provides analysis and Shannon Bream reports from Capital Hill.

• CNN — Wolf Blitzer, Campbell Brown, Anderson Cooper and John King lead coverage from the Election Center in New York. Members of the BPTOT, including Gloria Borger and Roland Martin, will contribute. Shortly before the 9 p.m. address, Blitzer will introduce the address. A two-hour edition of AC 360 starts immediately after the address. “Larry King Live” airs live at MidnightET, with special guest, Sen. John McCain.

• FNC — Bret Baier anchors, beginning at 8:55pmET. Bill O’Reilly hosts a live O’Reilly Factor from 8-8:55pmET. On the Record with Greta Van Susteren airs live from 10:30-11pmET, followed by a Sean Hannity hosting a live “Hannity” from 11pm-MidnightET. Brit Hume joins Juan Williams, Nina Easton and Charles Krauthammer for post-address analysis, Major Garrett, Carl Cameron, Brian Wilson and Chris Wallace report for the coverage.

• MSNBC — Keith Olbermann introduces the address after Countdown, and a special edition of Countdown airs at 10pmET. The Rachel Maddow Show airs live at 11pmET and Hardball with Chris Matthews is live at MidnightET.

• CNBC — John Harwood and Larry Kudlow anchor the pre-speech coverage and a panel of guests join Harwood after the address. Also — Brian Williams will be on “Street Signs” at 2pmET after his lunch at the White House with the other anchors.

• FBN — Neil Cavuto anchors coverage, which includes Rich Edson and Peter Barnes reporting and Mack McLarty, former chief of staff for President Clinton, providing analysis.

• Bloomberg — Peter Cook anchors, with Al Hunt and Kathleen Hays contributing. Roger Altman and Frank Lavin provide analysis.

• PBS — Jim Lehrer anchors with Mark Shields and David Brooks providing analysis.

• C-SPAN — Airs the address live, with coverage beginning at 8pmET and a re-air at 11pmET.

> WebNewser has the coverage plans on the Web…

Larry Kudlow revealed a few details this morning on “The Call” about the off-the-record meeting last night between President-elect Barack Obama and many prominent conservatives held at ABC News contributor George Will‘s house.

“This was a good conservative group, and we just had a great back and forth,” he said. “And he wants to keep the dialogue going with conservatives.”

Also at the dinner were Peggy Noonan, Paul Gigot and FNC contributors Bill Kristol and Charles Krauthammer. “He is charming, he is terribly smart, bright, well-informed, he has a great sense of humor,” said Kudlow.

Meanwhile Politico’s Michael Calderone writes about a meeting today between Obama and liberal commentators. MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow was among those in attendance.

Is it really that difficult?

We understand that as a print medium, we can go and correct errors before they reach the public, whereas on TV, if you make a mistake it’s out there. But really?

This week there were three cases of Barack Obama/Osama bin Laden confusion.

On Monday it was MSNBC’s Chris Matthews, although he immediately corrected himself.

Fox News’ commentator Charles Krauthammer confused the two on Wednesday, although he was corrected by Brit Hume.

Then there’s this. Today on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, HDNet’s Dan Rather sat around a crowded desk and said, “Osama bin Laden” instead of “Barack Obama.” And it went uncorrected.

This brings the total, according to our records: Three on MSNBC’s air, three on FNC, two on CNN, one on ABC and one on NBC. Are we missing any?

Join us next week for another edition of This Week in Osama/Obama Confusion.

Click continued to see Rather’s flub from this morning (and a Jackson chyron misspelling for good measure)…

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