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...