Apparently, programmes like The Apprentice and Big Brother expose people to members of different ethnicities and that can only be a good thing.

And, actually, Phillips is right. Because if anything, watching Big Brother for any length of time has shown us that there are more rational reasons to really, really hate these people than simply the colour of their skin. After all, pigmentation prejudice is so September 10, darling.

If you've heard something being dismissed as "so September 10" and been unsure what it means, this documentary about what goes on beneath New York's streets — from telephone wires to the subway — is a good example. Made prior to 9/11, it plays up large inconveniences such as burst water pipes or possible but remote threats such as earthquakes as imminent large life-threatening disasters, but then mentions the original bomb attack on the Twin Towers almost in passing.

Daphne Brogden is the former producer for nationally syndicated radio physician Dr. Dean Edell. Brogden, who now has her own Direct-TV movie show, called her old boss the other day to offer this story.

Brogden says she was at a rock concert with her sister after the New York and Washington attacks. The band's vain lead singer was preening and mugging on stage. After observing this behavior and hearing the singer repeatedly plug his new CD, Brogden told Edell her sister turned to her and said, "That's SO Sept. 10."