Idle Chatter: Obama's Finest Half-Hour?; More

-Barack Obama's multi-network half-hour infomercial managed to be "both poetic and practical, spiritual and sensible," according to critic Tom Shales. Oh, also "elegant," "elegiac" and "skillfully edited." [WaPo]

-When it comes to the presidential campaign now wrapping up, is life imitating The West Wing? [NYT]

-Some media outlets are refusing to carry ads for the new comedy Zach and Miri Make a Porno -- not because, as a Kevin Smith movie, it's guaranteed to be mediocre, but because of the name. [WSJ]

-MTV's "Rock Band" video game will begin featuring songs by the Beatles -- the first time the band has licensed its rights for a game. [WSJ]

-Journalist Robert Draper on why the McCain campaign cooperated with his fairly damaging New York Times Magazine cover story: "I think their calculation was, if they're ever going to get a fair shake from The New York Times, it's going to be with Draper." [WWD]

-Layoff watch: American Express Publishing, five percent of the workforce, 22 jobs total. [WWD]