Welcome to your daily report and commentary from the intersection of Faith & Media.

Olbermann’s back @ MSNBC starting tomorrow. Story. For the record, Keith never should have been suspended in the first place. He’s a pundit whose opinions are well known. But, even if he was just a supposedly objective reporter, why should he lose his First Amendment right to donate to the party of his choice with his own money?  Anyway, he’ll probably see a ratings spike on Tuesday. So expect more suspensions in the future.

Bill Maher takes on Jon Stewart. Story. It could be a case of Emmy envy or maybe the Real Time host really does think Stewart’s suggestion that there are crazies on both side of the political spectrum is in itself crazy. So where does that leave us? Maher slaps Stewart for suggesting that there are too many people on the right who think President Obama is a socialist and too many people on the left who think 9/11 was an inside job. He says he can’t think of any liberal who thinks 9/11 was on inside job (I guess he never heard of Charlie Sheen or Rosie O’Donnell or James Brolin). I guess he also doesn’t know any liberals who think George W. Bush is a Nazi. In Maher’s view there apparently really is no difference between the Tea Party and the KKK. Of course, I don’t remember the Klan working to elect African-Americans to Congress. By the way, how did Maher, who first made his mark on Politically Incorrect, become so, well, politically correct. The concept of diversity of thought seems to be a thought that is totally lost on him.  

Chilean miner movie began shooting five days after their rescue. Story. If only these guys were in charge of the response to the BP oil spill. Anyway, I hope the movie doesn’t leave out the part about the butterfly.

Story the MSM will try to ignore: Scientists use adult stem cells to turn skin into blood.

By avoiding the controversial and more complicated processes involved with
using human embryonic stem cells to
create blood, this approach simplifies the process, researchers said. Full Story. Score another one for adult stems cells and another blow to attempts to portray its proponents as anti-science religious nuts.

Gays hold “kiss-in” as Pope visits Spain. Story. Why do gays care so much what the Pope thinks? Seventh-day Adventists are against drinking and smoking but drinkers and smokers aren’t staging drink-ins or smoke-ins in protest.

Jimmy McMillan of the Rent is Too Damn High Party extends his 15-minute lease at Charlie Sheen’s expense. Video. The video is a typical example of what’s wrong with comedy today. Take an amusing idea, stretch it past its breaking point and then descend into an orgy of cursing. 

Megamind tops at the box office. Story. Now, will the megaminds in Hollywood finally get the idea that the public actually prefers light-hearted entertainment with heart. Maybe some network TV execs will finally take note of fairly consistant box office results for such fare and tey offering some warm-hearted sitcoms and dramas on the small screen.  

Prediction: Unstoppable will live up to its name at the box office. Review.

I love Kermit…but naming his comeback vehicle The Greatest Muppet Movie Ever is asking for trouble. Story.   

TV DEVELOPMENT
Fox planning a game show in which contestants are given a million dollars that, if they’re not careful, is then lost into a deep abyss. Story. In other words, a documentary about the government.