News of the Day Gets in Networks' Way

Collapsing Wall Street is wreaking havoc on the broadcast networks during Premiere Week. First, President Bush decided to address the country last night -- the first Wednesday of the new TV season -- interrupting several networks' program-debut plans. Then, Republican presidential candidate John McCain bailed from David Letterman's show only about two hours before it was to tape, calling the late-night host personally to tell him the economy was in such a state of crisis he was suspending his campaign and had to leave immediately to get back to Washington., Letterman got word that McCain -- who had announced his candidacy on "The Late Show" way back when -- did not, in fact, rush back to the capital. Instead, he plugged his decision to suspend his campaign, bail on Friday night's debate with Democratic nominee Barack Obama and race back to Washington over on CBS's evening newscast. He was, in fact, taping an interview with Katie Couric.