# what is the draw to talk shows? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 8, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971 "2013-07-08T20:09:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/1 "2013-07-08T20:09:47Z")
I hate talk shows. Whether they are sane, like Good Morning America, funny like Ellen, or crazy like, well, all the crazy ones. This fall there are several more coming around. The hosts are people I’ve never heard of. Most of the ones already on are with people I’ve never heard of. I have to admit, I don’t watch much TV especially in the day time. Please, tell me what is the draw? I just can’t understand it. Next question, who are these people? Bill Cunningham? I had a neighbor by that name when I was a kid, but he’s dead. I can’t even remember the other names, because in my world, they are just faces in the crowd. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/2 "2013-07-08T20:21:29Z")
TV networks and individual TV stations like them because they’re fairly inexpensive to make / purchase (a lot of the talk shows are syndicated, which means that the individual stations decide which shows to buy). As far as the draw for viewers, the more popular hosts (Ellen, Oprah, etc.) are draws in and of themselves. Beyond that, it’s probably a combination of the guests / topic areas (I’ll watch Show X today, because my favorite actor is a guest), and just general boredom. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Whitney\_Harper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f0a364/32.png) [@Whitney\_Harper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whitney_Harper)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/3 "2013-07-08T20:38:52Z")
I see what you mean. I cannot stand Sharon Osborne’s voice, therefore I don’t watch “The Talk”. I don’t really care for the other co-hosts that much either. I don’t watch Wendy Williams talk show, as she is so loud. In addition, I find Kathy Lee Gifford loud as well, and she is not my personality type either. Anderson Cooper is good, but I don’t like Piers Morgan. I’ve always liked Oprah, and Katie Couric is appealing. I have to admit I do have a crush on David Muir; he’s the guy that does the week-end news on ABC. It’s always a pleasure to see him! ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/4 "2013-07-08T21:32:51Z")
My husband absolutely loves the two brain-injured, alcoholic bimbos on NBC in the mornings. I just don’t get it. They can barely finish a thought. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/5 "2013-07-08T21:39:48Z")
Remember: “Talk shows do not exist to present guests or points of view, or discussion, or even entertainment as we know it. Talk shows exist to make the talk show host look good.” - Abbie Hoffman (paraphrased a bit) I haven’t ever seen an exception, and it explains much about the late-night wars. ---
**Author:** ![SpoilerVirgin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/4491bb/32.png) [@SpoilerVirgin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpoilerVirgin)\ **Post date:** [July 8, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/6 "2013-07-08T23:47:19Z")
I’m not a huge fan of talk shows, but I think they play a role for some people very similar to the role played by this messageboard. You’re bored, you don’t have people around you at the moment that you particularly want to converse with, but you’d like to hear what some other people are talking about, whether it’s the latest news, or celebrity gossip, or political issues of the day, with some jokes and maybe a musical interlude thrown in. The difference between the board and a talk show is that here you can pick and choose your topic, but if you’re not too picky, a talk show can be perfectly adequate for this purpose if you find a host you enjoy. ---
**Author:** ![Seanette](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/seanette/32/9139_2.png) [@Seanette](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Seanette)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/7 "2013-07-09T02:31:27Z")
Seems to me a lot of the draw for stuff like Maury, Jerry Springer, and the like is pretty much the same thing as rubbernecking at the traffic accident. Schadenfreude, etc. I don’t understand the appeal of the more sedate ones. Just plain dull, IMO. At least a message forum is interactive, which a TV talk show isn’t. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Tethered\_Kite](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a5b964/32.png) [@Tethered\_Kite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tethered_Kite)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/8 "2013-07-09T03:18:04Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Remember: “Talk shows do not exist to present guests or points of view, or discussion, or even entertainment as we know it. Talk shows exist to make the talk show host look good.” - Abbie Hoffman (paraphrased a bit) > > I haven’t ever seen an exception, and it explains much about the late-night wars. The Hoffman quote is a hoot. He would say that. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/9 "2013-07-09T03:21:20Z")
Watch Graham Norton. It’s the only talk show I watch. [Here, watch Daniel Radcliffe post Harry Potter fan fiction with Graham Norton and Ricky Gervais.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsSqfAKBOF8) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/10 "2013-07-09T03:22:24Z")
Correction: Daniel Radcliffe fan fiction, not Potter. Watch the whole clip. Graham Norton Show is hilarious. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/11 "2013-07-09T03:25:59Z")
[Oh, and if you really want to see, watch Craig Ferguson discuss Life, the Universe, and God with Stephen Fry for 40 minutes. It’s worth it.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_H0doKy4sI) ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 10:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/12 "2013-07-09T10:07:09Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > [Oh, and if you really want to see, watch Craig Ferguson discuss Life, the Universe, and God with Stephen Fry for 40 minutes. It’s worth it.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_H0doKy4sI) Craig Ferguson is one of the ones I hate the most. He isn’t a bit funny, in my estimation. Of course, I’m an OF, so What I think is funny isn’t mainstream any more. **Mahaloth** , oh good lord no! He’s isn’t any funnier that Ferguson! I guess, funny, like beauty, is in the eye… The whole thing is, I’m just not interested in the lives of people I have never, nor will ever meet. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/13 "2013-07-09T10:32:51Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > The whole thing is, I’m just not interested in the lives of people I have never, nor will ever meet. That means you have no interest in fiction, non-fiction, history, news, movies, plays, documentaries, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/14 "2013-07-09T13:02:06Z")
> [@SpoilerVirgin](#): > > I’m not a huge fan of talk shows, but I think they play a role for some people very similar to the role played by this messageboard. You’re bored, you don’t have people around you at the moment that you particularly want to converse with, but you’d like to hear what some other people are talking about, whether it’s the latest news, or celebrity gossip, or political issues of the day, with some jokes and maybe a musical interlude thrown in. The difference between the board and a talk show is that here you can pick and choose your topic, but if you’re not too picky, a talk show can be perfectly adequate for this purpose if you find a host you enjoy. Agreed. I think some people like them because they’re the next best thing to having company. This is especially important for extraverts who don’t like lots of alone time. ---
**Author:** ![Jim\_s\_Son](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19adc/32.png) [@Jim\_s\_Son](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jim_s_Son)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/15 "2013-07-09T15:00:04Z")
Don’t watch them myself, at least not for over a decade, but I suppose if you don’t like one guest , in about 10 minutes there will be another that you may like . Plus as previously mentioned, production costs are low and the network and stations can make a bundle off them. I did take a tour of the “Tonight Show” set 30 years and the tour guide went into detail as to how much The Pips would if seen onscreen with Gladys Knight versus the money if they were off screen. Some people may just regard talk show hosts as neighbors or coworkers they see on a regular basis ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/16 "2013-07-09T15:03:21Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Agreed. I think some people like them because they’re the next best thing to having company. This is especially important for extraverts who don’t like lots of alone time. _Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep_ is essential reading in this case, along with a number of other PKD novels that feature both newsclowns and the endless talk shows that mesmerize the population. (None of that, or the pseudo-religion of Mercerism, made it into _Blade Runner_.) ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/17 "2013-07-09T15:26:03Z")
I don’t understand either. I will sometimes watch the first ten minutes, when they do their yodeling or have funny bits, but the second they start interviewing people, I’m bored. Why do I care what so and so says about anything? Answer: I don’t! ---
**Author:** ![picunurse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/7bcc69/32.png) [@picunurse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/picunurse)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/18 "2013-07-09T16:15:48Z")
> [@planetcory](#): > > That means you have no interest in fiction, non-fiction, history, news, movies, plays, documentaries, etc. No, it doesn’t. Celebrities real lives just aren’t that interesting. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/19 "2013-07-09T17:27:50Z")
> [@picunurse](#): > > No, it doesn’t. Celebrities real lives just aren’t that interesting. The weird thing is I enjoy celebrity gossip (as people who’ve read some of my threads know) but, like you, I have no use for talk shows. I don’t see any relation between celebrity lives and talk show content. I’m not foolish enough to think anyone acts like their real self on a talk show. It’s just a performance like any other - except that a performance in a movie or TV show is going to be better made. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [July 9, 2013, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971/20 "2013-07-09T18:15:29Z")
Depending on the particular talk show, the content feels similar to _People_ or _Ladies Home Journal_ – and the salacious talk shows like the old Jerry Springer Show are more like some cross between the _Enquirer_ and eavesdropping on your neighbors’ arguments. If none of those magazines appeal to you, then talk shows probably won’t, either. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-draw-to-talk-shows/662971.md?page=2)