Why Are Trash Talk Shows So Popular? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

dougiezerts · 04-01-2012, 11:32 AM

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.

tiredmike59 · 04-01-2012, 12:15 PM

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.

rezny717 · 04-01-2012, 08:39 PM

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.

Mr. Television · 04-01-2012, 08:57 PM

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.

Zoneboy · 04-01-2012, 09:36 PM

The only host of a trash-talk show I would watch.

LUNCH · 04-02-2012, 12:35 PM

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.

dougiezerts · 04-02-2012, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoneboy

The only host of a trash-talk show I would watch.

"And now, it's time for another episode of What's In Your Trash? with your host Oscar the Grouch!"

McGillicuddy · 04-02-2012, 10:46 PM

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.

uke:

AB · 04-03-2012, 04:19 PM

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

UMFaninMD · 04-04-2012, 07:02 PM

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.

TVFactFan · 04-04-2012, 10:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dougiezerts

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"

AKA · 04-05-2012, 03:18 PM

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.

Sad.

dougiezerts · 04-07-2012, 11:33 AM

Yes, that's very sad!

mystery_daisy · 04-07-2012, 11:58 AM

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.

AKA · 04-07-2012, 07:20 PM

I wouldn't consider Dr. Phil trash.

04-01-2012, 11:32 AM	#1
dougiezerts Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 20, 2012 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 204	Why Are Trash Talk Shows So Popular? 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.

04-01-2012, 08:57 PM	#4
Mr. Television 23 Years at Sitcoms Online Forum Icon Join Date: Jun 06, 2003 Location: Somewhere you're Not Posts: 62,132	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.
	__________________ Sonny

04-01-2012, 09:36 PM	#5
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,422	The only host of a trash-talk show I would watch.
	__________________ 'Twas The Night Before Christmas And All Through The Full House Not A Creature Was Stirring, Not Even Mighty Mouse. All My Children We're Nestled All Snug In Their Beds While Visions Of Sugarbakers Danced In Their Heads.

04-07-2012, 11:58 AM	#14
mystery_daisy True Crime Buff Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jun 14, 2006 Location: Galveston Bay Posts: 3,118	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.
	__________________ Holly

04-01-2012, 12:15 PM	#2
tiredmike59 Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 05, 2010 Location: OUTLAW STATE {MO} Posts: 1,868	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.

04-01-2012, 08:39 PM	#3
rezny717 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 06, 2011 Location: Lincoln,Nebraska Posts: 659	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.

04-02-2012, 12:35 PM	#6
LUNCH Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 23, 2010 Location: New York State Posts: 1,304	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.

04-02-2012, 10:46 PM	#8
McGillicuddy Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 28, 2002 Posts: 5,179	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. uke:

04-03-2012, 04:19 PM	#9
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	I don't know anyone in my circle of friends who watches those horrible trash-talk- shows.

04-04-2012, 07:02 PM	#10
UMFaninMD I love a mystery Senior Member Join Date: Apr 19, 2011 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,287	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.

04-05-2012, 03:18 PM	#12
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	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. Sad.

04-07-2012, 11:33 AM	#13
dougiezerts Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Feb 20, 2012 Location: Silver Spring, MD Posts: 204	Yes, that's very sad!

04-07-2012, 07:20 PM	#15
AKA Member Forum Star Join Date: Dec 17, 2001 Posts: 15,746	I wouldn't consider Dr. Phil trash.