Letterman also "expresses bewilderment" at NBC's move to jettison Leno in favor of Conan O'Brien on "The Tonight Show" next year, according to the New York Times.

But Fox will surely settle for the Cubs against anyone, particularly the large-market Red Sox or L.A. Angels. Fox also has the National League Championship Series, meaning possibly more highly-rated Cubs games.

He asks why, instead of those histrionics, shots of the "pounding surf, wind-whipped palm trees and mangled power lines" aren't illustrative enough. "This makes weather reporting different than every other kind of breaking TV news story," he writes. "No one covers a house fire by rushing into the burning building, or reports on a war by doing stand-ups in the middle of a tank battle."

Consider the hilariously narcissistic YouTube video that caught him unendingly going back and forth on whether to wear a trench coat or suit jacket (for a non-storm appearance). Eventually, he settles on the trench coast. But that's not the end of it, as he then begins a second interminable back-and-forth on whether to go with the collar up or down.

A major concern of his: How the coat will look with the wind blowing.

Questions about Ifill's approach come amid the backdrop of the Obama-Clinton debate on ABC last spring, when moderators Charles Gibson and George Stephanopoulos were sharply criticized. The pair spent more than 45 minutes on questions about "character issues" - many of which had already been debated ad nauseam -- before moving into policy. The Washington Post's Tom Shales called their performance "despicable."

It's unlikely Biden will raise the touchy pregnancy issue, so Ifill's tack becomes even more intriguing.

More salt in the wound: PBS had two, Ifill and Jim Lehrer. Lehrer will moderate a presidential debate, along with NBC's Tom Brokaw and CBS's Bob Schieffer.

ABC isn't the only one losing a prime spot to burnish its image. CBS's embattled Katie Couric might have benefited from an opportunity in the spotlight.

The current crop of shows themselves are arguably as good or better than ever. But attracting an audience is of course harder than ever.

And with their new shows this fall, networks face that conundrum again.

With the exception of "Heroes" in the 2006-07 season, there's been a shortage for some time of new series becoming consistent (even) top-20 performers.

"Heroes" was off the air last spring due to the strike, so insight into its future should come with its ratings in a few weeks.

But the CW brand doesn't carry much cachet, while some of Tribune's stations have strong local brands, such as KTLA in Los Angeles and WGN in Chicago. Heavy marketing using those monikers might help bring in viewers -- if for no other reason, than via promotions in their newscasts.

Stop at one corner and TNT touts new drama "Raising the Bar" on a phone booth. Five paces away, there's a sign above a subway entrance for Bravo's "Top Design." Across the street, there's a digital billboard plugging CW's "Gossip Girl." A fly pattern away is a video screen with clips promoting CBS offerings from "The Early Show" to new comedy "Worst Week."

And all the while, buses go by with sides backing Fox's "Fringe," ABC's "Pushing Daisies," and "Date My Ex," another Bravo series.

More than any other, Bravo Media seems to have a bottomless budget for both its flagship and newly added Oxygen network -- at least for signs in the Big Apple.