TV Shows.......why do you watch...........Jerry Springer?

Question

I caught a programme on ITV this moring, The Jerry Springer Show, My question is, why do you watch programmes like this? Is it because you believe you will learn something to take into your own lives and situations or is it for the curiosity freak factor, that people actually feel the need to discuss highly personal issues such as true parentage, on national TV?

Please dont think I take any show such as this seriously, I'm just curious as to why they are seemingly so popular

Answer 1

For most Americans it seems this is a form of tabloid television. There’s a segment of the population that seems to enjoy this type of entertainment, base and crude as it may be. I’m also guessing that this segment is growing steadily too, because this type of entertainment holds an appeal with the younger audiences who are in less desirable points in their lives. (I.e. single mothers, incarcerated inmates, etc…). And out here that segment of the population is definitely growing. I think it’s because it helps them to see people who are as bad off (or possibly worse) as they are and because they can personally relate to their situations or in rare instances feel a sense of superiority to someone else’s ‘plight in bad judgment’. I’m also guessing that the one crowd it wouldn’t get much of a viewership from are people with more advanced degrees (4 year), urban professionals, business executive’s, etc. I don’t know why, and I certainly could be wrong about it too, but that show just seems far to undermining to the ideals of common sense.

Can you guess that I don’t watch it?

Answer 2

Jerry Springer

Answer 3

The Jerry Springer Show is still on the air!? I used to watch that in high school and every now and then until about a year ago. I watch that show because of the curiosity freak factor. I cant believe that some people are actually like that. Sometimes i wonder if it is all made up, but then there are times when i say to myself they couldn't pay these people enough to humiliate themselves like that on a television show that will reach millions of watchers.

Answer 4

The Jerry Springer show is OK for the US audiences, but it never seems to work with British ones - not sure why - we don't seem to be as vile as the US version

Answer 5

It's akin to wrestling. It's all for show and some of these "problems" these people have are so over the top as to be the modern-day equivalent of the Circus side show (or the politically incorrect "freak show")

Answer 6

i love Jerry springer but the u.k. one is crap it's to "British" now when i.t.v showed American Jerry springer it was brilliant all that raw emotion and even the crowd joined in until most programmes descended into fighting brilliant

Answer 7

I hate that show. I watched it when I was 16 for a while. I can't understand why anyone would be amused by this junk. I left a waiting room with my kids once because they had the show on the television. I once came home to find it on my own t.v. while my mother in-law was babysitting. Couldn't do much there. WTF!!

Answer 8

people watch springer for the shock value, not the morales of it, in after thought this crap is strangely amusing

Answer 9

Erm, it's just funny to watch two scantily clad women throw punches every which way while yelling things about their baby's dady and whatnot.

Answer 10

I don't watch that show. Try Vicki Gabereau, she's in reruns now, but her shows are pretty interesting and intelligent.