Talk Shows

Trashy talk shows effect Americans and society in negative ways, because many of the topics on these types of programs are degrading to our society. With trashy talk shows ruling daytime television, people are left with little choice, but to watch these humiliating forms of entertainment. Trash talk is what is hot these days. It has risen within the last decade of being a cultural phenomenon. Americans watch more TV today, than they have in the past ten years and talk shows are a major contribution to that.

Turn the television on in the afternoon and you will find a large variety of talk shows to choose from. Have we as a nation, become addicted to hearing our neighbors' steamy personal problems? Personally, I feel it is both the lack of choice and the attraction to other people’s problems, that draws us into these types of trashy shows. So, when it comes to choosing a side in the argument of Bennett or Gaines, I'd have to side with William Bennett. In his essay, Bennett explains why he thinks daytime talk shows are having a bad influence on the American public and why we should do our best to try and change that.

If a person came to America for the first time and watched television, they would probably see a talk show.

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This is exactly the type of topics on some shows. The talk show industry is steadily increasing with more viewers, more shows and more profit.

So to basically sum it up, Americans are drawn to talk shows because they show ordinary people that they can relate to and they deal with topics that are the subjects of everyday gossip. The main reason daytime talk shows are popular is because they show a side of America no one really wants to see or admit that they live in. Daytime talk shows biggest risk is that their guest and/or topics reflect what America knows on a first hand level. Which in most instances don't just end up hurting the guest, but also the guest's family members and friends who have either come for support or are at home watching. In some shows the guests are not informed of the topic, and they end up being embarrassed by a ridiculous topic. Is it possible that Jerry Springer is a marketing genius and he is some how sucking more and more views into the world of "smut TV. I can't even fathom why any broadcasting company would even sponsor this kind of public filth, which I believe serves as a corrupting source of this nation, and a major excuse for the violence in today‘s world. "?

Talk shows do nothing at all to improve any standard of living in this country. Some shows trick people into situations.

The one question I keep asking myself is if talk shows are so trashy, and I believe they are, then why do we as a public watch them so much? I guess the answer is that people found that they could relate to things that are important to them. To those who do not tune into these shows this description may sound like an exaggeration; however, it is not. She proceeded to tell Jenny that this man was insane and was pursuing her. There is no room on national television for the fat, ugly or indecent.

Approximate Word count = 1614
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)

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