The last few mornings I’ve been watching the Today show. And no, I don’t think the Today show is news. It’s infotainment. What I do expect to be news is the short bursts of time they send the show back to the local affiliates. I expect local weather updates – which I usually get – and local traffic updates – which I also usually get. What I don’t expect or appreciate is the so-called serious interview with the local security expert outright selling his alarm system while the blond chickie earnestly asks pertinent questions with just the right amount of serious reporter intent.

It’s bullcrap. Magazines put a disclaimer at the top of advertisements because so many are designed to look like actual articles. If the local affiliates are using this as advertising revenue they should say so, not put it out there like it’s an actual interview. And yes, there’s a difference between this staged serious interview and the happy on-air reporter guy hanging out at the bakery because they’re giving out discounted cookies today.