Barack Obama must have loads of dough with which to play.

The Democratic presidential candidate's campaign today announced they've bought a half-hour slot on CBS' prime time schedule. Though there's no word on how much Obama spent on the time, he's obviously not worried - the Senator's reportedly in talks to sign up other networks, as well:

The Obama campaign will air a half-hour primetime special on Wednesday, Oct. 29, at 8 p.m.

Sources say the Obama camp is also in talks with NBC and Fox. NBC is said to be very near a deal. With Fox, the matter is likely to remain uncertain as the time period could conflict with Game 6 of the World Series.

The direct purchase of such a large block of national airtime right before an election used to be more commonplace before campaigns began to focus their end game strategies exclusively on battleground states. Such a move is not without precedent in modern presidential politics, however — Ross Perot did a similar purchase in 1992.

Well, we certainly won't be watching if it conflicts with the World Series. That would be Un-American!

Katie Couric has done an ample job of resuscitating her reputation.

Once the piñata of television news — everyone got a turn beating her, and she had to hang there and take it — she's quickly rebranded herself as respected journalist and, before that, got a reprieve from media critics bashing her when Keith Olbermann took some of the heat away.

But as Couric exits the stage, temporarily, it's no longer Olbermann who's filling the void of short-lived attention spans by media critics. It is, actually, another woman.

Her name is Rachel Maddow, and the industry freakin' loves her.

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Today, as many of you know, marks the twelfth annual Day of Silence, which aims to combat homophobia in schools and commemorate those who have lost their lives to anti-gay violence.

A reported 6,500 schools are participating in this year's festivities, which also honors slain 15-year Lawrence King, so you can be sure the event's big news. And Michigan's local CBS affiliate fumbled in their coverage, says gay activist Sean Kosofsky.

Director of policy for The Triangle Foundation, Kosofsky specifically who takes issue with the station's repeated use of the word "homosexual" and citation of anti-gay American Family Association as a "family values" organization. Kosofsky calls that description "a flat out lie."

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Ilene Chaiken's not one of those "rich Hollywood folk". Well, she is, in a way, but The L-Word creator doesn't like to define herself in such terms. Regardless of how she'd like to be viewed, Chaiken's undoubtedly one of the movers and shakers in the world of entertainment.

Above you see Chaiken looking quite lipstick as she accepts the GLAAD "Outstanding Drama Series" award for The L-Word, which she also writes and executive produces. Philadelphia-born Chaiken told our editor recently that she didn't expect the show's success: "I didn't think it would happen. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would do something so successful." Chaiken also shares her thoughts on motherhood, strife with her parents, Hillary Clinton, DOMA, website spin-off OurChart, product placement and what she once looked for in a man - basically everything!

Before you dive into that jump, however, we think it's important you know that Chaiken sounds very similar to Sally Field: motherly, benign and familiar. Also, this conversation took place at 9:15am Los Angeles time, which Belonsky thought may be early for Chaiken. One never knows with those rich Hollywood folk!

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CBS' Big Brother returns next week and it's gayer than ever. Producers have lined up not one, but two fagalas for the reality show's billionth season! Like, OMG!

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Philadelphia-based news anchor Alycia Lane brought shame to her CBS colleagues this week.

As we reported Monday, the journo recently went apeshit on an undercover cop, whom she deemed a "dyke bitch". While Lane languishes in "vacation," the honchos over at her local CBS affiliate want the gays to know that will stand by our collective side:

CBS 3 is conducting its own investigation of whether Lane, who now is off the air on "vacation," called a female New York undercover cop a "dyke" and slugged her in the face early Sunday on a New York City street, the station said in the statement.

"Alycia and her lawyer have categorically denied that she used this language," said the statement from station spokeswoman Joanne Calabria.

"While Channel 3 is in the midst of its own investigation, we can state without hesitation that we find this language offensive, intolerable and inappropriate under any circumstances," Calabria said.

Philadelphia Gay News publisher Mark Segal also reminds us that CBS 3 led the fight against Dr. Laura Schlessinger's on-air homophobia: they were the first to drop the show from their frequency. Their action sparked a national movement.

Philadelphia-based news anchor Alycia Lane lost it in New York City yesterday. The 35-year old apparently became enraged after her cab sat behind a slow moving car. Lane and her boyfriend, Chris Booker, got out of the car to move things along. The car, it turned out, held three undercover cops, who began questioning Booker as the increasingly agitated Lane snapped shots. It's around this time, says NY Post, that Lane went totally ballistic, calling one of the female officers a "dyke bitch".

The female cop told the anchor, "You can take pictures, but you have to step back," the sources said.

Lane went ballistic, shouting that she was a TV reporter and declaring, "I don't care that you're a cop - you dyke bitch!" the sources said. Then she allegedly walloped the officer in the face.

Lane - whose lawyer said she didn't know the three were cops - was taken to the 10th Precinct station house, where she was charged with assaulting an officer.

Lane's lawyer also denies that his client hit the cop, who went to the hospital for treatment.

This isn't Lane's first time in the tabloids: the KYW-TV journalist once emailed steamy pictures to married sports reporter Rich Eisen. Despite her crazed past, KYW-TV seem to be sticking by Lane - for now, at least: "We are very concerned for Alycia. We are still trying to sort out exactly what happened." It's pretty clear to us: Lane lost it - big time.

• Will writer's strike squash CBS' presidential debate?

• Jossip editors Debbie Newman and Rebecca Aronauer talk turkey.

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Gay cable network Logo's breaking new ground with Gayville's first ever half-hour news show. From the press ready press release:

…CBS News on Logo will air weekly on Mondays at 7:00PM ET/PT as well as stream at 365gay.com, a leading online LGBT news hub from Logo. The show will be hosted by Jason Bellini, who will be joined by reporters Itay Hod, Chagmion Antoine and others from across the country and will be executive produced by Court Passant…

The new show will allow the CBS News on Logo team to probe beyond the day’s headlines and provide an opportunity for the in-depth exploration of issues of importance to LGBT America, tapping into the rich history and resources of CBS News.
…
“LGBT Americans will be a key voting bloc in the 2008 election and we hope CBS News on Logo will be a dynamic new platform for keeping our community informed and involved,” said Lisa Sherman, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Logo. “We’re thrilled CBS News is giving a unique LGBT perspective to the very best in television journalism.”

Hooray! Now we'll never have to watch boring old straight news ever again! Except for Tuesday-Sunday…

Amazing!

CBS reality show The Amazing Race starts its twelfth season with a pair of lesbian ministers.
Kate Lewis and Pat Hendrickson of Thousand Oaks, California will compete in the around the world race, a race which gave Reichen his start. So, will we be seeing a lot more of these lovely ladies? We sure hope so!

It should come as no surprise to hear that Lewis and Hendrickson are both associated with the Episcopal Church: the Anglican denomination that ordained openly gay Bishop Gene Robinson. That movement, however, has been splitting at the sacred seams over gay inclusion. Perhaps these girls can change some people's minds.

Steve Bartelstein lost his WABC job after showing up late for work and, in some cases, not showing up at all. While some thought the handsome journo's career would be consumed by crystal meth, we're pleased to hear that Bartelstein's landed a gig at CBS.

Of course, the Facts of Life law requires us to take the good and the bad. That said, we're sorry to say that Bartelstein's got testicular cancer. That cancer, Bartelstein, may explain his ABC tardiness:

Doctors say this had long been in my system. I'm not one to complain nor say anything disparaging. But it's possible my weariness at work was the result of this illness. I'd been showing extreme fatigue for a period of time. Even while I was still on-air, my mother said, 'I notice you're lethargic these days.' "

A mother always knows.

Now that he faces radiation and chemo, Bartelstein insists he's going to hold his head high: "I won't go the hairpiece route. I'll be knowledgeable, charming - and bald."