(August 17, 2012) It seemed like a good idea.

CNN's ratings are in the toilet.

The celebrity Richard Belzer has a new book out that he wants to plug, and it's all about politics, which is CNN's bread and butter.

Unfortunately for CNN, politics has been particularly dull this year, what with the presidential race dominating the news and the race having come down to two unpopular, almost indistinguishable candidates.

The celebrity certainly seemed to have what it takes to draw an audience. Playing detective John Munch on a number of TV cop shows, most recently "Law and Order: Special Victims Unit," Belzer is well known and recognizable, and show business celebrities almost always score higher ratings than political celebrities do.

On top of that, his book, "Dead Wrong: Straight Facts on the Country's Most Controversial Cover-ups," co-written by David Wayne and with an afterword by Jesse Ventura, told us with its subtitle that it had plenty of what it takes to pique people's interest, that is, controversy.