Flashback: In 2001, FNC's Brian Wilson Gave His Jacket to Russert

Some inter-network cooperation. Saturday’s "Names & Faces" column in the Washington Post revealed how FNC’s Brian Wilson came to Tim Russert’s rescue on Friday with some wardrobe help. The August 4 item, in full:

Tim Russert was in a jam. He'd forgotten his blazer at NBC's bureau office on Nebraska Avenue, and here he was at the CNBC studio on North Capitol Street, jacketless and with mere minutes before he had to tape the "Tim Russert" show.

The only person Russert could think of with enough girth to have a jacket that would fit him was from the competition -- Fox News correspondent Brian Wilson.

"I said, 'Mr. Russert, of course, may borrow one of my jackets,'" Wilson said. "We're arch rivals. If it comes to sharing information, there's a bright white line beyond which we will not step. But if it's a fashion emergency, we here at Fox are happy to help in the cause."

Look for Wilson's navy blue Burberry blazer on Russert's show tonight and tomorrow at 10pm.

Indeed, Wilson’s jacket was on Russert as he interviewed Tom Daschle for his weekend show on CNBC. [See the screen shot]

Because of the views it offers of the U.S. Capitol, C-SPAN, Fox News and MSNBC all have studio space in the same building at 400 North Capitol St. Russert normally works out of the NBC News/WRC-TV facility way out on Nebraska Ave., where he tapes Meet the Press, but that’s a long (45 minute plus) trek in traffic from downtown and Capitol Hill.