MSNBC launched Deborah Norville Tonight, with the ubiquitous news ticker nowhere to be seen.

Norville opened the show with the comment that the show hopes to be a "fresh alternative to some of the stuff on TV." The interview-driven show goes head-to-head with Larry King Live over on CNN, and Hannity & Colmes on FOX.

The absence of a news ticker, which has been a steady presence on news channels since September 11, 2001, was an interesting development. Usually news channels only remove it for major speeches, such as President Bush's State of the Union address on Tuesday night.