Just What We All Need - More Talk Shows
Here’s some heartening news. In a world already soiled by “Jenny Jones,” station executives across the land say talk shows are their “biggest programming need” for next season.
They were surveyed by Broadcasting & Cable magazine at January’s National Association of Television Programming Executives convention. Aiming to please, program sellers at this annual bazaar of the bizarre were hawking no less than 11 new gabbers. The hottest reportedly are “The George & Alana Show,” reuniting George Hamilton and his ex-wife, and “Carnie,” starring Brian Wilson’s daughter.
Danny “The Embarrassment” Bonaduce, the former “Partridge Family” kid, also is a contender, as are former “Cosby” kid Tempestt Bledsoe, “Beverly Hills 90210” co-star Gabrielle Carteris and actress/ model Lauren Hutton. The accent is on a “new generation” of talkers who can tap into the Ricki Lake crowd.
Lake, who perhaps should consider changing her surname to Pondscum, is very adept at getting her younger studio audiences to go “Whooooo!!!” in unison. Last week she asked, “What would you do if another woman were after your man?” The answer: “Whooooo!!!”
Alas, syndicated talk shows are in the news again after the recent shooting death tied to “Jenny Jones.” A guest on the show, Jonathan T. Schmitz, is charged with murdering a man who disclosed his affections for him on a Jones show devoted to “Secret Admirers.” The murder occurred two days after the show was taped.
Until this incident, the fax-happy publicists for “Jenny Jones” had been pestering TV critics on the host’s behalf. She’s “hot” in the Nielsen ratings and would make a great story for your readers, I was told. Sorry, no sale. And now it’s “no comment” from Jones, who suddenly has developed lockjaw.
Other members of the talk show fraternity likewise have circled the circus wagons in a show of solidarity. Maury, Phil, Sally, Jerry, Geraldo, Montel, Ricki - none wants to talk about whether talk shows again have gone too far. Even Oprah Winfrey’s people are taking a pass.
Oprah is in an interesting dilemma. Last fall, she vowed to take a higher road in the interests of “uplifting, enlightening and entertaining.” Hard-core dysfunctionals no longer are welcome on “The Oprah Winfrey Show.” She apologized for playing any part in the glorification of victimization. From now on, Winfrey would do her very best to steer clear of the freaks and geeks populating her competitors’ shows. Since then her ratings have plummeted.
Oprah is still No. 1, according to Nielsen ratings for the February “sweeps.” But her national numbers are down 25 percent from a year ago.
What does this say about viewer tastes? It pretty much says this: In the talk-show universe, salacious still beats sagacious any day of the week. “On the next Ricki: ‘I Slept With Daddy after Mama Had Her Way with Me.”’ How deplorable. Let’s watch.
Ironically, Jenny Jones first got into the talk show business by touting herself as a refreshing alternative to all the polluters populating daytime TV. Viewers responded by not watching, and Jones responded by jumping into the cesspool just in time to save her show from cancellation.
During a stop in Dallas last year, Montel Williams said he also learned that the high road can be a dead end. He adjusted accordingly - and survived. Geraldo Rivera said mea culpa a few years back, pledging to purify his long-running talk show. Now he’s back on track - as a sleaze merchant. And his ratings are on the rise again.
Winfrey, whose contract with King World runs until the year 2000, may be hard pressed to stay on the wagon. Friday’s show typified the new Oprah. She hosted comedian Paul Reiser, who talked about the success of his marriage and his best-selling book, “Couplehood.”
Meanwhile, on the competing Maury, four couples confronted each other over their partner’s desire to pose nude. And Ricki Lake welcomed guests who are romantically involved with more than one partner.
Sorry to say it, but I don’t like Oprah’s chances.