This is nothing new or unprecedented, just basic tabloid fare, a la Enquirer or New York Post. The UK Press is notorious for this too, and there's usually a bikini babe on page three to reward their loyal readership. In bad taste, yes, but it sells newspapers. Wherever TV is heading, Fox will get there first. I see no politically sinister or diabolical side to it.

It's starting to creep into local TV programming, too, although sentimentality and sensationalism seem to be deemed better sellers during the dinner hour. This is where local stations make most of their advertising revenue. It will become more common on the networks as the pressure to become more profitable starts forcing prestigious but money-losing news divisions to change their formats. How many years ago was "Network"?

What I find alarming isn't so much the content, but how it's crowding out real information. When they do cover something of news interest, they cut it short and direct you to their website for more details. It lets them cram in a few more commercials.