Lots of Snow, Anna Nicole, Anderson And Jeff Corwin In Brazil, And Michael Ware Calls BS (Tuesday's First Hour)

Hi guys! We're taking a field trip tonight. Anderson is coming at us from Araguaina, which is a town on the outskirts of the Amazon rainforest. I'm so excited! Here I am freezing my butt off in the snow and he gets to be in Brazil. Lucky bastard. Speaking of snow, after Anderson gives a little intro and then we're back in New York with John Roberts to talk about the winter weather causing havoc across the nation. I have to say that this blogger is so happy that today was one of her work at home days because oh my God. The mother called and said it took over two hours to get to work! It's nasty out there folks. Rob Marciano elaborates on this nastiness live from Cleveland. Then we're onto a Gary Tuchman piece on the preparations Syracuse is undergoing in anticipation of lots of snow. Apparently Syracuse gets the most snowfall of any other big city in the country. Gary's live after his piece and John says, "I'm looking at the scene behind you there, and I'm reminded of that scene out of 'Caddyshack,' where Bill Murray says, it looks like it's going to be a while before the heavy stuff comes down." Oh John. During all the weather stuff we also learn that New Orleans had a tornado and a woman living in a FEMA trailer was killed. Apparently we needed another reminder of the total unfairness of life.

Next up we're back to Anderson and he tells John that "it's surreal listening to Gary Tuchman and Rob Marciano talk about snow, because it is obviously very warm, very humid down here." Anderson I love you, but...shut up. Anderson then explains that over the next several months they're going to be traveling the globe (not all at once people) and looking at ways our planet is in peril. On this trip they're specifically looking at deforestation. He then gives us an encyclopedia summary of the rain forest, noting that 20% of the earth's oxygen comes from there and new species are being discovered all the time. Obviously we're not getting much tonight since they just got there, but I like what I'm hearing. Well, not the deforestation stuff. You know what I mean.

Transitioning now to a Randi Kaye piece on Anna Nicole. Still?! That's it. I'm not covering this crap anymore. After the piece we've got Jeff Toobin and Court TV's Lisa Bloom for more discussion. And why are they wasting Toobin on this stuff? Why aren't they using him to discuss the Libby trial again. Or the indictment of Dusty Foggo? If I remember correctly there might have been hookers involved in that one, so it's not like it doesn't have sensationalism. Just...please stop. The screencap is because Erica Hill needs a proper welcome back.

Next up we're back with Anderson and he's got Animal Planet's Jeff Corwin with him. They're both wearing tight black shirts. What are you doing to me here boys? Ahem, I'm okay now. Anderson asks Jeff why the Amazon is so important and Jeff replies that it's the center of our planet. He notes all the species that are currently making noise around them. "And frankly, it's creeping me out, but you kind of like it I know," Anderson says. Oh Anderson. But he's right that Jeff does like it. Very much. He's like a kid in a candy shop; he's so excited. Anderson then tells us that before Jeff was wrestling with an alligator and it got away. You'd think he's kidding, but I can tell he's totally not. What?! Oh, this is going to be a fun trip. Jeff tells us that over the past 40 years 20% of the rainforest has disappeared and one of the reasons it's so important is that 40% of our medicines are harvested from rainforest plants. Really? I guess I always thought they were harvested by Merck and Pfizer. Jeff also notes that the deforestation is contributing to global warming. Basically the place is under attack and that's not good. I guess we'll be learning a lot more in the coming days. The Shot tonight is a bear in a tree that gets tranqed and then falls in a net. Of course 360 then has to show the tranqed bear that bounces off the trampoline. I think that's getting a little played out because Keith Olbermann did the same damn thing.

On now to some Iraq/Iran news. White House officials are claiming that Muqtada al-Sadr has fled to Iran because he fears the coming surge of US troops. Now as soon as I heard this news I called BS because it doesn't make sense to me, but I guess you never know. However, if anyone can make this make sense it's Michael Ware and he's here to sort it all out for us. Michael tells us he doesn't know where al-Sadr is, but notes that it's not uncommon for White House officials to put out information that has no basis in the reality on the ground. "Yet again, on the law of averages, at some point Washington does have to get it right. " Bwah! Yep, at some point that drunk blind guy has to hit the bullseye. Michael talks about how al-Sadr has actually visited Iran lots before. He's a regional leader who travels. John then notes that it's not like he hasn't gone to Iran before. "That's what I'm saying!" Michael replies. Yeah, geez John. Pay attention. Heh. John asks how significant it would be if al-Sadr really did flee. Michael states that there would be political ripples, but ultimately it would mean nothing because he could still control things from Iran. After all, Bin Laden controls stuff from a cave. Anyway, Michael Ware is awesome. Enough said.

Finally tonight we have another update from Jeff Koinange on his Niger Delta piece. Jeff tells us that all 24 Filipino hostages have been released and they're in good health. Hooray! Way to go Jeff! Nigeria claims that no money was exchanged for them. John then asks Jeff about something one of the guys in the piece was wearing on his head. Jeff says it's called an amulet and it's a good luck charm that's suppose to ward off evil. And bullets from the Nigerian military. Yeah, good luck with that last one delta guys. The show would have been so good tonight...if not for Anna Nicole overkill. I think it took up about a fourth of the show, so B.

Do you think al-Sadr fled to Iran? Any rainforest thoughts?

Screencaps by jld1119 and bcfraggle.