Interesting study by Horizon Media - the big media buying company - on the Memorial telecast figures.

31.1 million watched, as has been widely reported.

This study says: Meh. Not so hot. Maybe viewer "fatigue."

Here's the takeaway from the press release:

"While this is a relatively high number of TV viewers for Tuesday afternoon in July, there have been similar televised events that have attracted more viewers. The audience could climb higher, however, when live + seven day becomes available.

“'The extensive media coverage of Michael Jackson’s death across broadcast and cable news network’s as well as the internet coverage, may have led to some fatigue of viewers by the time the funeral came twelve days later on a summer weekday afternoon,' said Bill Koenigsberg, President, CEO and Founder of Horizon Media."

Head to the jump for the full list of other big-ticket events and how they rated...

DATE EVENT *TOTAL VIEWERS (in millions)
July 2009 Michael Jackson Funeral 31.1

February 2009 Super Bowl XLIII 98.7
January 1991 Operation Desert Storm 85.6
September 1999 Bill Clinton apology (Monica Lewinsky) 67.6
March 1993 Oprah Winfrey-Michael Jackson interview 62.3
October 1995 O.J. Simpson verdict 54.6
January 1981 Ronald Reagan inaugural 41.8
January 2009 Barack Obama inaugural 37.8
February 2009 81st Academy Awards 36.3
June 2004 Ronald Reagan’s burial 35.1
January 1977 Jimmy Carter inaugural 34.1
September 1997 Princess Diana’s funeral 33.3
January 1969 Richard Nixon inaugural 33.0
May 2009 American Idol season finale 28.9
March 2009 American Idol (Michael Jackson songs) 25.8
June 2004 President Reagan’s funeral 20.8
February 2009 51st Grammy Awards 19.0
April 2009 ER Finale 16.4
January 2007 Gerald Ford ‘s funeral 15.0
April 2005 Pope John Paul II funeral 8.8

And it's about time!

(What took NATAS so long?)

But good for Babs.

It'll be presented September 21, 2009 at Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center, located in the Time Warner Center in New York City. These awards are very big deals, by the way; this is not some rubber chicken dinner citation, but the biggest and best that NATAS hands out.

“NATAS is delighted to honor this very special woman,” said Frank Radice, President of the Academy. “Barbara’s career is a remarkable one with few in broadcast journalism coming close to matching it. Many years ago I worked as a field producer with Barbara at ABC News and I never saw anyone work as hard. She was, and continues to be, an inspiration.”

Bill Small, Chairman of the News and Documentary Emmy Awards, cited her long and distinguished service at ABC, and before that at NBC. “Barbara is one of a kind,” he said, “a prime example of what journalists can achieve in television news. She remains one of the medium’s great interviewers and also an inspiration to women who, as a result of Barbara’s pioneering role, now work in every phase of broadcast journalism. When Barbara began her career few women could expect to get ahead in news, but she did, with skill, intelligence and perseverance."

Bottom line: I loved 'em. Show's as good as ever; better even than that.

Vince, as you also probably know, is back on top again because the Scorsese re-imagining of "Gatsby" is a success (at least the reviews are; we don't know about the BO is just yet).

Meanwhile, he's on the promotion circuit. Here's the clip of "Leno." Yes, it has a certain yesteryear feel to it insofar as Jay is no longer at the "Tonight Show," but maybe we should all pretend this is Jay at 10.

Clip on the jump is (I believe) Turtle's obsession with Seth Rogen.

Peter King on "The Factor" last night. His first TV comments on the Youtube business since Sunday, I believe.

You missed? You've come to the right place.

PK was on remote from DC, and Bill O'Reilly brought up the business that the comments were "racist," to which King said, "absolute nonsense" - he called for Cardinal Law's resignation when sordid business surfaced too, and the first Catholic pol to do so, he claimed.

"I don't see how pointing out a person's horrible record, when someone is...abusing children. How is that racial?"

Well, says Bill. Why not wait a week then? The day before the guy's funeral?

And, says, King: "I spent the whole weekend with...as you'd say, been with the folks [and] they wanted to know, why is this guy getting all this adoration, getting this coverage...?

"I had to cut through this ten-day cacophony" - by this I presume he was talking about Newsday's coverage - "this onslaught where he was being made out to be a saint. So I wanted to cut through the psychobabble. He was a child molester. He slept with boys."

Bill O brought up the point that many have said it had nothing to do with deviancy and that the guy was sort of a Peter Pan figure - "he says he slept with them only because he loved them, involved no sexuality..."

And, Bill pressed, is it fair to hit the guy after he was acquitted?

I don't recall PK actually responding to the latter question; of the former point, he said this:

"I would say that an adult male who sleeps with young boys is a child molester. How are they going to grow up normal after spending nights in bed with Michael Jackson?

"It was a deviant lifestyle...

Of the coverage, "it went on and on, round the clock and at the same time with Americans dying in Iraq and Afghanistan...and you talk about a culture war, I think the media and elite class failed, defining deviancy down and it can't be much more down than what Michael did with young boys."

Rev. Al Sharpton was up next and - if you missed that part - Bill O pressed him on the line about MJ not being "strange;" Rev Al danced quickly away from that, and went straight to a rebuke, and relatively mild one at that, against PK:

"It's totally irresponsible for a lawmaker to disregard the law; charges were made against [MJ] and a jury of twelve said he's not guilty of child molesting...it's reckless and irresponsible..."

[Below, a clip of last night, but first, maybe you'd like to know MY thoughts on all this. As I said in this space and in an interview with News 12 Lea Tyrrell the other night, I think PK is genuinely off-base on this one for the simple and inescapable reason that the media HAS covered the molestation charges since Jackson's death. In fact, media coverage on this point has been unremitting, and I recall seeing a tick-tock on E! of all places that lasted for many minutes. Each of the major networks, cable and broadcast, has gone over the same ground pretty exhaustively too. Yes - TV has cited endlessly and at times hyperbolically his artistic achievements but also cited endlessly (at times hyperbolically) the pedophile charges too.]

Here's the statement, directly from Nielsen:

"A memorial service was held in honor of singer Michael Jackson on Tuesday July 7, 2009. The event was carried live from approximately 1pm ET to 4pm ET on 19 networks. The sum of average audience for those networks was 30,919,882 and had a combined household rating of 20.5. The networks carrying the memorial service were ABC, NBC, CBS, FOX, Telefutura, Telemundo, Univision, CNN, Fox News Channel, MSNBC, Headline News, BET, E!, MTV, VH1, VH1 Classic, TV Guide Network, TV ONE, and MUN2."

They need no intro...

Sorry, gang, but nothing else to add about today's Memorial and attendant coverage. You've seen it all (above). Heard it all. .

And maybe - I have a sneaking suspicion - you may not be able to read another word about it all.

But in the off-chance you do, here's my wrap in tomorrow's paper.

R.I.P., MJ.

What a day on TV. It seemed like two days, really. Or three. Enough comments, observations, and declarations to fill all the days of the week, in fact. From morning till night, the Memorial dominated the airwaves as nothing has since the Obama inauguration, which seems so very long ago.

In tone, there were two sharp contrasts to the day. The Memorial was a made-for-TV event produced by TV pros Kenny Ortega ("High School Musical") and Ken Ehrlich - a veteran of numerous Oscar, Emmy and Grammy telecasts - who combined grand spectacle with almost painful intimacy. The coffin, draped in brilliant red flowers, commanded the center of the screen, while the towering vidwall, orchestra, choir, performers and speakers themselves seemed to radiate above and beyond it. The audience, those thousands of ticket holders, were out in the dark somewhere – apart from the spectacle instead of a part of it.

And while memorials are not meant to be entertainment, this one often was. With performances by Lionel Richie, Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey, or Jermaine Jackson, that was inevitable. But the real TV takeaway moments had less to do with music and more with image - of a distraught family huddling in a protective cocoon, or (especially) of a daughter, Paris, in a moment of pure unguarded anguish.

Those emotions seemed too concentrated, to intense, for casual viewing. You almost wanted to turn away. Of course, you could not.

-Photos: Michael Jackson Memorial

-Photos: Fans react

Then, there was cable coverage – that yeasty doughnut surrounding the Memorial. The chatter started first thing the morning, then the networks ceded territory to cable networks like E! BET, MTV, MSNBC, CNN and Fox. There wasn't much to talk about. That didn't stop cable, and never has.

To be polite, some morning coverage was often unrestrained. To be impolite, the networks occasionally coughed up volcanic, gaseous, steaming clouds of hyperbole and hooey. "Even the funeral of Princess Diana didn't take on this importance," declared Chris Jansing, the anchorwoman at MSNBC. "Probably the biggest media event, the biggest Internet event ever," someone announced on CNN.

"It's notable that even on the day of his funeral, the whole thing is kind of a freak show," said Fox News' Shepard Smith, who noted that the "elephants" were forthcoming - the parade, tomorrow (remember?)

Facts were elusive, and for the most part irrelevant. Relying on police estimates, the networks predicted a million outside the Staple Center, then half a million…75,000… 5,000…and finally, "it looks it looks like a big crowd, “ said a reporter on CBS, “but here we think it's only about 500 people."

There were curious non-sequiturs. E!'s Giuliana Rancic, for example, noted, "there will be a lot of surprise celebrity appearances [and] we just saw Larry King make his way into the Staples Center…”

Then, there was at least one prediction that sent a cold chill up the spine of some viewers, when Fox analyst, former Jackson attorney, Brian Oxman promised, "we're going to be dissecting this for a long long time."

-Photos: Michael Jackson Memorial

-Photos: Fans react

My reaction to the TV memorial?

All in all - good.

Moving, often.

Deeply felt, often. (And jarring, on occasion. Should politicians ever speak at memorials? )

Best of the day: The music (Stevie, Usher, Jermaine, that cute kid from "Britain's Got Talent," even.)

And the moment of painful intimacy - the moment that will be the great and enduring takeaway image of this whole day? At the end of course: Marlon, and Paris, and the family, huddled in a protective cocoon.

Millions, no doubt, sobbed in unison.

Worst of the day: Some of the cable coverage. Just ghastly.

More on all this, later.

-Photos: Michael Jackson Memorial

-Photos: Fans react

Now, a little more news from another King - Larry, this time.

There is, repeat, NO ghost at Neverland Ranch.

LK solved the mystery last night.

The ghost, presumably of MJ himself, was caught on camera during last week's CNN Neverland visit. The terrifying apparition was seen during a live mansion tour, and for a moment, "LKL" turned into "Ghost Hunters: The Neverland Edition." Millions - most of these millions, I should note, of questionable mental competence - were convinced they had just seen the King of Pop. Millions of others were convinced they had just seen a shadow.

-Photos: Michael Jackson Memorial

-Photos: Fans react

Never one to let a question go unasked, or a ghost go un-hounded, Larry investigated.

Watch the ITN (who else?) clip! Be prepared to be shocked, or appalled...And if there's no ghost, then what about that face of MJ on the tree? Just to establish how insane they've become over at CNN, to the jump!

Now, the full-scale LKL investigation...

And just to establish that CNN coverage has gone really bonkers, this:

Hard to miss today's MJ Memorial, but for those who want a menu choice...

E!: Coverage begins at 7 a.m., with Sal Masekela ("Daily 10") from Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills where Jackson is reported to be buried; with E! News' Giuliana Rancic in the studio, and Jason Kennedy from Staples.

CBS: Katie Couric from the Staples, while each major daily broadcast will originate from here. In addition, a "48 Hours" special tonight.

BET: Coverage begins at 12, with "guest" reporters Lola Ogunnaike and April Woodard, along with with correspondent Jina Johnson. Coverage (network says) last until 4 and include "celebrity guests, tributes, and special reports."

NBC: Meredith Vieira will anchor a split edition of "Today" from the Staples Center; network coverage anchored by Brian Williams begins at 1 p.m. In a special 10 p.m. edition of "Dateline," Lestor Holt will offer a refresher on the memorial with reactions.

CNN: Anderson Cooper from the Staples Center along with Larry King and Don Lemon. HLN anchors will be Robin Meade, A.J. Hammer and Jane Velez-Mitchell.

MSNBC: Begins at 11, with Chris Jansing on site, and Tamron Hall and David Shuster anchoring from NYC. (NBC's Jane Wells will be cover the biz angle, whatever that might be.) Meanwhile, MSNBC will follow on-linbe chatter via Twitter (hashtags #MJ and #msnbc or #nbc.)

MTV, VH1: Wall-to-wall begins at noon, and both will air the pool service from 1 to 2:30 p.m. MTV News correspondent Sway Ca lloway will be reporting from Staples, plus MTV News correspondents Tim Kash, Kim Stolz and Shaheem Reid and VH1's Jim Shearer and VH1 Classic's Mark Goodman to discuss, analyze.

Fox News: Shepard Smith will anchor coverage from New York, starting noon, while Greta Van Susteren will be at the Staples and anchor a special "On the Record" tonight. Megyn Kelly will handle the memorial.

ABC: Charles Gibson will be in New York, but “Nightline” anchor Martin Bashir “Good Morning America’s” Robin Roberts, “Nightline” anchor Cynthia McFadden and Senior Law and Justice Correspondent Jim Avila are all at the Staples; plus, a special "GMA" anchored by Roberts; a 9 p.m. "20/20" co-anchored by Diane Saywer and Barbara Walters; plus a 10 p.m. special, "Primetime: Family Secrets” on the children and custody battle. "Nightline" at 11:35, with Cynthia McFadden, from Staples.

TV One: Starts at 1, co-anchored by veteran journalists Art Fennell and Jacque Reid.

A fine Alec Baldwin interview by Michael Fleming in the current Playboy; some of the outtakes were out a couple weeks ago (the business about "Today," TMZ, and so on.)

But the full interview closes with this interesting aside, which was all news to me:

PLAYBOY: Will you run for office?
BALDWIN: I’ll put it this way. The desire is there; that’s one component. The other component is opportunity. A law firm in a liberal Democratic bastion in Ohio state politics sent me a binder with a cover letter that read, “Mr. Baldwin, here’s who we represent, the kinds of cases we handle, our credentials in Ohio state politics. We want you to move to Ohio and run for governor. We will launch your career.”

PLAYBOY: Could you live in Ohio?
BALDWIN: I have sometimes thought I could move to New Jersey or Connecticut and run. I’d love to run against Joe Lieberman. I have no use for him. But it’s all fantasy. I’m a carry-me-out-in-a-box New Yorker. Here, anything can happen. Who thought Eliot Spitzer would go down the way he did? Senator Hillary Clinton left to serve as secretary of state. Two of the biggest forces gone. Maybe Andrew Cuomo will run for one of their old seats. How much longer will Chuck Schumer stay as senator? After 2013 Bloomberg will be gone. What happens then? Do I run for Congress on Long Island? What’s Tim Bishop going to do? He represents my district. People get sick, die. They’re offered lucrative deals and want to cash in and make money for their retirement. People misstep. Unfortunately, an opportunity for me may mean bad things for someone else. I don’t wish that.

PLAYBOY: How does all this factor into your career?
BALDWIN: I’m done in 2012. In March 2012 I’ll wake up and say, “What am I going to do now? Am I done?” I think I will be done. I may finish a play or something, but I’m retiring at the wrap party.

-Photos: Alec Baldwin

Yes, Meredith will be there, along with a few million of her closest media friends.

Here's the press statement: "NBC News' Meredith Vieira will broadcast live from the Staples Center in Los Angeles Tuesday, July 7 on "Today." Vieira will also attend the Michael Jackson memorial service and report live from LA on "Today" Wednesday, July 8. Vieira will interview several insiders involved with the memorial service on "Today" Tuesday and Wednesday."

Matt was there last week for the Neverland tour...

And from Fox:

"Shepard Smith will anchor special live coverage of the Michael Jackson memorial beginning during the Noon ET hour on Tuesday, July 7th on FOX News Channel. Greta Van Susteren will be on-scene in Los Angeles providing live coverage updates throughout the day, and will anchor a special edition of On The Record w/ Greta Van Susteren from Los Angeles at 10:00pm ET.

Megyn Kelly will anchor special live coverage of the Jackson memorial on FOX (broadcast network) beginning at 1:00pm ET."

The FOX broadcast anchored by Kelly will also be streamed live on FOXNews.com. Both Smith and Kelly will anchor from New York.

Also: CBS now says that it (too) will provide live coverage: " In addition to the previously announced plans below, CBS News will provide live coverage of Michael Jackson's memorial on Tuesday, July 7 at 10:00 AM PT. CBS News' comprehensive coverage also will include reports via CBSNews.com and CBS Radio News. "

And - suffice it to say - more to come...

"TV One will air live, uninterrupted coverage of Michael Jackson’s Memorial Service from the Staples Center in Los Angeles Tuesday, July 7 beginning at 1 PM ET/10 AM PT. TV One’s coverage will be co-anchored by veteran journalists Art Fennell and Jacque Reid..."

That is the question now, inevitable as the sunrise, as insistent as a jackhammer.

Now that she's about to be unencumbered by political office, will she cash in?

On Fox? That's the immediate knee-jerk reaction, certainly. "A natural for the Fox News Channel..." You'll see some analyst using those words, in generally the same order, over and over again.

Or her own syndicated show? The next Oprah! "Poprah!"

(Right! Forget the show - let's jump straight to the name: "Sarah, Plain and Tall;" Straightalk;" "Sarah!" "Palin!" "Momma Bear". )

And as usual, everyone's asking the wrong question. It's not WILL she jump to TV, but CAN she jump to TV? Plus, these subsidiary questions: What would the show be about? Would it service her political future, or end it - for it is said, the person who undertakes a daytime syndicated talk show will never reach the White House, except as a tourist.

In fact, Palin might have better luck reaching the White House if she goes into acting - scores a couple big-name movies (sensitive subjects, though ones letting her "breathe," while revealing the tough, compassionate, David Letterman-baiting side...) And then, like run for president. (Reagan did plan a slightly different approach, but it worked.)

Again, CAN she do it? Ask questions, listen to answers, undergo the daily nonsense involved in pulling together a show, be comfortable with producers, and story meetings, and the necessity for soft and hard interviews, and so on.

Or, if a syndicated talk show: Be prepared to joust with fashion experts, talk intelligently about weight loss programs, and maybe (like Ellen) do a standup and then dance before an enthusiastic and well-prepped studio audience?

Here's my point (and like Ellen, I do have one): Whenever a major political figure leaves public office, one of the first and most obvious reactions in the media-ocracy is to ask "when does the show begin?" Rarely, is that second one asked. It's the more important one.

There's another question: Does she even want to do TV? Best I can tell, that's almost never asked either.

Get ready for one of the major TV events of the year - on Tuesday, July 7.

The Michael Jackson memorial.

Network plans are starting to filter in now.

Here's CBS:

"Based on current plans, CBS News will provide comprehensive coverage anchored by Katie Couric of Michael Jackson’s memorial at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, as well as the events and activities surrounding the memorial via the CBS Television Network, CBSNews.com and CBS Radio News. "

The network adds that the following will orginate from there..."The Early Show...Evening News with Katie Couric"...AND a special "48 Hours" anchored by Katie Couric.

-Photos: Michael Jackson's final rehearsal
-Photos: Fans react to Jackson's death

Expect very similar plans by everyone else too.

Tuesday is MJ day. Get ready...The crush is on now for special interviews, "exclusives," and you-name-it.

Enjoy your Fourth.