Morning Joe Scarborough's Zbig Lie

At the Winter Press Spin Pimp Tour 2012 MSNBC prevaricator Joe Scarborough discloses he entertained other networks but stayed at MSNBC because he wouldn't have the same access to Mika Brzezini's has-been father Zbigniew:  "He said to me, 'If you go over there, can you interview me for 15 minutes?' And I said,  'No, probably not.' And he said, 'Stay where you are, then.' "  David Hinckley NYDN

If you believe that, then you still believe Joe and Mika's WABC radio talk show which disappeared nearly two years ago is in "hiatus" and being "retooled" . . .

"I never ever thought they were going to leave."  MSNBC prez Phil Griffin.  Marisa Guthrie THR

On the subject of MSNBC’s 2012 election coverage, Griffin noted after the session that he had expected Fox News’ victory the night of the Iowa Caucus to be far bigger than it was. “It’s just interesting,” he said. “Nobody blew it out. I think it speaks to the country’s reaction to politics today. Given that this was such as Republican event, I thought Fox would just dominate.”   Deadline

Fox beat MSNBC and CNN combined -- and then some.  TV by the Numbers.

THR's Guthrie: "The MSNBC morning program notched a 24 percent audience uptick in 2011 and has become shorthand for imitators attempting to recreate the chemistry between the politically paradoxical hosts."

Is it me or is sourpuss Mika Brzezinski looking a bit long in the tooth?