The Ticker: Matthews, Kaplan, King…

> Variety’s Brian Lowry has some advice for MSNBC’s Chris Matthews — watch and learn from George Clooney. Lowry brings up Matthews lengthy NYT Magazine profile, and writes, “He joins the ranks of those in the amusingly thin-skinned TV news elite that have opened up believing they’ll win over a reporter.”

> TVNewser hears that yesterday was “Rick Appreciation Day” at CBS’ The Early Show, in reference to interim EP Rick Kaplan. Really. Much of the staff of the Evening News stopped by the surprise party thrown by The Early Show for Kaplan. It has been a little more than five weeks since Kaplan took over as Early Show EP.

> It’s possible…for Larry King to deliver a fantastic PR pitch. The CNN anchor signed off last night by pitching Daryn Kagan‘s (“our old friend”) new book. “If you have a dream and want to make it true, Daryn Kagan’s book is for you,” said King. Click continued to see the rest of the pitch…

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