My friend Lance Izumi, director of the Pacific Research Institute's California Education Studies, recently was on a locally produced version of "The View" and over the weekend sent me a link to the video.

For anyone who is at all interested in education policy, this is a hysterical video to watch. And it is even funnier if you know Lance, a perpetually polite and well-spoken policy wonk who knows a ton about California's education system.

He's interviewed, in this tape, by Spencer Christian, a local TV personality and host of "View from the Bay," and a guest host, Nancy Grahn, an actress who stars on ABC's General Hospital. Christian doesn't say much during the video, but Grahn attempts to ask Lance hard-hitting education policy questions. The problem is that the woman clearly knows more about mascara than education. She has no clue what she's talking about, but has been primed by family and friends who are teachers. Lance, ever the gentleman, refrains from looking at her and asking, "Are you always this dim-witted?"

Have a look. It's another reminder why mixing Hollywood with public policy is not a good idea.

Link to video page