The Genre of Talk Shows

“ Talk Shows will never be in trouble because of the subject matter. The more controversial, the bigger the shows get” ( Abt, Mustazza). In our public sphere today we see a disturbing trend arise with the popularity of lowbrow, emotional, and chaotic genre called “trash television.” For decades, television has been an important resource to help Americans stay informed and entertained as well. In addition to news programs, variety shows, comedy, drama, and sports; the genre of the “talk show” has evolved as a staple source of programming. Talk shows began during the daytime, as a source of entertainment for women and veterans of war who were mainly in charge of tasks at home. From Phil Donahue to Oprah Winfrey, Americans have shown a passion for daytime talk show programming. Donahue and Winfrey have evolved as television cultural icons for viewers right in the comfort of their own homes. As we have witnessed today, however, the goal of other talk shows, such as Maury and The Jerry Springer Show is clearly to shock and entertain and not inform.

Thus, today many daytime talk shows have evolved into nothing more than the “freak” and the “geek” strutting around on stage providing entertainment for millions of Americans ( Quail, Razzano, Skalli). They are in the forefront of broadcast television, and syndicated to audiences through cable, satellite, and Internet. These shows ratings have improved which is detrimental to the public sphere due to the nature of the private topics they explore. This raises the question as to what has happened to make these talk shows evolve into negative models in our public sphere. What has lead to the hostile and confrontational discourse on which these shows feed? Over the years talk shows have evolved from radio stations to television. After World War II talk shows became a major hit because of the need for relatively inexpensive programming. Talk shows were initially relied on due to FCC regulations that were instituted in the 1970’s. These rules prohibited networks from airing their shows during certain hours to give space to their affiliates ( Abt, Mustazza). This created syndication in the television markets which encouraged station affiliates to purchase air-syndicated programs from other networks.

With this process in place talk shows were always the first shows to be picked up by another network because of their inexpensive nature and popularity ( Timberg). As Americans have witnessed, there has become a central issue emerging in the talk show literature where the genres include a wide variety of different forms of talk shows. We typically see three different types or categories of shows. These categories include shows like Phil Donahue, which include a focus on public discussion in regards to issues of concern, Jerry Springer, which portray an Emotional Public Sphere and try to focus on conflict and emotive secrets that should not be shared with millions of strangers, and shows like Oprah, who brings a therapeutic approach to personal problems (Lunt, Stenner). All of the talk show hosts have evolved over time in the limelight of the public sphere, even these conflict talk shows that seem less credible. In regards to the public sphere, we as citizens see these conceptions have weakened through historical time, since chronologically the public discussion format emerged first and the conflict format last ( Abt, Mustazza).

Recognized by most as the white- haired fellow in glasses, Phil Donahue laid the foundation for talk show hosts for generations to follow. Starting at 9:00 am in 1986, Donahue occupied the daytime television slot for over 26 years. Donahue formed a relationship with his viewers through Conversation Piece his famous “ hot topic” radio call- in show which aired from 1963 to 1967 (Halper). This made the switch from radio to television easy for his followers, who were mainly stay at home women. Some of his topics included health and social issues which during this time were thought of as taboo to talk about ( Timberg). When making the switch he continuously tried new things to keep his studio audience engaged with himself and his guests or celebrities on the show. By using direct dialogue and being able to glance out into a live studio audience, Donahue felt that he was making a direct connection with each individual in the audience. As a talk show host, Donahue paved the road on how a host should act as a mediator when hosting different celebrities and experts on his show. Donahue did this by asking his guests questions and allowing his live studio audience to engage in the conversation as well. While continuously watching Donahue on television his viewers quickly formed a relationship with him.

It was not about seeing what celebrity or expert would be on his show; it was about watching Donahue and seeing him at the same time, same place, every day Donahue’s show became a huge success which eventually led to him becoming syndicated nationally in the 1970s (Capturing TV History Through Video Interviews). Playing the role as mediator, Donahue would present both sides of an issue and engage the guests and audience in discussion. While Donahue was a revolutionary talk show host he soon was faced with a challenge. As Oprah stepped into the game in 1983 as host of Chicago’s WLS-TV, Donahue’s ratings began to drop significantly ( Halper). Oprah was a new face to viewers who was willing to stoop to new depths and talk about sensational topics. With this being said, Oprah transformed Donahue’s format of report- talking where the main focus is on the information; to report talking where there are secrets being revealed and personal troubles are being discussed ( Abt, Mustazza). From this point on, Oprah talked about couples problems live on television and had audience members engage in the conversation.

For example, when discussing two couples relationship, one young woman says that “ her boyfriend always listend to her, and an older woman stood up and told her this was because they weren’t married yet, “ When you put that ring on your finger, it’s going to be a whole different story!” (Tannen). By introducing this interactive format, it is easy to see how Oprah gained popularity and came out on top. Known universally by her first name, Oprah Winfrey took daytime talk shows to the next level. Oprah was the first woman on television who had the courage to introduce topics such as rape and abuse which had never before been spoken about on television. She exposed the pain of loneliness and what it was like to not have the perfect family to come home to. As a host, Oprah was known for forming a close relationship with everyone in the room, including her guests on the show. She was not afraid to share secrets into her own life in hopes that the guest would feel comfortable enough to share some of theirs as well. ( Abt, Mustazza).

Oprah is well known for this tactic that she has developed over the years. For example, while having a guest on the show, Oprah was skilled enough to know what she needed to say in order to get what she wanted out of that guest and what the audience wanted to hear (Dixion). Over the course of 25 seasons, Oprah has had a chance of interviewing some of the most influential people from Michael Jackson to President Barak Obama and his wife Michelle. While watching these interviews, viewers are exposed to information that the source would never revel themselves. Even though Oprah does try to reveal personal secrets, she does not take it to the extent as we see today in shows such as Maury and The Jerry Springer Show. When thinking about contemporary talk shows, its hard not picture the never ending parade of multiple ex- spouses, paternity tests, and yes even drag queens running around on stage acting as entertainment to millions of viewers. Jerry Springer himself rules the market of contemporary talk show as the “King of Trash TV” (Quail, Razzano, Skalli).

Although originally Jerry’s main goal was not to have one of the most entertaining and toxic talk shows on daytime television. In 1991, “The Jerry Springer Show” debuted on Cincinnati’s WLWT-TV to replace Phil Donahue’s long standing talk show. Due to ratings, Springer had to adjust his image and talk show to save it from being dropped by syndicating networks due to poor ratings (Morgenthau). Springer’s show today has hit a new level with 2.1 million viewers daily (‘Maury’, ‘The Jerry Springer Show’ and ‘Steve Wilkos’ Picked up Through 2016). He himself has said, “ You know, I’ll be the first to admit that we have go a pretty crazy show on our hands here. Sometimes our guests just go too far and some are too outrageous” (Lunt, Stenner). Typical episodes range from staged tantrums around revealed paternity test to the host bringing on multiple intimate partners in order to stage a brawl over who loves each other more. It would be easy to say that Springer has his hands full, but he’s only getting them wet.

In adding to his toxic tabloid reputation, Springer has said himself that, “ he believes in the First Amendment and therefore never rejects people from appearing on his show, just because I might not agree with them” (Abt, Mustazza). When analyzing Springer’s show, one thing he fails to mention is that the only people who get showtime on his show are the outrageous and outspoken guests who have a situation that Springer has found interesting and his team knows will affect ratings for their sake. In this case, he does not seek to mention the rather boring, normal American who may not have gone around the block and knocked up multiple people. Springer is not alone in this trend and has paved the way for talk show hosts such as Maury and Steve Wilkos who are following in his footsteps. At the start of every episode of Maury, the audience screams his names as he enters and approaches the stage to show their excitement for the battle to begin. In following Springer’s footsteps, Maury also started his career in a different genre of talk. Maury’s first show was, “ A Current Affair” which aired from 1986 to 1990, than “The Maury Povich Show” which ran from 1991-1998, which then brings us to Maury, which was aired in 1998 (Timberg). Initially, Maury discussed current events and uplifiting tales, which chronicle overcoming adversity (Lunt, Stenner).

As Maury’s ratings began to skyrocket; he realized that his new format was necessary for his success in the daytime talk show industry. As we see through this and many other shows of this nature, it eventually led to the money and ratings and not the meaningful message. During his 2011 to 2012 show, Maury had more than 3.3 million viewers daily. As a result, his show became the number one rated talk show among woman 18 to 34 (‘Maury’, ‘The Jerry Springer Show’ and ‘Steve Wilkos’ Picked Up through 2016). Maury is another example of the typical tabloid talk shows that currently fill up our daytime television. On his show, Maury brings up issues such as teenage pregnancy, sexual infidelity, out of control teenagers, domestic violence, and paternity test results. As shown by the example of episodes featuring paternity test results, Maury has become famous in our public sphere for airing these emotional and personal moments in an individual’s life on national television. For example, often times mothers will bring their children into the studio and have Maury do a paternity test to prove that the child’s father is or is not the father (Lunt, Stenner).

We see this scenario being played out in many different situations. This truly hurts the viewing public. Although not all of the public reacts to this, various citizens view this sort of behavior as acceptable since it is on television. As a result this inspires viewers to engage in the same behavior the show ridicules. Although these shows are obviously detrimental to the public sphere, our generation keeps watching them, and other radical talk show host. As we have seen with Springer and Maury television talk shows are either contributing to the decline in public civility or they reflect the growing incivility in mainstream America. It is easy to see how they are breaking barriers in regards to ratings, revenue, and diverting our attention and energy from certain issues to focus on the most absurd forms of private and public misbehavior, which helps construct our conceptions of what constitutes acceptable and appropriate reactions to such actions.

Works Cited

Abt, V., & Mustazza, L. (1997). Coming after Oprah: cultural fallout in the age of the TV talk show. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular Press.Dixon, K. (2009). The global village revisited: art, politics, and television talk shows. Lanham: Lexington Books. Halper, D. L. (2009). Icons of talk the media mouths that changed America. Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press.

Lunt, P., & Stenner, P. (n.d.). The Jerry Springer Show as an Emotional Public Sphere. The Jerry Springer Show as an Emotional Public Sphere. Retrieved November 6, 2012, from
bura.brunel.ac.uk/bitstream/2438/1406/4/
‘Maury’, ‘The Jerry Springer Show’ and ‘Steve Wilkos’ Picked Up Through 2016 – Ratings
| TVbytheNumbers. (n.d.). TV Ratings, TV Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings | TVbytheNumbers.com. Retrieved November 6, 2012, from http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/06/15/maury-the-jerry-springer-show- and-steve-wilkos-picked-up-through-2016/137823/

Phil Donahue Interview | Archive of American Television. (n.d.). Capturing TV History Through Video Interviews | Archive of American Television. Retrieved November 6, 2012, from
http://www.emmytvlegends.org/interviews/people/phil-donahue
Quail, C. M., Razzano, K. A., & Skalli, L. H. (2005). Vulture culture: the politics and pedagogy of daytime television talk shows. New York: Peter Lang. TANNEN, D. (n.d.). Op-Ed Contributor – Donahue Talked, Oprah Listened – NYTimes.com. The New York Times – Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Retrieved November 7, 2012, from http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/opinion/29tannen.html?_r=0 Timberg, B., & Erler, B. (2002). Television talk: a history of the TV talk show. Austin, Tex.: University of Texas Press.