I’m sure you’ve heard – no one expects an announcement about Fred Thompson’s presidential interests until after his appearance in HBO’s miniseries, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, which appears May 27. If he were an announced candidate before the airing, it would raise the issue of equal time, and the last thing HBO wants to do is be forced to give equal time to every other candidate. Talking to a Hill source this afternoon, the sense was, May’s too early, August is too late, so… the guess is to expect a decision in June or July.

By the way, I’m surprised that Sam Waterston is so easygoing about Thompson’s bid. We’ve heard that a Thompson campaign would take Law & Order reruns off the air on basic cable until the end of the campaign – well into 2008? November 2008? 2012? 2016?

Well, there’s a lot in residual payments at stake here.

Fred Thompson’s on Fox tonight, Hannity and Colmes.

But that’s nothing. Maria Conchita Alonso is supposed to be H&C on later this week.