Trash TV...don't wanna stare but you can't look away.

[Jester]

I work weekends until October, and as such I'm home during the week and get to see the wonder that is all the Jerry Springer/Maury Povich knockoffs.

I'm not even sure why I even watch this schlock...maybe it's my masochistic tendencies, but my soul where the heck do they find these people?

[Irishmile]

Ugh I know what you mean. I found myself unable to change the channel after I found myself watching Amish mafia it's absolutely rediculous but... I wanna know what happens next! Look away I'm ashamed.

[CyberCubed]

I used to watch Springer in the early 2000's. I was only 15 at the time so I figured might as well see what the fuss was about.

As a 15 year old hearing about stuff like transvestities, lesbian incest, threesomes, etc. for the first time it was an absolute goldmine.

I think my younger 15 year old self was corrupted at this point. I never knew back then that people had sex with their sisters, lesbian fantasies between 5 people, or chicks who had a penis.

Goddamn. I stopped watching by the time I was 18 though. Lol.

[Refractive Reflections]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

I used to watch Springer in the early 2000's. I was only 15 at the time so I figured might as well see what the fuss was about.

As a 15 year old hearing about stuff like transvestities, lesbian incest, threesomes, etc. for the first time it was an absolute goldmine.

I think my younger 15 year old self was corrupted at this point. I never knew back then that people had sex with their sisters, lesbian fantasies between 5 people, or chicks who had a penis.

Goddamn. I stopped watching by the time I was 18 though. Lol.

That was all during the Jerry Springer heyday during the mid to late 90s, when it actually beat Oprah in the ratings. (The only show that did during that time.) I remember when the show used to be at 4PM and a lot of students in middle school used to rush home after school so they could see it before their parents could arrive during 5-6PM.
The Jerry Springer show today is only a shadow of what it once was in terms of ludicrous topics. It doesn't have any of the bizarre fantasies, fetishes, racist, incestuous, cross-dressing, multiple partners themes it once had, it's almost always solely about the cheating aspect to it.

I always wondered why that Tabloid talk show genre always fell into decline, knowing how audiences usually relish this type of salacious, off-the-wall material. Even Oprah during its earlier years was pretty bad. Let's not forget shows like: Montell Williams, Ricki Lake (her first talk show), the Sally Jesse Raphael show, Geraldo, Phil Donahue, the Jenny Jones show, etc.
So anyways, I read the Wikipedia article on it's decline, and what it said makes sense. With the growing amount of cable/satellite stations and reality TV, most of the craziness is now seen in reality TV rather than confining those characters to a stage. (i.e. The Real Housewives of...., and Jersey Shore anyone? )

[KROW]

Originally Posted by Jester

I work weekends until October, and as such I'm home during the week and get to see the wonder that is all the Jerry Springer/Maury Povich knockoffs.

I'm not even sure why I even watch this schlock...maybe it's my masochistic tendencies, but my soul where the heck do they find these people?

I just watch Maury; it's hilarious.

To answer your question, sometimes the guests are actors. Other times they're normal people asked to play a role for the show. The rest of the time, I think it's legitimate... I think... Kinda difficult to fathom.

[AT-Man]

I love these shows. That's pretty much it.

[BubblyShell22]

Yeah, I used to watch Springer all the time too, but now I don't. I sometimes catch Steve Wilkos when I think about it. Other shows I can't look away from: Teen Mom series (though I don't think I'll catch 3), 16 and Pregnant, Real Housewives of New Jersey (I call that my mother/daughter show since Mom and I both watch it), and Total Divas so far. I do catch Maury sometimes, too, though not much anymore.

[Bauer536]

Shows like Toddlers and Tiaras are the types I think are awful, but you can't help but watch the craziness and stupidity. It's like a train wreck. Even the Real Housewives are guilty, too.

[ObiWanFan4life]

MAD, Annoying Orange, and all the live action shows on Cartoon Network fall into that description.

[CyberCubed]

What about Steve's show? The bald guy from Springer who got his own spinoff?

His show is much more serious, which people admitting to murder or abuse right on stage. Why aren't those people arrested after confessing on national television?

[Bauer536]

Originally Posted by ObiWanFan4life

MAD, Annoying Orange, and all the live action shows on Cartoon Network fall into that description.

I'm okay with MAD. At least they have some good parodies. It's shows like Annoying Orange and The Amazing World of Gumball I can't stand.

[ObiWanFan4life]

Originally Posted by Bauer536

I'm okay with MAD. At least they have some good parodies. It's shows like Annoying Orange and The Amazing World of Gumball I can't stand.

Gumball is meh, not a good show by ANY means, but it's Citizen Kane compared to Incredible Crew. *shudders*

[BubblyShell22]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

What about Steve's show? The bald guy from Springer who got his own spinoff?

His show is much more serious, which people admitting to murder or abuse right on stage. Why aren't those people arrested after confessing on national television?

I've watched that show, too. I actually like it in some respects, but I only watch it if there's anything interesting on it.