Lil' Kim, Jenna Jameson, and Paula Zahn were on CNBC last night — but that was The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. What's more exciting than the nexis of rap, porn, and cable news? Of course: "Topic A with Tina Brown." This week, Tina bores rapper-slash-actress Queen Latifah while embracing her "social elitism." Henry the Intern watches while the rest of us shield our eyes.

"Topic A" began with a tedious conversation with filmmaker Errol Morris and Republican pollster Kellyanne Conway "on how the voters may swing." Morris debuted ads he produced for MoveOn.org that feature Republicans for John Kerry. Conway conceded they're "compelling in their own right," but doubted their effectiveness. Conway added Vietnam is played-out by both sides and predicted the debates will sway undecided voters.

Tina sat down with "the irrepressible star" of "The Cookout," Queen Latifah (which we learned means delicate and sensitive). Is the film autobiographical? "No, I don't think so," Latifah laughed at the suggestion. "You're going through your own Hollywoodization," Tina said. "I'm trying to get better with time," like wine, Latifah replied. "It's not just about me going on and making more money as an actor." The success is propelling her production company, which is committed to targeting an urban audience. Latifah supported Bill Cosby's remarks about black America and blamed the media for making it a story (as previously discussed).

A new play about the Guantanamo Bay detainee camp is hitting New York. Director Nicolas Kent and writer Gillian Slovo have "shocked" British audiences. They contend treatment is "horrific" and justice is not served.

Seated at the editor's desk roundtable were former Clinton press secretary Dee Dee Myers, attorney Ed Hayes, author Brad Gooch, and conservative columnist/radio personality Armstrong Williams. Tina said they "were chosen from every political and cultural base" — yes, in her reality.

They complained about John Kerry's beer-buddy interview with GQ. Hayes said Kerry was desperate to appear as a regular guy, "but to me, if the guy had said, 'I also like to chase after strippers,' I would have felt a little more comfortable." Tina and Gooch disliked the GQ interviewer. Tina concluded: "We don't really care" if voters would share a beer with Kerry. (Besides, he'll pay.)

The roundtable ganged up on the man who brought down —and out— New Jersey's governor. Williams said his pals in Israel told him Golan Cipel is a social climber and apparently not gay. Gooch said Governor McGreevey's speech pushed "the linguistic envelope." For one, "is this a gay marriage?"

Hot picks:

Hayes: Dark Voyage by Alan Furst

Myers: Deep Water by Don Schollander

Gooch: Status Anxiety by Alain de Boton

Williams: Unfit for Command by John O'Neill. "I think all Americans should read it."

Tina: "Danny Deckchair" (!)

A viewer wrote in to say the show "screams elitism and I love it."

Closing quote by Calvin Trillin: "As far as I'm concerned, 'whom' is a word that was invented to make everyone sound like a butler."

On a personal note, a final shout-out to thank "Topic A" intern Chris Schwarz. I'm sure you had a great run. Best of luck recovering from the most watched CNBC program on Sunday nights at 8PM. Now I'll know someone else is watching.

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