TVSquad

As much as I'd like to wake up at 11:30 AM on Sundays and go straight to a plate of corned-beef hash and eggs, I'm noticing that my body doesn't agree with that view; as I get older, I get up earlier. So, when I flick on the TV at around 9 AM, my choices are limited. More often than not, I chose to watch CBS Sunday Morning, hosted by Charles Osgood.

Why? Because they talk about interesting topics and interview interesting people. And the subjects are not chosen because of their newsworthiness; they're chosen because there is something interesting about their lives that no one seems to explore. For instance, if they decided to interview a newsworthy guy like Brad Pitt, they wouldn't ask him about Jen or Angelina; they'd ask him about his love of architecture. I mean, who even knew that Pitt was an architecture buff?

This interesting article by Jon Friedman at Marketwatch sheds some light on how the show, which has changed little since its debut in 1979, picks its topics, and how it tries to keep an upbeat tone (not "happy talk," mind you, which is what irritates me about most morning news shows. They just have an optimistic tone to most of their stories).

Best:

5. CBS Sunday Morning  If you don't watch this, you should. It's old-school television news at its best with in-depth news stories, and lots and lots about the arts. Plus, the original "moment of zen" at the end.
4. The Daily Show  A good way to blow off steam when the news of the day is really getting you down.
3. The Office  This show really came into its own this season, and I just adore all the characters.
2. My Name is Earl  Always good for a one-liner.
1. Lost  They mess with our heads. And we like it!

Worst:

5. Night Stalker  I couldn't even stomach the first episode of this new show. Sad, because I had such high hopes for it.
4. Extreme Makeover: Home Edition  Too much showmanship, fabricated content (i.e., who can we get to build this house?), and way too much product placement.
3. Britney & Kevin: Chaotic  Quite possibly the most useless piece of crap to air this year.
2. Desperate Housewives  That's right. I can't stand this show. Too many open plotlines that don't interest me at all.
1. Saturday Night Live  It hasn't been funny in years. Except for that Narnia rap everyone is talking about.