This morning Fox Business Network’s Melissa Francis guest-hosted “Fox & Friends,” filling in for Gretchen Carlson. Among the stories covered, “Is living longer always better?”

Francis also spoke to the Detroit News, where she was asked about that longstanding rumor that the character of “Avery Jessup” on the NBC sitcom “30 Rock” is based on her:

I’m flattered. The funny thing is, I was supposed to go to North Korea for a story five years ago but couldn’t go because I was pregnant with my first child. When I was at CNBC, we all wanted to be on “30 Rock.” Like everybody else, I was constantly angling to get on the show. I wanted to be Jack’s love interest but I can see why they went with a professional actress.

As we’ve reported in the past, the character could also be based on financial journalist Jennifer Rogers who is married to “30 Rock” Executive Producer Robert Carlock.

TVNewser stopped by the book party for CNN anchor and special correspondent Soledad O’Brien Friday night at Russell Simmons‘ lower Manhattan apartment .

In The Next Big Story, co-authored by CNN producer Rose Arce, O’Brien takes a page from her award-winning …In America series, and other reporting experiences, and blends her personal story and mixed-race background (Cuban, Irish, Scottish, Long Island-ish) crafting an inspiring story of hope amidst the tragedies that are a staple of the TV news stories she covers.

The party was a mix itself, of hip-hop stars and tvnewsers: Katie Couric, HLN anchor Jane Velez-Mitchell, CNN correspondents Alina Cho, Susan Candiotti; CNN SVP Bart Feder, …In America EP  Geraldine Moriba, New York bureau chief Darius Walker, development EP David Doss and newly appointed EP of Piers Morgan‘s show Jonathan Wald were all in attendance.

O’Brien mingled with guests all while getting around with a cane. “It’s a step up from the crutches,” O’Brien told us. She’s still nursing a knee injury after being thrown from a horse in early October. O’Brien will continue the book tour with a stop in New Orleans. That event will be a fundraiser as residents continue to recover from Hurricane Katrina, a story O’Brien covered extensively.

Also at the party:

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We’re not going to let this Avery Jessup-”Hot Box”-CNBC thing go.

Turns out the executive producer of “30 Rock,” Robert Carlock is married to TV news reporter, Jennifer Rogers. Rogers, who worked for the former CNNfn, now works for Reuters.

And on the Valentine’s Day episode of “30 Rock” last year there was even a character named Jennifer Rogers. Okay, we’re done. For now.

• Earlier:

Was Melissa Francis the Inspiration for Avery Jessup?

Could ‘Hot Box’ Be Coming to CNBC Soon?

> More: Okay. We’re not done. A tipster tells us the “Hot Box” scene was actually filmed on the set of the real MSNBC show “Your Business.” Also, Rogers is good friends with the host of “Your Business,’ JJ Ramberg. The two worked together at CNNfn. Now we’re done. I think.