Editor’s note: Sound off, give a shout out on “Deep Background,” our totally-random open discussion of all things Erie media.

• The GMA train is coming to Erie: As part of ABCNews’s campaign to visit 50 states in 50 days before the Presidential election, the Good Morning America train, complete with restored antque rail cars, will be rolling into Erie’s Union Station on Tuesday. They’ll be riding at least in our neck of the woods on the route of the famed 20th Century Limited (think North By Northwest), and spend about 15 minutes at the Brewerie at Union Station talking to an invited group of Erie voters, before moving on. The taped segment will be aired later.
• MSNBC anchors demoted for bad behavior: In an struggle between the hard newsgatherers at NBC and the seemingly out-of-control front men at MSNBC, the cable channel announced that the cooler heads will prevail. David Gregory, chief White House correspondent for NBC News will take over the anchor duties for debate nights and election night returns, replacing Keith Olbermann and Chris Matthews. As P&T reported last week, MSNBC experienced a meltdown of sorts with their talking heads at times openly hostile to each other. Rumor has it that Tom Brokaw himself insisted on the anchor change.
• Time to check the locks on the tower fence: In Somerset County, PA, WJAC reports Tuesday that a radio tower has gone missing. The 120 foot abandoned tower was apparently yanked down by a truck with cables, then torch cut into pieces and hauled away by thieves, all without anybody noticing. The owners had planned on leasing the vertical real estate to a wireless internet access company.
• NBC shows back on iTunes: Jeff Zucker is hoping that Steve Jobs supplies the digital dollars that have been eluding the NBCUniversal CEO. Entertainment Weekly reports that NBC pulled their shows off of iTunes when Apple refused to increase their price for episodes of shows like The Office. However, the network was never able to find a viable alternative to the long arms of iTunes. So starting this week you can now purchase Heroes or 30 Rock episodes for $1.99 for standard definition or $2.99 for HD. They even offer classic NBC series like Miami Vice for the standard 99 cent iTunes price point.
• The NFL on HDTV…the Empire State edition: Time Warner Cable subscribers can now get the National Football League in high definition, with the exception of the NFL Network. In addition, antenna users can enjoy both WSEE and WFXP in HDTV. This week, the early local schedule is New York-centric, then it’s the Grudge Match-Steelers/Browns. Below are your over-the-air and Time Warner Cable HD channels:
  • Sunday, 1 PM – Buffalo @ Jacksonville – WSEE: DT 35.1/City 405/Suburbs 709
  • Sunday, 1 PM – NY Giants @ St. Louis – WFXP: DT 66.1/City 418/Suburbs 706
  • Sunday, 4 PM – New England @ NY Jets – WSEE: DT 35.1/City 405/Suburbs 709
  • Sunday, 8:15 PM – Pittsburgh @ Cleveland – WICU: City 412/Suburbs 712
  • Monday, 8:30 PM – Philadelphia @ Dallas – ESPN: City 430/ Suburbs 772