If you're one of the 14.3 million households that currently gets their television via over-the-air broadcasts, you'll be without a signal come February 18, 2009. That's the date the US switches from old, boring analog to what is being called by high-ranking officials as "the new hotness" or... digital.

But, you're not completely out of luck. As of yesterday, the US government is giving away 33.5 million $40 coupons to help people buy converter boxes (expected to cost between $50 and $70) so they continue to suck on the sweet electronic teat without interruption. No, don't call your doctor or wash your eyes out with bleach, you read that right: the US government is spending $1.5 billion to help people watch TV.

Bill Moyers' Journal, a new version of his '70s news program of the same name, "debuts" tonight with an interview with Daily Show host Jon Stewart. I put "debuts" in quotes because the series actually debuted with "Buying the War" on April 25, but tonight marks the first time the new series finally settles into its regular timeslot.

Below is a clip from tonight's show in which Stewart pithily describes The Daily Show as "very serious people doing a very unserious thing." I think that not only describes The Daily Show perfectly, but also describes what makes the best satire, whether it's television (The Daily Show), movies (Blazing Saddles), or Swift's A Modest Proposal. The best satire comes from either a real love of what's being satirized (Young Frankenstein), or the need to twist real anger and frustration into something comedic (Blazing Saddles, The Daily Show).

After seeing Comedy Central's as for this Daily Show/Colbert Report "Midterm Midtacular" mash-up , I expected a lot more integration. Aside from the obvious change in content, this special wasn't all that, um, special. It was just like the usual Stewart/Colbert block, but with one or two more check-ins. No breaking news. No balloon drops. No t-shirt giveaways. Ehh.

The FCC has dismissed indecency charges against ABC's NYPD Blue and CBS' Early Show, but has upheld charges against - oh, delicious irony - Fox.

Back in April, the networks sued the FCC and asked an appeals court to invalidate the Commission's charges of indecency against NYPD, Early Show and Fox's broadcast of the Billboard Music Awards in 2002 and 2003 on the grounds that the charges were unconstitutional.

ABC got off easy. The NYPD Blue episodes that used the words "dickhead" and "bullshit" were let off the hook because they aired several years ago - before the FCC upped its fines 10x, post-Janet wardrobe malfunction.

President Bush is infamous for his well-strategized photo ops and metaphorical backdrops. As for Dennis Hastert... not so much. Hastert held a press conference to address the Mark Foley scandal... with a graveyard in the background. Jon's Cryptkeeper side-story was really funny because it sounded like he was still a little annoyed that an appearance would cost $10,000. "I like GORE! Aaah-hahaha."

BP shut down one of their main pipelines, after finding that it was dangerously corroded (higher gas prices on the horizon, kids). Correspondent Rob Corddry elaborated on the situation, live from Alaska and wearing a hard hat. "I feel a little silly walking around with a shiny dome where my hair should be." Awww. Bald joke. Rob had a little trouble explaining the pipe line so he left it up to Alaska Senator Ted Stevens... "It's a series of tubes!" However, Rob had no problem talking about the sealing process, which involves actual seals. Baby seals, preferably. The baby seals are forced into the holes in the pipe line. Really back-breaking work... Meaning they have to actually break the backs of the seals. The audience reaction to this was really funny, especially to the Photoshopped picture of a baby seal stuck in a pipe line. Big laughs for Rob.