It's already debatable whether half the material presented as "news" is actually news. However, the ripple effect from reality shows has produced a greater share of lame excuses for "news" that is definitely not news.

Note to news channel producers: if your media conglomerate sibling has a reality show, interviewing the most recently rejected candidate on Hardball makes me change channels. This is even though I might like that specific reality show itself.

Up next, with Dan Rather: a human interest story about the contestant that won the car on The Price Is Right.