9 November 2006

So I just sent an email to the "politics" group here at work--nothing earth- shattering. Just an innocuous and rather boring note about Senate leadership races. Well just minutes after I sent the email one of our anchors --while doing a talk-back with our chief political correspondent--read my email right from his blackberry: "Well, I just got an email from Michele Remillard who says..." and proceeded to read my email to the entire viewing audience. It was quite funny. I think we're all a little punchy still from lack of sleep Tuesday night.

And then when things couldn't get even MORE bizarre, I just saw this on our internal computer system:

"1600 Secretary Rice makes an announcement regarding figure skating champion Michelle Kwan's appointment as State Department American Public Diplomacy Envoy.
The State Department, Treasury Room."

Fabulous.

8 November 2006

Happy Post Election Day. Got home at 2:45am after a long, but fun, night. Nothing like spending nine hours with 12 of your closest friends in a cramped control room. I was with some really talented and fun people so the time really flew by, believe it or not. We were totally hunkered down though--people only left for (very) short bathroom breaks, we had food/snacks brought in--one girl even brought her pajama pants to change into.

I think our product looked pretty good on the air--no major technical or editorial breakdowns, which is amazing considering we had 2 control rooms going (NY and DC) and probably WAY too many "cooks" in the preverbial kitchen. The bosses seemed happy, too. We'll have ratings any minute now.

As an American and a TV producer, I think divided government is a good thing. I think a new Defense Secretary is a good thing. I think there's a narrow window of opportunity to really get things done before the craziness of the 2008 campaign begins. Democrats get their chance now to GOVERN--not just sit in the back row and shoot spitballs. President Bush has a chance to delay his "lame duck-ness" a few months and really reach out to Democrats (his press conference today is encouraging). Congressional Republicans have an opportunity to look forward--not just wallow in their depression at losing the House (and probably the Senate.) I hope all parties seize the day.

Now--before I get too serious--the lighter side of election night. A BIG thank you to WONKETTE.:



From Wonkette: "There are so, so many things to love about this picture. Well, three things: Rick Santorum conceding, a little girl crying, and an awkward pre-teen flipping off the nation. We declare this the official screenshot of the 2006 midterm congressional elections." (MR notes: Ok, just how kids does Santorum have!? And what's with the creepy doll his daughter's holding?)

* The midterm election DRINKING GAME--courtesy of Wonkette.

* The daughter of the new senator from Tennessee--Republican Bob Corker--caught in
in a "compromising" position. Check it out HERE.

6 November 2006

Our long, national nightmare is ALMOST over! Election Day is TOMORROW. It's very exciting and dramatic and all that--but it'll be nice to have a conclusion to all this madness. And then, of course, the PRESIDENTIAL election officially begins on Wednesday. Good times.

Produced my show out of our New York headquarters Saturday on our fancy schmancy election set. It was a bit nerve-wracking because my hosts were on a strange set, I was in a strange control room, we had a totally different crew, etc--but the show looked great, no one got hurt, and we're all still friends. (That's my standard for a successful broadcast.)

Caught up with very dear friends in NYC later on in the evening--we had dinner at a little place in the theatre district (Angus McIndoe) and drank WAY too much pinot noir. My friend and I then stumbled down Broadway to my hotel on Times Square (so she could get a cab and so I could collapse)--but not before bumping into a man dressed as Spider Man along the way. Fabulous.