Jerry Springer-Lauri Dafner

The Jerry Springer Show is an entity onto itself. The host, Jerry Springer, delivers an array of downright crude interviews full of obscenities and odd guests. Interviews range from stories about cheaters to full on fights between disgruntled family members. As seen on the “culture as a skyscraper” diagram, shows such as Jerry Springer place in the low class category for viewers. Therefore most interview themes are insignificant to the greater community and full of trivial themes and conflicts. Unlike most talk shows, guests are encouraged to get into physical fights. As mentioned earlier in the chapter, such shows as “Jackass” which was on MTV for a brief amount of time, delivers the same time themes. When looking at both television shows, the response is divided in each. One group of people would say the viewers are being influenced to subject themselves to such activities. Other groups of people would claim that these shows are simply for entertainment purposes.
Most stories are about people who are in the mist of fighting or have hateful feelings for another person. In which case these individuals come to the show to pursue conflict and solve their issues. When watching such a show as this, it is easy to wonder if those that are being interviewed have chosen to be portrayed in such a low class way. Reports have said that the producers of the show have coaxed people into appearing through false claims and promises.
By looking at all facets and goals of this television program, it seems as if the show aims to please viewers while leaving guests looking dumb. Many times guests are also given a false sense of why they are really on the show. This deceptiveness has lead to injury and even death. one significant interview lead to the murder of a guest. A woman was asked to come on the show and reconcile her relationship with her ex-husband, who she had been stalking. Little did she know that the show lied to get her on television. When she got on the show she was informed that her ex-husband had since remarried and wanted nothing to do with her. this conflict ended in tragedy when the ex-husband continued his rage off stage and killed the woman.
In this case the Jerry Springer show had an obligation to its guests to tell the truth. It is important for television networks and more importantly, the producers of shows to recognize and evaluate the condition of their guests. it is one thing to get good ratings, its another to strive to do so while tampering with guests fragile feelings and lives. Many times a line needs to be drawn. Over and over again the Jerry Springer show crosses that line.