Brokaw Signs Off From 'NBC Nightly News'

And, of course, Dan Rather is checking out.

The question is, does anyone actually care? It is hard to remember it now, but ten years ago, news anchors still mattered. What they covered was news; there were precious few ways to get a story to a mass audience for the stories they didn't. Now I can't remember the last time I watched a network newscast, and I'm not sure I know anyone else who does. I remember when Cronkite turned over the mike to Rather. It felt like the changing of the guard. This seems more like the end of vaudeville -- a form of entertainment has become obsolete.