Overnight Briefing & General Reality Check

Sexual anniversaries:

12 years ago (1998) Then-President BILL CLINTON angrily denied reports he'd had an affair with former White House intern MONICA LEWINSKY and tried to get her to lie about it. He angrily told reporters: "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." Guess again, dough boy.
   --LORENA BOBBITT was found not guilty by temporary insanity of charges that she cut off her husband's penis. (1994). Lorena's ex later went on to make such fine films as "JOHN WAYNE BOBBITT Uncut," "The Trial of Lorena Bobbitt" and "Frankenpenis." Lucky us.

Looking at Logos:

Folgers is inviting Americans to create their own versions of its 25-year-old jingle, "The Best Part of Wakin' Up," for the chance to win $25,000 and appear in a future commercial. And no knowledge of musical notation or even mastery of an instrument is necessary.
   Post your videos at bestpartofwakinup.com through February 28. Songwriter-producer (and "American Idol" judge) KARA DioGUARDI will lead a judging panel to choose the semi-finalists and eventually, the winning jingle. (Kaye)

The Airlines:

Starting Feb 01, Air France will levy a so-called "fat tax" against obese fliers, charging them 75 percent of the cost of a second seat in addition to the cost of the first.
   The decision was prompted by a surge of complaints among passengers (the company wouldn't say how many) and has been chalked up to "a question of security."
   They're not charging for an extra seat, as was reported by some international media outlets. Under the previous policy, which has been in place since 2005, obese passengers had the option of buying a second seat in economy, at a 25 percent discount. That remains unchanged. In a new move, according to a company statement, those passengers can get a refund on the second seat if economy class is not full.
   In other words, obese passengers flying Air France won't be penalized for taking up two seats if the plane isn't full. If it is, you gotta pay a discount price for a second seat. American Airlines, Southwest and JetBlue currently have similar policies. (Maiman)

Reality Round-Up:

Looks like DAVID HASSELHOFF is getting a new series. The A&E network says they're committed to ten half-hour episodes of a series with The Hoff and his two teenaged daughters --who both want to be singers.
   In Hollywood, everybody wants to be famous, and that includes TAYLOR-ANN, who's 19 and a communications major at the University of Arizona and HALEY, who's 17 and is the top model for the fashion line Torrid through her contract with Ford Models.
   In the A&E press release, the Hoff laid it on thick: "It's the dream of every parent to be able to help their children succeed. I told the girls that I would help them open the door when they are ready, but they would have to walk through it on their own. This is their time and I am excited to be a part of it."
   So the series will feature the Hoff as a "stage dad" who attempts to use his connections to get the girls a recording contract.

Broadcast, cable and video news:

Settlement in Conan case today: Daily Variety says an announcement is expected in the CONAN O'BRIEN mess this morning. Meanwhile, Conan's final show is shaping up and will include TOM HANKS, WILL FERRELL and NEIL YOUNG. Maybe he'll do a version of "Pants on the Ground."
   Tonight's guest is ROBIN WILLIAMS, who appeared on JOHNNY CARSON's last show.

Vinny Marino:

"The Hills" plastic surgery star HEIDI MONTAG has been telling anyone who'll listen that she spent almost 2-million dollars of her own money recording her debut album, "Superficial." Well, clearly no one cares because for the week that ended Sunday, Nielsen SoundScan says the album has sold less than 1,000-copies. Industry sources told UsMagazine.com that in fact, Heidi's magnum opus has sold only 658 downloads so far. Heidi told Entertainment Weekly last week that she expects to make all her money back within the first week of sales. Not even close! (Marino)