Thompson Quits as DA to Run for Prez

CHIEF EXECUTIVE BRANCH? Thompson

• Clearing his schedule: Gearing up for his big Independence Day announcement, GOP savior Fred Thompson walks away from his Law & Order role as D.A. Arthur Branch.

• CBS gets Punk'd: Now that Ashton Kutcher's production company, Katalyst, has a two-year deal with CBS, the world can finally watch trucker-hatted shenanigans in prime time.

• Sorry, Daphne: Best known as Dr. Frasier Crane's snooty brother Niles, thespian David Hyde Pierce is outted by an AP story. Kind of.

• New low: Last week the CBS Evening News had under six million viewers for the first time ever. Perhaps viewers would Rather not see Katie Couric every night.

• Hogwash: Despite getting pats on the backs from members of Southern Rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, country crooner Kenny Chesney, and "his Heros sic from our Armed Forces around the world," the 11-year-old kid who killed a giant hog straight out of Neverending Story is a faker. More on how the mass media (and Skynyrd) were duped to come ...