As my TV shifted from round-the-clock sports to round-the-clock politics this past weekend, it also did something else.  It lost my interest.

I understand the need for party conventions.  I'm fascinated by them, in fact.  Politics is face-to-face talk, back slapping and hand shaking, not policy memos and staff opinions.  Decisions need to be made, and conventions are where that's done at the highest level.  Deals will be struck and compromises will be reached.  There may even be some hurt feelings.  But that's not what's being covered.

Network coverage of the political conventions has been like watching coverage of a major sporting event, except the on-air personalities are spending all their time interviewing the fans and cheerleaders.  Fluff over substance, like trying to live on a diet of cotton candy.  Feels good in the short term, but probably not the most fulfilling option available.

Want to make it newsworthy?  Embed a camera back stage.  Get some fixed cameras in place in the back rooms and wait for the fireworks, a la CBS' Big Brother.  Find an issue that's actually in contention and cover both sides of the debate.  But don't show partisan speeches and "voting" that's a foregone conclusion and call it news.  It's as much of a farce as the so-called "Live" coverage of the Olympics was last week.