Jerry Springer--"I'm Sleeping with Your Sister!." Maury Provitch--"You ARE the Father!" Why are these shows so popular? Do people love seeing conflict and controversy? Does seeing other people's train-wreck lives make viewers feel better about their own train-wreck lives?
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.

I don't know anyone who watches those so I'm assuming it's just more crap being pushed at us,remember we don't control the tv, they do.

I guess people like trashy talk shows like "The Jerry Springer Show","The Steve Wilkos (Whoever HE Is),"The Maury Povich Show",than the recently cancelled "The Nate Berkus Show",one of the few breaths of fresh air on the trashy world of syndicated daytime TV.

It's very simple. People take pleasure in watching other people who have worst lives than they do. That's why all the trashy reality shows are popular too.

The only host of a trash-talk show I would watch. :lol:
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/26273_104937532871491_104922272873017_103183_2670844_n.jpg

I don't know anyone who watches them either.This is another reason why I think the Nielsen ratings are not even close to being accurate.Who knows,maybe if they had an accurate way to measure what shows are REALLY being watched,reality and trash talk shows etc. would be at the bottom of the list with a very low amount of viewers.

The only host of a trash-talk show I would watch. :lol:
http://a1.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/26273_104937532871491_104922272873017_103183_2670844_n.jpg
"And now, it's time for another episode of What's In Your Trash? with your host Oscar the Grouch!":D

Well, at least the hey-day of "trash-talk shows" is long gone. I don't even know when Jerry Springer airs anymore. Now we have to deal with trashy reality shows like The Jersey Shore, The Kardashians, and all those raunchy Housewives shows. :puke:

I don't know anyone in my circle of friends who watches those horrible trash-talk- shows.

I used to work at a nursing home when Maury and Jerry were in their heyday. Some of the residents wouldn't come down for activities because they wanted to watch these shows. A few told me they enjoyed it because they liked watching "the crazy people on TV." So it is definitely escapist entertainment featuring people more dumber and miserable than we could ever be.

Jerry Springer--"I'm Sleeping with Your Sister!." Maury Provitch--"You ARE the Father!" Why are these shows so popular? Do people love seeing conflict and controversy? Does seeing other people's train-wreck lives make viewers feel better about their own train-wreck lives?
I'd like to hear your thoughts on this.



Simple because people are attracted to "DRAMATIC SITUATIONS"

What's even sadder is that when Maury and Jerry Springer debuted over twenty years ago, both shows were pretty middle-of-the-road. They switched to shock television in the name of ratings. Shame on them both.

EIk1_hHC1f4
o4NwngTFxzM

FSZzm622hqE

Sad.

Yes, that's very sad!

Please don't hate me but I like Phil and Steve okay.
Well, I don't like Jerry Springer or Maury but a couple episodes of both Dr. Phil and Steve Wilkos actually had some pretty good information concerning families in crisis, (dysfunctions of varying sorts). Some of the therapeutic techniques of Dr. Phil's uncover deeper issues which cause the strife in the first place. And I have actually learned a few things about how to handle certain delicate situations, (wording to use) when communicating my feelings about certain issues.

As far as Steve Wilkos, it's a more in-your-face-reality-check for criminals which is what is needed for the jerks.

These aspects of a few of these shows I do enjoy. However I am intelligent enough to know that much of it IS for ratings and commercial endorsements. Still there is another aspect many don't realize that is goes on with this stuff; The stirring up of emotions to get new laws passed which the U.S. does NOT need.This is not only a motivation of some mass media talk show episodes. I have also see it quite often on true crime shows such as crime mystery.

Though I don't even own a regular t.v. I check out a few segments of the above mentioned online. It's a good distraction from work and stress for an hour or 2, now and then.
..just my two cents. :D

I wouldn't consider Dr. Phil trash.

I wouldn't consider Dr. Phil trash.
No Dr. Phil is not trash. I don't watch him though. The only daytime show I watch is Judge judy. Now she's entertainment. lol

As far as Steve Wilkos, it's a more in-your-face-reality-check for criminals which is what is needed for the jerks.

..just my two cents. :D
Is telling someone on TV that they are worthless humen beings REALLY going to change them?
And besides, if I was doing something wrong, would I really be willing to go on TV to try and defend myself? This leads me to believe the the Steve Wilkos show is totally faked!

Is telling someone on TV that they are worthless humen beings REALLY going to change them?
And besides, if I was doing something wrong, would I really be willing to go on TV to try and defend myself? This leads me to believe the the Steve Wilkos show is totally faked!


Scripted Drama-lol

Is telling someone on TV that they are worthless humen beings REALLY going to change them?
And besides, if I was doing something wrong, would I really be willing to go on TV to try and defend myself? This leads me to believe the the Steve Wilkos show is totally faked!
My sentiments exactly. "I was a deadbeat dad and habitual cheater until Jerry Springer's 'security guard' kicked a chair, then screamed in my face. I'm a changed man!"

My sentiments exactly. "I was a deadbeat dad and habitual cheater until Jerry Springer's 'security guard' kicked a chair, then screamed in my face. I'm a changed man!"
"I cheated on my wife and habitually lied about it. But Maury Provich gave me a lie detector test, and I failed it miserably. Now, I'm 110% faithful to my wife!"

I hate all of these kinds of shows; the judge ones and the 'confrontational' ones like "Jerry Springer". Just sayin'.

I wouldn't consider Dr. Phil trash.

agree. he takes a LOT of ribbing on the forbidden site. But he's okay in my book.

About six years ago I phoned my local FOX affiliate (WRGT 45 in Dayton) and asked them to drop "Jerry Springer," only to be told that the show made the most money for the station. What was she smoking? Is she a former ENRON accountant???

Unfortunately for me I didn't contact the Better Business Bureau on them. :mad:

About six years ago I phoned my local FOX affiliate (WRGT 45 in Dayton) and asked them to drop "Jerry Springer," only to be told that the show made the most money for the station. What was she smoking? Is she a former ENRON accountant???

Unfortunately for me I didn't contact the Better Business Bureau on them. :mad:
And the sad thing is she was probably right!

It's very simple. People take pleasure in watching other people who have worst lives than they do. That's why all the trashy reality shows are popular too.

You hit the nail on the head. I imagine it's especially gratifying to see rich or well-to-do people in turmoil and miserable, even though that stuff is scripted and staged for the cameras.

I've said it before and I'll say it again -- there's no such thing as a "reality" show.