I try to wear my Television Critics Association badge as much as possible in the hotel -- at least during the 14-18 hours that roughly constitute our workdays -- because it's like belling the cat: People have a right to know when there are reporters present.

Montel Williams and his entourage apparently don't care, however, so I just caught an earful from them following a press conference for Showtime's "American Candidate," a political "reality" show that Williams is hosting. Seems they didn't like the questions we asked (including one about one of the show's "candidates" who arrived on crutches, and who seemed OK with telling us that she'd broken her leg a couple of days ago).

My guess, though, that what really stuck in their craw is that on a crowded stage that included all 10 presidential "candidates" (among them Dick Gephardt's daughter, Chrissy) political consultant Ed Rollins, producer R.J. Cutler ("The War Room") and Montel, Montel didn't get asked much, though he did suggest at one point that the show might have an impact on the actual presidential race.

Or maybe it's just that the group seemed skeptical of the concept, which essentially will have "America" vote for one of the 10, some of whom aren't even constitutionally eligible to become president. As one reporter pointed out, Showtime has just 13 million subscribers and with a base that small is unlikely to make the kind of splash that Montel Williams, at least, seems to envision.