The TV Zone

Never a dull minute when Matt Lauer interviews Hillary "Vast Right wing Conspiracy" Clinton, and this morning's "Today" encounter was a perfect example.

You had to see this amazing TV moment to actually believe it, but just about three minutes after 7, Hillary comes on to offer up some jovial retorts to last night's Republican debate. Matt, meanwhile, listened politely - TOO politely, and you just KNEW he had something up his sleeve.

Hill's gamely chatting away, and then Matt - looking very serious, almost nervous - says (in effect), I know you can't see what I'm about to show the national viewing audience, but... And then, bingo, on the screen was Hill and Bill in a smiling portrait with Tony Rezko. Yes, the very Tony Rezko - AKA slumloard - that Hill charged Obama with being too cozy with during the recent CNN debate.

Beautiful! Hill, I suppose, had a good response under the circumstances (so many parties you go to, and so many people you have to rub shoulders with; you just can't keep track of them all!) But it was still lame-o. (You remember of course that it was a Matt/Hill encounter that yielded the famous "vast right wing conspiracy" charge she leveled right after Bill said he never had sex with that woman, etc.)

Score a big one for Matt and "The Today Show." That's what I call high impact TV.