... is currently appearing on the main page right atop the "What's My Line?" video clip. A study in contrasts: today's mindless stupidity vs. bygone signs of intelligence.

but - the anchor was clueless but aren't there a whole bunch of people "in the booth" that had to know what this guy was saying? I mean - what are those people behind her doing?

... is how it reveals the shallow process behind the corporate infotainment world. Apparently everyone in the studio, from the anchor to the producer to the underlings, is focused solely on filling the alotted airtime with verbiage. The host has to look sexy, with shiny hair and glam makeup, the graphics have to be bright and eye-catching, and the cutaways and captions need to tease the eye and be timed precisely. But NO ONE is paying a moment's attention to what the eff is actually being said.

TV and cable news programs are a parody of substance. They are nothing but pretty images, snappy sounds, all well timed to fit precisely in between the advertisements.

I am so glad I do not own a television. If you spend 14 hours a week watching television programming, at the end of the week, you're left with only some vague imagery and vague ideas. Spend that same 14 hours reading a book--where an author fully develops ideas and concepts--and you've developed your mind.

It's a satirical BBC show from the '90s that lampoons the "style over substance" approach you talk about.

I'll definitely look for it. Thanks for the tip!

was what we once called journalism

There does not seem to be more than a few true journalists left.....