NBC's 'Rock Center' Gets Its Rocks Off

Brian's Rock Center ratings may experience an unnatural spike tonight as Meredith Vieira makes her virgin appearance pimping JFK's teenage intern's salacious revelations. NBC teases.

Can I watch?

Baltimore Sun TV critic David Zurawik and the NBC Tuesday press release that set him off:  "How failed has this Brian Williams ego trip been so far? So failed that affiliates were publicly trashing NBC for providing such a wretched lead-in that it was driving viewers away from late local news at 11."

• "If it was doing great or even ambitious journalism, the ratings might not matter so much. But instead it is showcasing the likes of Chelsea Clinton doing the kind of poorly-reported, goopy feature no self-respecting affiliate in a Top 10 market would air."

•  "This is a vanity project for Williams -- the network giving him a reward for all the money he is makiing for NBC by winning in the evening news race. Good for him in terms of winning. But never have I seen a ratings win go to the head or any newsman or newswoman as they have with Williams."

•  Williams is "a caricature of the pompous, self-important anchorman, sucking up to presidents and imposing his ego on those below with no regard for journalism."