Cable channels used to have fairly rigid formats that followed simple formulas. Nickelodeon was the network for kids. ESPN was the network for sports. USA was the network for non-stop reruns of Wings.

Now most of them have fallen into a strange gelatinous blob of unoriginal and unrecognizable sewage. I believe the technical term is "reality shows."

The TV Land network has been slowly engulfed by this blob of mediocrity with shows like High School Reunion and The Cougar. Their latest VP hire indicates it's about to be swallowed whole by more of the same.

Aren't there any other hosts out there? Ryan Seacrest is this close to inking a deal to co-host E! News nightly with Giuliana DePandi for the next three years. You know Ryan, right? He's on the radio every morning from 4 am to 10 am in Los Angeles. Or, maybe you've seen him as the host of American Idol. It's on at least three times a week! Oh, and you'll be spending New Year's Eve with the guy, won't you? Sheesh. If he's also going to be anchoring a nightly newscast, I have to wonder whether Ryan Seacrest is actually human. Maybe "Seacrest Out" is his way of powering down after each performance? Seacrest's deal with E! also includes red carpet hosting and developing new programming with his production company, cleverly dubbed Ryan Seacrest Productions.

[Via Cynopsis]