When ABC chose CNN’s Christiane Amanpour for ‘This Week’ in 2010, “obviously I had a degree of disappointment, “ Tapper says, “but it wasn’t as though they were putting Mario Lopez in there. Christiane’s a legend.”

Less than 18 months later, when George Stephanopoulos returned to ‘This Week’– again, no hard feelings, Tapper insists. “It’s George’s show. It was logical for him to want to do it. He’s also a journalistic legend.”

What did it for Tapper was his own weekday show at CNN, most likely to launch in March or April, in addition to being named Chief Washington Correspondent. New CNN Worldwide boss Jeff Zucker made the offer over breakfast last month at a secret undisclosed location in New York.

Tapper, in Philadelphia Thursday to promote his new book, ‘The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor,’ says he expects to take over the 4 p.m. hour currently occupied by Wolf Blitzer’s ‘Situation Room.’ Blitzer will be cut back to 5 to 7 p.m.

If all goes well, could this be a prelude to Tapper breaking into the prime-time lineup?

continued…

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Among the names said to be in the running are the anchor of “Extra,” Mario Lopez, [Kelly] Ripa’s husband actor Mark Consuelos, “20/20″ anchor Chris Cuomo and former “Access Hollywood” reporter Tony Potts.

Chris Cuomo? That came from almost nowhere. Other than working in the same building, the former GMA newsreader and current co-anchor of “20/20″ has no connection to the show.

“Chris has never been on the show and has not ‘thrown his hat in the ring,’” and ABC News spokesperson tells TVNewser, adding, “I am sure he is being mentioned because he is such a well-known, well-liked and versatile anchor.”

Anyway, in the just-finished February Sweep, the “Today” show’s third hour, which goes head to head with LIVE in many markets, topped Regis and Kelly by 188,000 Total Viewers. And, for the first time since the 2006-07 season, the third hour of “Today” topped “The View,” by 20,000 Total Viewers.

• SportsNewser writes about another name on the list.

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Teinowitz, one half of The Afternoon Saloon, will be off the air for the rest of the week.

He opened his show on Tuesday by apologizing to listeners and said he made “a horrible mistake in judgment.”

“We take this matter very seriously,” said Josh Krulewitz, an ESPN spokesman. “We all decided it was best for him to address the situation on air directly with his listeners, which he did Tuesday.”

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The company gathered some high profile guests to talk up their new offerings and partnerships, including Olympic swimmer Dara Torres, former NBA player Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, and film director Oliver Stone.

But they may have gotten more than they bargained for with Stone. For 13 minutes the acclaimed film director went off on new media, and old.

“It’s a shame what America did with Television,” said Stone. “Not only did it become for profit, but the news became for profit. It’s a joke. I don’t get anything out of the news, I think television is an evil drain.”

Not even, The New York Times, Oliver?

“I don’t read The New York Times, never did, I read through it. You read the front page and you know that’s their take. That’s what they’re trying to sell you.”

WebNewser has more… including what “Extra” host Mario Lopez, who was also at the event, had to say about Stone’s comments.

Terra.com founder and CEO Fernando Madeira talks with filmmaker Oliver Stone at an event for the company Tuesday night in Manhattan.

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