Brian Williams Nudges NBC to The Top With A Light Touch

Gibson, who turned 65 yesterday, mused about the prospect of retirement last week with Dallas television critic Ed Bark: "I think I'll know when the time comes. You don't want to stay as long as [David] Brinkley did. David stayed too long. He had a great career, and you've got to know when it's time to leave."

Pundit's Court

Dan Abrams, attorney and talk show host, is appointing himself judge and jury.

The MSNBC commentator is renaming his program "Verdict," and while guests can offer evidence, he will be passing judgment on political and legal issues by picking winners and losers, deciding right from wrong and issuing a nightly scorecard.

"When a news show tries to do something offbeat, there's a sense that it's gimmicky," Abrams says. "It's supposed to be fun. The media make everything two-sided, even when it's not. Rather than saying 'one side says this, the other side says that,' it's helpful for viewers to know where I'm coming from."

"Live With Dan Abrams," which trails "Hannity & Colmes" and "Larry King Live" in the ratings at 9 p.m., will rebrand itself next week, introducing cartoon-style graphics to underscore its new identity. "We're kind of taking a page from the world of entertainment," he says.

Abrams says his media critiques carry "a modicum of credibility" because of his 15-month stint as MSNBC's general manager, which ended last fall. He already does a "Beat the Press" segment that tends to focus on his network's rivals, although he has mocked himself on occasion. "I try not to do gotcha stuff," he says.

New segments will include "Why America Hates Washington," in keeping with Abrams's increasingly populist tone. "I think it fits who I am," he says. "I'm a lawyer and I'm not a Washington insider."