Kaplan left ABC News this summer when he launched Kaplan Media Partners. The veteran producer and news executive is working with networks and programs, both news and entertainment. His client list so far includes HBO where he is working as a creative consultant on Aaron Sorkin‘s “Newsroom.”

But Kaplan is particularly energized by the Fuse gig. He is launching a show called Fuse News. “It’s a daily news program about the music business — entertainers, acts, events and new trends,” says Kaplan calling it, “A serious attempt to cover the music business.” Kaplan a former president of CNN and later MSNBC, was most recently the executive producer of the “CBS Evening News” and — in his second stint with ABC — was EP of “This Week.”

Fuse is owned by MSG Inc. which was spun off from Cablevision in 2010 and is run by music lover and Cablevision scion James Dolan. Knowing that it has the backing of the top boss should tell you this news, is serious business.

Perhaps best of all, Kaplan is hiring — and fast. The network is planning to shoot pilots next month, with a launch in January or early February. “We’re looking for producers, associate producers,” says Kaplan. “We’re looking for great camera people who can edit. This is the real deal.”

If you’re interested drop Kaplan a line at his email here.

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Don’t believe us? Among the attendees were Fox News CEO Roger Ailes, Fox News anchors Brian Kilmeade and Jamie Colby, ABC’s Katie Couric and Andrea Canning, NBC’s Matt Lauer, Brian Williams and Savannah Guthrie, CNN’s Piers Morgan, CBS’ Chris Licht and Gayle King and, just for good measure, Whoopi Goldberg, Star Jones, singer John Mayer, John McEnroe, Cablevision CEO James Dolan and movie tycoon Harvey Weinstein, among many others.

You can see more names at the Michael’s New York Twitter feed.

Update: Our own Diane Clehane was there, and spotted Regis Philbin, Bill O’Reilly, former New York Governor George Pataki and plenty of others. Her report and photos are here.

In other words, it was quite the crowd. Couric and Ailes even had a nice chat, as Niche Media founder Jason Binn noted on Twitter.

(photo via Jason Binn)

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If you’re familiar with Whitlock’s work from The Kansas City Star, then you won’t be surprised to learn that former quarterback Jeff George will be the first guest on the podcast.

Whitlock and George were high school teammates at Warren Central High School in Indianapolis, Ind.

This has the potential to be a weekly train wreck, but in a great way.

Let’s not forget about the last time Whitlock graced the microphone following his departure from The Kansas City Star.

I’ll be listening for sure.

Update: Jason Whitlock tweeted that Jay Mariotti will be his guest on Real Talk and the podcast will be made available at midnight EST.

New Career Opportunities Daily: The best jobs in media.