On Tuesday, Anderson Cooper added Snooki to his "Ridiculist" because she and her castmates on the Jersey Shore are being paid $100,000/episode for the fourth season. Honestly, that is not even that much money when you think about what some people on Wall Street are bringing home, some of whom are below the age of 30. And, frankly, Jersey Shore is the most popular show in the history of cable television so it's only natural that they would be getting a pay raise. If we should be bemoaning anything it should be that we live in a society where it is more important to be "viral" or have an instantly recognizable media personality than it is to be talented. That fundamental truth about American society in the 21st century has nothing to do with Snooki and everything to do with agents, publicists, and producers. ...And people like Anderson Cooper who give these individuals media coverage because, frankly, this benefits Anderson and others like him that are trying to get ratings just as much as it benefits the Snookis and Rebecca Blacks of America.
