A Watson Retirement?

That, and other news, in today's Roundup and Recap.

Rumors are flying once again that Rep. Diane Watson (D-Los Angeles),  chair of the Congressional Entertainment Caucus, is planning to retire. For some time, there's been speculation that she would not run for re-election, and that Karen Bass, speaker of the State Assembly, would get into the race. There's already a challenger to Watson in the Democratic primary: Felton Newell, a prosecutor in the Los Angeles City Attorney's office. By the end of last year, Watson had raised $197.351 for this cycle, and Newell had collected $86,166. Watson's district includes Culver City, Baldwin Hills and Ladera Heights and is considered a very safe Democratic seat, although who knows these days. A spokeswoman for Watson did not return inquiries for comment.

Roger Simon and Lionel Chetwynd are challenging Al Gore and the filmmakers behind "An Incovenient Truth" to defend the movie's Oscar. It comes in the wake of "Climategate" and questions about the research in the UN climate panel's 2007 report on climate change. In a video post on the Pajamas Media site, they say they are giving Gore and co. their questions in advance. In an interview Variety in December, Gore defended the research in the movie, and said that the accusations raised were based on information taken out of context and on e-mails that are ten-plus years old.

Michelle Obama's new campaign to solve the problem of childhood obesity has enlisted Disney and Nickelodeon, both of which plan to produce PSAs and provide other services in the White House effort.

Nickelodeon said that they would provide resources and research expertise to the LetsMove.gov effort, which will complement the cabler's Let's Just Play health and wellness campaign that has been ongoing for many years. Disney will create PSAs featuring the First Lady and Disney Channel stars, and the new effort gels with the company's moves to eliminate trans fatty food from its theme parks.

Update: NBC U also will have a part in the campaign, with a series of PSAs featuirng Michelle Obama as well as plans for Health Week in the spring.