Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Sunday Talk Shows:

Meet the Press (NBC): Former Presidents BILL CLINTON and GEORGE W. BUSH appeared --as they did on all five of the major talk shows-- to tout their joint fund to raise money for earthquake survivors in Haiti. Clinton said, "This is about water, food, medical supplies and care, and... shelter, secure shelter... We literally don't have enough food to feed them now."
   He added, "There are two issues. One is buying it. And the second is getting it in and distributing it. But that's what everybody's working on now." On returning to the White House, Dubya told host DAVID GREGORY, "It's a little nostalgic. I'm glad I've come back for this purpose. I must confess... I miss you (Gregory) as a person, but I don't miss the spotlight." (Pacelli)

Haiti:

Things should calm down a bit today, when more than 12-thousand U-S forces are expected to be on the ground. Haiti officials made it clear that they think the widely cited Red Cross estimate of 50-thousand dead isn't even close to reality. The interior minister said the government has already buried "around 50,000 dead bodies" in mass graves and expects "there will be between 100-thousand and 200-thousand dead in total," though an exact number may never be known. (Maiman)

It could take weeks for text donations to reach Haiti.
   The numbers are unprecedented. As of Saturday, Americans had pledged more than $11 million to earthquake relief in Haiti through their cell phones. Politicians and news organizations, not to mention users on social-networking sites, are urging people to donate, and Americans have responded in huge numbers. But the money exists only in a theoretical sense until those cell-phone users pay their phone bills. It could take anywhere from 30 to 90 days for the money to make its way through the system.
   Responding to questions, Verizon Wireless has said it will send $3 million right away to cut down on lag time, and other carriers are working on similar efforts. But wireless companies acknowledge it's not an easy feat to simply come up with the money from thin air before customers pay up. (Maiman)

The Reel Deal:

That'll be Bond, 3-D Bond.
   With the success of "Avatar," Daily Variety says the new James Bond film will be in 3D. DANIEL CRAIG will once again star as 007 in the film, which has been delayed a bit because of the sale of MGM Studios. Producers are in talks with SAM MENDES to direct the blockbuster.

Music News:

ELVIS PRESLEY was in really bad shape when he died in August of 1977. According to a new book by The King's walking prescription pad, DR. GEORGE NICHOPOULOS, or Dr. Nick for short, Elvis was nearly blind from glaucoma, arthritis, a fatty liver, an enlarged heart, severe constipation, a colon swollen to more than twice its normal size, gout and migraines.
   Dr. Nick was indicted on 14 counts of over-supplying drugs to Elvis, JERRY LEE LEWIS and others, but was acquitted on all charges. He has been called the man who killed Elvis, but in this new book, Dr. Nick wants to clear his name by showing that Presley could have died from any one of those many ailments. (Marino)

Sir PAUL McCARTNEY presented the Golden Globe last night for Best Animated Feature Film last night. The orchestra played "Yellow Submarine" as he came to the stage. The ex-BEATLE said, "My name is Paul McCartney, or as I'm better known today, the guy from Rock Band." Paul also said that animated films are for children and adults who take drugs. He gave a plug for the "Yellow Submarime" remake too.
   FYI: "Up" won the Golden Globe for Best Animated Feature Film. (Marino)