NBC News and CNBC will present special programming on the quest for energy independence on October 18. The “Invest in America” reports will air across all of NBC’s platforms Thursday.

CNBC’s Jim Cramer and Phil LeBeau will travel to the Utica Shale region in Ohio. Cramer will broadcast “Mad Money” from a steel plant in Canton and LeBeau will report from Youngstown. LeBeau will appear on “Nightly News” and on MSNBC’s daytime programming, while Cramer will appear on “Today.”

More information in the press release after the jump. Read more

CNBC running a series this week called “American Titans” with reporting on major U.S. companies during business day and a corresponding documentary in primetime. Schedule: Erin Burnett on ExxonMobil (Monday), Melissa Lee and Jim Goldman on Apple (Tuesday), Michelle Caruso-Cabrera and Phil LeBeau on Boeing (Wednesday), Carl Quintanilla on McDonald’s (Thursday), Maria Bartiromo on Google (Friday).

The cablers and networks covered President Barack Obama‘s remarks about the GM bankruptcy this afternoon, with George Stephanopoulos anchoring on ABC, Russ Mitchell on CBS and Ann Curry on NBC.

Tonight on ABC World News, Charlie Gibson anchors from a Chevrolet dealership in New Jersey, in addition to several reports from ABC’s correspondents. CBS’ Dean Reynolds reports from Detroit and Anthony Mason from New York. NBC’s Phil LeBeau (who got the second question at the GM news conference after a reporter from Mexico) and Kevin Tibbles will report for Nightly News.

And perhaps a recognition that it is now 60% owned by the U.S. government, GM was doing the diplomatic thing by airing C-SPAN’s coverage of the Obama remarks at its New York headquarters, rather than from, say, CBS which produces its morning show in the GM building. C-SPAN, a public service channel, is owned by cable and satellite operators.

> Jill Dobson wrote on Janice Dean‘s blog Saturday that Dean gave birth to a baby boy earlier that morning. As of Saturday afternoon, no name had been picked for the 7 pound, 10 ounce baby. > Update: Dean’s baby’s name is Matthew Stephen Newman.

> Detroit Free Press’ Sarah A Webster gives her “10 folks to track in ’09” of the auto industry. CNBC’s Phil LeBeau is the only tvnewser to make the list, because “if you live and breathe autos” then “LeBeau is a name you know.”

> FBN anchor Liz Claman appeared this morning on CBS’ The Early Show to discuss the economics behind President Obama’s stimulus plan. Claman was live from the NYSE.

At the end of another week of financial crisis, CNBC talent was all over the NBC mothership. Erin Burnett kicked off the Today show yesterday with breaking news about the declining Dow futures.

Carl Quintanilla appeared at the beginning of the NBC Nightly News to discuss the day’s market movement, and Phil LeBeau was on later.

This morning, Trish Regan, Sharon Epperson and Carmen Wong Ulrich were on Saturday Today.

• Squawk Box begins an hour early at 5amET on Monday.