Big Head DC can exclusively confirm that MSNBC honchos have decided definitively to cancel the 4 p.m. live airing of “Tucker,” the political program hosted by conservative talker Tucker Carlson, which normally re-airs at 6 p.m. Bosses decided that focusing exclusively on creating a single live show at 6 p.m. will be best for the show, reliable insiders have told us. 

Some MSNBC top brass are convinced that the 4 p.m. show hurt ratings for the 6 p.m. hour and would rather air more breaking news segments in the afternoon. Six o’clock, too, is far more important to advertisers.

There are also rumors from CNN that Lou Dobbs’ program will move from its current spot at 6 p.m. to fill departing anchor Paula Zahn’s current 8 p.m. slot. This move, MSNBCers believe, will ultimately give “Tucker” a great shot at winning the lucrative cable news 6 p.m. crown.

The realigned Carlson TV plans will likely go into effect on July 9.

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We all caught FOX’s mis-referenced graphic on O’Reilly the other night, referring to the disgraced ex-Congressman Foley as a Democrat, but why oh why isn’t the liberal media making a stink about Paula Zahn’s CNN graphical snafu tonight: During a “news update” on her show about Alec Baldwin’s messy divorce from Kim Bassinger, the actor was referred to as “Alex Baldwin” not only on screen, but also verbally. We, for one, are outraged. Drudge, where’s that damned siren?!

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We got totally confused when we first read this question to the lovely Lisa de Moraes during her live chat yesterday:

Arlington, Va.: Seriously, what was up with Paula last night? I caught it on CNN this morning, and well, it looks like girlfriend needs help. I also find it interesting that the Web recaps of the show aren’t talking about it. Are most media outlets ignoring it so she can save face? 

We soon figured out the Abdul-inspired nature of this question, but, at first, we thought the query was about CNN’s Paula Zahn. Because all the points seem to apply to her, too.

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My favorite TV columnist, Lisa de Moraes, on the unfortunate timing of President Bush’s press conference last night:

“The president of the United States scheduled his show during TV-Turnoff Week, the one week of the year when the well-meaning folks at the Washington-based TV-Turnoff Network ask people to turn off their sets and spend more time doing something else.

“We asked TV-Turnoff Network Executive Director Frank Vespe if the timing of the president’s show wasn’t unfortunate for his movement.

“‘It sort of is, particularly because he’s spoken many times, and the first lady, too, about the benefits of turning off the TV,’ he replied.”

de Moraes also offers some insight on why Judy Woodruff is really stepping down:

“Two sources familiar with the situation, who asked not to be identified because of the confidentiality of contract talks, said CNN had offered Woodruff a role as a kind of ’super correspondent’ in Washington but planned to drop her as ‘Inside Politics’ anchor. The offer, which would have amounted to a demotion, confirmed Woodruff’s earlier decision to step down, the sources said.”

This probably means that Inside Politics will soon be cancelled. So, now that CNN has killed Crossfire, Connie Chung, Talkback Live and perhaps Inside Politics, has its ratings skyrocketed? Nope, but Paula Zahn and Anderson Cooper keep on tickin’. Why get rid of the old when its the new that smells bad?

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