News all-around today...

It's hard keeping up with all the Katrina news but I'll get to that at somepoint today.

Stephen Colbert doesn't mind being an idiot, or at least acting like one on television. His new show starts October 18th.

V for Vendetta's promos are being pulled from theatres mainly because it's being pushed back a year. Also, a new television drama is being pulled as it deals with aliens coming via destruction of a hurricane.

Democrats are considering their prospects in future races including 2008. Right now, even thinking of 2008 should be on the backburner as we deal with the Wrath of Katrina.

Conan O'Brien is poised for late night's biggest prize.

"This coolant system, which is about the size of that table," O'Brien said. "Pulled it down through the ceiling — there are wires sparking — went over, picked up a phone and called a page. She came in and just stared at it. I said, 'Could you do something with that?'"

Telling the story now, as he did during a talk this spring in New York, O'Brien is hilariously self-effacing. But it's easy to forget that late-night hosts are comedians, and comedians with few exceptions are angry people.

Johnny Carson's wrath was fearsome, by all accounts, while David Letterman's behavior so alienated the higher-ups in Burbank, Calif., that he lost The Tonight Show to Mr. Nice Guy, Jay Leno.

It is apparent that there are, indeed, two Americas. Which one are you in?

Meanwhile, Sen. Evan Bayh of Indiana, Edwards' former jogging buddy and closest friend in the Senate, has been wading into Edwards' political turf.

Bayh, who like Edwards is considering a presidential run, attended a South Carolina Democratic Party fund-raiser in Columbia last week. Edwards, a native of South Carolina, carried that state in the Democratic presidential primary last year.

Dick Durbin is now in the spotlight thanks to the Supreme Court fight.

McFly is still scared of The Who's Roger Daltrey.

Guitarist Danny Jones remembers when Daltrey contacted him to organise the session: "I got a voicemail, and it was Roger Daltrey, I was like, 'Oh my God.' It was the most amazing day.

"I was almost too scared to ring him back. Even now I'm quite scared of calling him. I don't want to be a typical fan."

Rolling Stones guitarist Keith Richards says that women don't care that he's ugly. I must warn you that clicking on that link is not safe for people that cannot tolerate some language.

Advice from The Who's Roger Daltrey: "Watch your money!"

Pete Townshend is in a bad situation as he struggles to write new songs for his band, The Who.

Townshend, famed for his demonic guitar-smashing antics, admits his mindset has changed since his anguished youth - and he is desperately fighting his artier side in a bid to create Who-friendly rock.

He says, "I have only one problem, and that is writing for what The Who fans - and that includes me - call The Who.

"People say 'just write' and that's what I do, but then I often end up with what sounds more like Brecht and Weil or Serge Gainsbourg than the old Who.

"I know what people want but I can't seem to control my creative side. If it comes out a bit arty-farty, then that's all I can do."

It has been reported that Palestinians have assassinated Yasser Arafat's nephew.

Roger Daltrey plans to sing until he dies.

He says, "I don't want to stop singing, my voice is still there, and there's bits of my voice I haven't used. I'd just like to explore a lot more.

"I'd like to end up like Johnny Cash, croaking away in his last years, and doing his best work. That's not bad is it?"

In Katrina benefit news,

The first batch of performers has been announced for Friday's multinetwork telethon, Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast, and they include newly engaged Sheryl Crow, the Dixie Chicks, Alicia Keys, Randy Newman, Paul Simon, Rod Stewart and Neil Young. Among the nonmusically inclined celebs slated to appear are Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz, Ellen DeGeneres, Jack Nicholson, Chris Rock, Ray Romano and Sela Ward. Kanye West, meanwhile, will serve as host.

Unfortunately, I have to work that day -- otherwise, I'd be watching.

Fidelity and Paul McCartney are teaming up.

David Ortiz could join Yaz as the second player to hit 40 home runs in back to back seasons. Manny Ramirez could join them as well. They have raised nearly $130,000 for the relief efforts.

Tell President Bush to stop blaming the Hurricane victims and start helping them!

Here is a timeline of events:

Friday, Aug. 26: Gov. Kathleen Blanco declares a state of emergency in Louisiana and requests troop assistance.

Saturday, Aug. 27: Gov. Blanco asks for federal state of emergency. A federal emergency is declared giving federal officials the authority to get involved.

Sunday, Aug. 28: Mayor Ray Nagin orders mandatory evacuation of New Orleans. President Bush warned of Levee failure by National Hurricane Center. National Weather Service predicts area will be "uninhabitable" after Hurricane arrives. First reports of water toppling over the levee appear in local paper.

Monday, Aug. 29: Levee breaches and New Orleans begins to fill with water, Bush travels to Arizona and California to discuss Medicare. FEMA chief finally responds to federal emergency, dispatching employees but giving them two days to arrive on site.

Tuesday, Aug. 30: Mass looting reported, security shortage cited in New Orleans. Pentagon says that local authorities have adequate National Guard units to handle hurricane needs despite governor's earlier request. Bush returns to Crawford for final day of vacation. TV coverage is around-the-clock Hurricane news.

Wednesday, Aug. 31: Tens of thousands trapped in New Orleans including at Convention Center and Superdome in "medieval" conditions. President Bush finally returns to Washington to establish a task force to coordinate federal response. Local authorities run out of food and water supplies.

Thursday, Sept. 1: New Orleans descends into anarchy. New Orleans Mayor issues a "Desperate SOS" to federal government. Bush claims nobody predicted the breach of the levees despite multiple warnings and his earlier briefing.

Friday, Sept. 2: Karl Rove begins Bush administration campaign to blame state and local officials—despite their repeated requests for help. Bush stages a photo-op—diverting Coast Guard helicopters and crew to act as backdrop for cameras. Levee repair work orchestrated for president's visit and White House press corps.

Saturday, Sept. 3: Bush blames state and local officials. Senior administration official (possibly Rove) caught in a lie claiming Gov. Blanco had not declared a state of emergency or asked for help.

Monday, Sept. 5: New Orleans officials begin to collect their dead.

In other news, Coldplay paid tribute to Johnny Cash and the victims of Katrina at a recent concert.

Rockers Coldplay paid a touching tribute to the victims of Hurricane Katrina during their show in New York last night when they dedicated their hit "The Scientist" to the survivors.

The British group tweaked fans' consciences by showing harrowing footage from America's storm-ravaged southeast on huge screens at Madison Square Garden while they performed the tune.

Frontman Chris Martin also dedicated songs to Johnny Cash and Paris Hilton during the sold out show.

The group performed Cash's "Ring of Fire" after explaining he had dismissed their tune "Kingdom of Heaven," which they offered to the late country legend before he died - because "he thought it was s**t."

And Martin explained meeting Hilton at the recent MTV Video Music Awards was refreshing because she didn't have a clue who they were.

Which song was dedicated to Paris?

The Aspen Institute has named 24 young elected officials to their first class of the Aspen-Rodel Fellowships in Public Leadership. Congratulations to all.

Oregon State Senator Jason Atkinson; Warwick, Rhode Island, Mayor Scott Avedisian; Oklahoma Congressman Dan Boren; Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning; Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan; Louisiana State Representative Karen Carter; Alabama Congressman Artur Davis; Arizona State Senator Gabrielle Giffords; Kentucky Secretary of State Trey Grayson; Kansas State Treasurer Lynn Jenkins; New Jersey State Senator Thomas Kean, Jr.; Illinois Congressman Mark Kirk; Florida Congressman, Kendrick Meek, Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathan Miller, and New York City Councilwoman Eva Moskowitz.

Also, Minnesota State Representative Erik Paulsen; Montgomery County, Maryland, Council President Tom Perez; Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff; Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan; Florida Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz; Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele; Mississippi Lieutenant Governor Amy Tuck; Colorado State Senator Jennifer Veiga; and New Mexico Congresswoman Heather Wilson.