Hotline After Dark -- Mommie Dearest

"World News," "Evening News" and "Nightly News" each led with the earthquake in Italy.

Last night's TV coverage was laden with North Korea policy talk. There was also a fair amount of reaction to AK Gov. Sarah Palin's (R) statement about Levi Johnston's appearance on the "Tyra Banks Show."

A Palin family rep wrote on official AK gov. stationery to People: "Bristol did not even know that Levi was going on the show. ... It is unfortunate that Levi finds it more appealing to exploit his previous relationship with Bristol than to contribute to the well being of the child."

CQ's Crawford: "Sarah Palin is convinced that these cultural type stories just keep her in the news. And they certainly do that. I don't see where, in the long run, it helps her. ... I have a feeling if she had just left it alone that a lot of folks probably wouldn't have covered this, if at all, very much. So she did manage to making it a bigger story by reacting and reacting so stridently" ("Countdown," MSNBC, 4/6).

Dem strategist Bob Beckel: "I can tell you one thing about that boy. He is missing a few dogs from under his front porch. I mean, there ain't no sharp knife in that drawer. Give the guy a break" ("Hannity," FNC, 4/6).

More after the jump.

(KATHERINE LEHR)

CNN's Simon: "Despite all the bad blood here, Tyra Banks asked Levi Johnston if he would vote for Governor Palin if she would get the nomination for president in 2012, and his answer was 'yes'" ("Situation Room," 4/6).

MSNBC's Shuster: "Speaking of exploitation, Governor, isn't that what you were doing with your family and Levi at the Republican Convention?" ("Hardball," 4/6).

Conservative radio talk show host Monica Crowley: "I think that she needed to issue that kind of very strong statement to put this young man in his place. And remember, she still has a political future in front of her. Her brand is based largely on social conservatism. ... He goes out on the 'Tyra Banks Show,' of all places, and refers to her as Sarah. ... She has no choice but to issue this kind of slam-down to this very immature boy. ... Look at him, he's not exactly the brightest bulb in the book. She's clearly being used here. The left has latched onto what he has to say in order to, yes, take another hit at Sarah Palin" ("O'Reilly Factor," FNC, 4/6).

Cleveland Plain Dealer's Schultz: "She, I think, erred when Governor Palin first felt the need to trot her daughter out in public and talk about her pregnancy, made her part of the campaign. ... And now ... she is bashing the family of her grandson. ... Here in Cleveland ... I hear a lot from conservatives and this is one thing that's not playing very well particularly with mothers here. They're really tired of it and she needs to stop."

Schultz, asked if this is going to have a material impact on Palin's political fortunes: "I certainly hope so. ... She is a poor candidate in so many ways. I would not want her representing my city, my state, certainly my country. And I say that in part because I don't like what she's been willing to do with her children. But also, you look at the stimulus package, 'I'm taking only half. No, wait a minute. ... I'll take two-thirds.' ... That is not decisive leadership. And frankly, that should be the focus. But we keep getting distracted by these theatrics that she's producing about her own family" ("Rachel Maddow Show," MSNBC, 4/6).

CNN's Cooper: "I couldn't bring myself to actually watch the whole thing. I felt for Tyra Banks. I mean, you hate those one-word answers" ("AC 360," 4/6).

FNC's O'Reilly: "If it were me, I don't think I would have issued any statement at all. I just would have let it go. ... I don't know if Sarah Palin getting involved with this personally is the wisest course of action" ("O'Reilly Factor," 4/6).