Call this "August Madness."

And much like March Madness dominates the collegiate basketball world, August Madness imposes a similar mania on American politics.

But there are differences.

March Madness is an annual affliction. August Madness is a quadrennial exercise.

The partisans of perennial basketball powerhouses like Kentucky, Georgetown, Duke, North Carolina, UConn - along with the faithful from underdog institutions like Rider and IUPUI - all crowd around the television sets for a hallowed tradition known as "Selection Sunday."

Who's in? Who's out? Who's on the bubble? They drew Gonzaga? They don't match up well against Marquette. Why do they have to play all the way out in Salt Lake City? Look down the brackets a few games for that potential Cincinnati-Ohio State matchup in the East Regional.

In fact, anyone who watches the Selection Show on CBS knows that production is nearly as fascinating at the tournament itself.