It doesn’t take Maria Bartiromo to brew up a scandal at CNBC. The financial network thought its $1 million online stock picking game would be a lovely way to 1) Draw young people; 2) Make use of this cool Internet thing everyone is talking about; 3) Generate buzz. They sort of almost achieved all three, except the young people it attracted weren’t so much the savvy investor types as they were the savvy computer hacking variety.

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Wallstrip – the Wall Street web video program featuring Lindsay Campbell trying to make the Nasdaq hilarious – is being snapped up by CBS News, we’re told, for something in the $5 million range. An announcement is expected early this week, perhaps Monday. Part of the deal involves Campbell being the next Amanda Congdon: frontin’ for CBS’ web initiatives.

A moment of nostalgia: Back in November ‘06, Lindsay interviewed Wallstrip investor Fred Wilson, of Union Square Ventures, who, naturally, called the site “the next big thing.” It certainly is, at least for Les Moonves’ balance sheet.

It’s probably worth noting at this juncture that Wallstrip – backed by Howard Lindzon – doesn’t make any money. No ad revenue. Nada. Good luck with that!

• The “Final Four” potential buyers for the Knight Ridder papers have been announced. Fine, we promise no more attempts at sports humor. [NYT]

• Get ready for Wednesday, when Elizabeth Spiers tunes into the Wall Street gossip with her long awaited blog, DealBreaker. Finally, some gossip about people with money. [Fishbowl]

• Spending all day in your apartment in sweatpants doesn’t mean you’ll never fall in love. The blogosphere’s first torrid romance was consummated this weekend. [Media Mob]

• When you’re nasty rich, nobody cares that you’re a geek. Bill Gates, anyone? [MSNBC]

• Hey, remember when Bob Woodruff showed us that Iraq wasn’t so bad by covering an ice cream parlor and a ballet school? Too bad that was before he got his face blown off. [WaPo]