Who Deserves A Flog Today? (NBC)

The Flogging Whip is eager to send more than one or two lashes in NBC's direction. If NBC exec's are wondering why their ratings (in general) have been sliding over the months, one reason beyond the well-publicized Burn Treatment of Ann Curry and a general impression of Matt Lauer as a prick of the lowest order, one need not look further than what The Today Show didn't do yesterday: follow a ritual shown (and done) all over the world and on almost every TV network; in the White House; in the privacy of one's home - which is to allow A Moment Of Silence to respectfully acknowledge 9/11. Instead, NBC decided that Kris Jenner/Kar-Kash-In's breasts were far more important to discuss and allowed the cameras to keep on rolling as Kris nattered on about her body. That's the priority these days over at The Today Show, it seems. Women and breasts. More women. Empty chatter. Giggling co-hosts who just roll with laughter at every non-sensible, banal remark that oozes from Lauer's slippery tongue. Can you imagine a producer making such a choice? Drop The Moment Of Silence and pander to empty heads who would rather hear Mama Kris explain why she belongs in everyone's face now that her darling daughter Kim has gone into a sort of Quiet PR Lockdown (compared to the past) ever since Kim and her new BFF Kanye West decided to shop until they drop together and always color-coordinate their photo-op clothing. I haven't been an early morning network TV watcher, although I keep up on what all three morning shows are doing in ratings and how the on-air hosts are handling stories. I am still on board with part of NBC as I am and have been an avid MSNBC viewer and would rather spend my mornings with them. If I want to learn a new recipe, or what's new in fashion, I'll just switch to The Food Network or what's happening on Bravo or elsewhere. I realize Morning TV isn't to be all serious and completely somber, yet the fluff that is falling out of The Today Show from what I've seen in clips and read in various articles, places me in line with those who would rather see Lester Holt in the morning any day than Matt The Frat-Brat. Perhaps Lester could inspire the network to get back to its once-credible roots. I don't think Matt's The Big Man In Town anymore, do you?

Rant Over – for now.