We at the Pepper ...

(or just "I at the Pepper," since it's been an issue)

... are proud to announce the MACRAME AWARD for gratuitous displays of bad taste.

Our first overachiever is MSNBC, which ran a 24-hour Dead Pope Cam so viewers could watch mourners sobbing over the dead pope's body.

There hasn't been such poor taste displayed since ... well, since Entertainment Tonight mixed Pope news with Destiny's Child updates. Perhaps I'll fire up retroactive Macrame Awards.