Essay/Term paper: Talk shows

Essay, term paper, research paper:  College Papers

In the world of entertainment, TV talk shows have undoubtedly
flooded every inch of space on daytime television. Many of us have seen
and heard the often recycled topics found on such veteran shows as Geraldo
and Sally Jessy Raphael. And anyone who watches talk shows on a regular
basis knows that each one varies in style and format. One might enjoy
watching the sometimes trashy subject matter found on Jenny Jones, while
someone else might prefer the more serious and light hearted feel of the
Maury Povich show. But no two shows are more profoundly opposite in
content, while at the same time standing out above the rest, than the
Jerry Springer and the Oprah Winfrey show.
Jerry Springer could easily be considered the king of "trash
talk." The topics on his show are as shocking as they get. For example,
the show takes the ever common talk show themes of love, lust, sex,
sexuality, adultery, cheating, guilt, hate,
conflict and morality to a different level. In a vintage Springer show,
one finds women who cheated on their boyfriends and are ready to confess.
But the boyfriends are in for a bigger surprise. As it turns out that all
the women haven't been secretly seeing other guys, but seeing other women,
who also happen to be waiting backstage. Another episode tells of a John
Wayne Bobbit type case, but with a more twisted plot. A male cuts off his
own manhood because he claimed that his homosexual neighbor was stalking
him. Shocking, indeed, but the list of talk material goes on from
dangerous love triangles, broken homes, pregnant strippers, teenage
prostitutes, adult film stars, devil worshippers and the ever popular talk
show regulars, the members of the Ku Klux Klan. Clearly, the Jerry
Springer show is a display and exploitation of societies moral
catastrophes, yet people are willing to eat up the intriguing predicaments
of other peoples lives.
Oprah Winfrey was once a follower of the trash TV format, but her
long running popular TV talk show has since been reformed. Like Jerry
Springer, the Oprah Winfrey show takes talk TV to its extreme, but Oprah
goes in the opposite direction. Oprah is probably the most immaculate talk
show there is. It is unlikely that you will find guest on Oprah that have
committed adultery, have sold their souls to the devil, or are part of a
racist hate group. Instead, the show focuses on the improvement of society
and an individuals quality of life. Topics range from teaching your
children responsibility, managing your work week, proper etiquette,
getting to know your neighbors and entertaining interviews with
celebrities. Not many talk shows are interested in taking time to teach
children right from wrong, or give techniques to get along with people
better, but it seems that the Oprah shows top priority is to educate first
, and then entertain.
Compared to Oprah, the Jerry Springer show looks like toxic waste
being dumped on society. Still, there are times when Jerry Springer has
made an effort to help the troubled people on his show. The most notable
is when he has helped extremely obese people get to the hospital and help
them turn their lives around. The entire process is still taped for its
entertainment value, but at least something good came out of it. Jerry
also ends every show with a "final word." He makes a small speech that
sums up the entire moral of the show. Hopefully, this is the part where
most people will learn something very valuable.
Even if Oprah is as squeaky clean as it is, the show is not for
everyone. The shows main target audience are working middle-class
Americans. A vast majority of these people usually have the time, money,
and stability to deal with life's tougher problems. Jerry Springer, on the
other hand, has more of an association with the the young adults of
society. These are your 18 -21 year-olds whose main troubles in life
involve love, relationship, sex, pregnancy, money, peers and influence.
They are the ones who see some value and lessons to be learned underneath
the show's exploitation.
While these two talk shows are as different as night and day, both
have ruled the talk show circuit for many years now. Each one caters to a
different audience while both have a strong following from legions of
fans. Ironically, both could also be considered pioneers in the talk show
world. Jerry Springer's crude and vulgar topics may be looked down upon,
but no other talk show comes close to the raw exposure of its guest. Oprah
Winfrey was able to break away from the pack and create a unique and
highly successful talk show. Only time will tell if anyone follow in her
footsteps. Even as these to talk shows stand on opposite sides of the
spectrum, both have managed to stand alone to their highest extremes and
are considered the best at what they are.