Nowadays, a great many interviews even in traditional news settings are celebrities interviewing celebrities. (For example, how often is Katie Couric less famous than the person she's interviewing?) This puts a whole different spin on interviews and it's not for the better. Frequently it's made clear from the get-go the interviewer and interviewee are previously acquainted and even fans of each other. Not exactly the recipe for tough questioning to begin with, and even when the famous newsperson tries to ask the hard questions, they often end up looking hypocritical or just plain silly.

For example, Katie recently asked Alex Rodriguez if he felt guilty for signing his huge contract. Hello? She's lucky A-Rod didn't turn the question around on her, given she signed a huge contract when she came over to CBS. (And just as A-Rod has failed to bring the Yankees a World Series, Katie has failed to elevate CBS's ratings.)

Years back, Oprah asked Michael Jordan what it was like being so wealthy and he good naturedly noted she was richer than he was. She could do nothing but laugh, having been caught asking an outsider's question when she was very much an insider.