My pal in Milwaukee informs me I missed another sad episode of corporate-conglomerate mass promotion:

“Did you see the Barbara Walters special? Besides the three main segments, there was a fourth “interview,” with the Shrek character, that of course was essentially an ad for Shrek 2. They even managed to mention that it opens May 21. Not that America needed another few minutes with Matt LeBlanc, but…It was just typical Disney synergistic promotional excess. I even felt a little sorry for Barbara, who, after all, is sort of a journalist. Sort of.”

This reminds me of how you might actually feel mildly sorry for eternally pompous Bryant Gumbel when CBS had him preside over “Survivor” cast reunions in prime time.