The TV Zone

Tucker Carlson - sure, you know the name, although dollars to (a million) donuts, you don't watch his show - has been shunted aside at MSNBC. In his place, David Gregory has just been named to take over as anchor of a new nightly 6 p.m. show called "Race to the White House."

Gregory: He's the White House fixture and up-and-comer at NBC, believed to be VERY ambitious, and some (his agent!) have suggested he might one day get a big, fat, meaty role at "Today," when Matt Lauer decides to golf full time. (Potential "Today" anchor material? I doubt it very seriously, but ya never know...The guy is particularly good on his feet, and the "Today" interviews he does, many over the years, are solid and smart and occasionally tough.)

What happened to TC? I'm guessing the usual - horrible ratings. The Gregory show is certainly blessed by good timing because all that anyone seems to be talking about these days - besides "is Archie really that sweet and innocent?" - is "Obama or Hill?"

And more news from MS:"Countdown" Keith Olbermann, who's been pretty much the key go-to all-'round anchor guy in Secaucus in recent years, will have his 8 p.m show double-pumped at 10; Andrea Mitchell, NBC News veteran/chief foreign affairs reporter (and married to the Man who Used to be King, AKA, Alan Greenspan) will anchor weekdays at 1 p.m.; and...Dan Abrams' "Live with ..." show is no more, and will instead by re-branded as "Verdict with DA." That'll air weeknights at 9.

All of this is effective next week.