I know better, I really do. I understand morning television is more about marketing than truth; I realize the overwhelming number of viewers in the morning are middle aged women; I even try to avoid the programs altogether. But sometimes it doesn't work.

The Woman Whose Garbage I'm Responsible For watches Katie and Matt during the week and whoever the people are on Saturday and Sunday. I try to stay away, but eventually I get within range of the TV about the time something really stupid comes on, and there I am screaming at the Sony like an idiot.

I had a friend in Alabama whose grandmother loved to watch pro wrestling. She didn't think it was real, which was unusual in Alabama, but she liked to follow the matches, and root for her favorites.

Her family finally had to ban her from watching because certain characters would get her blood pressure up. After an emergency room visit because of wrestling, she couldn't watch anymore. I know how she feels.

Daytime pseudo news programs, from the Today Show to Oprah , are geared toward women. It's not discrimination, just marketing. The numbers are there, the sponsors are willing to pay, so the stories offer subjects women respond to.

And for the life of me, I don't know why I get so enraged when some smug expert claims women are far superior to men in every possible way. It's the same concept as pro wrestling; find out who your audience is and give them what they want.

Yet last Saturday, I was standing there, with neck veins and eyes popping, screaming at Robert Alter. Mr. Alter was a guest on the weekend Today Show and had written a book about relationships.

As I entered the room, he explained to the host how every conflict in the battle of the sexes was the man's fault. Every woman I've ever been close to believes that to be true, so I'm used to hearing it. What I'm not used to is hearing it from a man.

I know there are men so whipped they will say or do anything to get in a woman's good graces. I also know men who are so desperate to get a book published they will write anything to gain an audience. But I was surprised to see both those things embodied in the same person, on my TV, on a lovely Saturday morning.

We all know fame is a strong incentive for anyone, and people have done lots worse things to get on television. I know better than anyone how much it means to get published, and this guy's book is guaranteed to get on Oprah's favorite's list. That's like having the winning lottery ticket. So I understand.

I've calmed down some, but still carry sadness in my heart. It is always disconcerting when one of your own goes over to the dark side. I haven't been this disappointed since Hulk Hogan became a bad guy.