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Underground > Film, TV & Theatre >

Jeremy Kyle & the decline of morning television

Jawsus-son Starship

10:56 / 29.09.07

Well it was bound to happen. Jeremy Kyle's chat show, called The Jeremy Kyle Show, has been refered to by a high court judge as "trash" and exisisted simply to "titillate bored people with nothing better to do." One assumes that he meant nothing better to do but go on the actualk show. Kyle, the self appointed saviour of the Britain's "Moron Class", a man so odieous he makes Chris Moyle's breakfast show look like a fun filled morning alternative, fired this broadside back; "We do not recognise the judge's discription of the show".

It's been going down hill for a while for Kyle. An alcholic guest has accused the show of trying to ply him with booze preshow, and winding him up before he went on to give his performance. Also, some welsh teenager broke the law to appear on the show.

Kyle makes me want to hide up in a belfry with a rifle and casually pick people off. He deserves no less then what Sadam recieved - terrified for his life, hiding in a spider hole, only to be pulled out by burly american's, put on trial, then hung. He makes me wish we lived in communist russia. If Dr Mengele treated people with the contempt Kyle did, officials in the Nazi party might have been forced to say "That's a bit out of order. Come on Doc, you've got to show people a little bit of decency."

You see, I never had a problem with Trisha, or Vannessa, nor Anne Diamond. Richard Madley may be a bit of a cock, but he at least he's got something of the Partridge about him, so we love him. All Kyle's got are the cold, hard eyes of a killer.

So, end the rant, and get to the point. Why do we stand for this trash - even the advertiser's hate Kyle. Is there anything we can do, or is this the natural progression for British Broadcasting. Is this just the inevitable backlash, or do we think Kyle deserves the title of "ITV Morning Bear Baiter"? Also, tell stories of your hatred of Kyle, Springer, Matthew Wright, or any other morning TV presenter feasting on the souls of the lost and damned.

Our Lady Has Left the Building

12:04 / 29.09.07

I must admit I've never seen the show, being unfairly burdened with a job that means I'm out of my bed by that time, but unless on of the shows has him gassing a town full of Kurds then I would suggest that your value system may need looking at.

I'm just surprised that real people appear to have gone on his show. I assumed it was all actors on these things.

But yes, people tutting at the show isn't going to do anything to moderate his behaviour. Advertisers not wanting to be seen anywhere near it will be the defining factor in whether it stays or goes.

11:27 / 01.10.07

And off goes one of the advertisers.

Anyway, it's hardly surprising it's not critically acclaimed: it's on ITV1, during the daytime. They're not exactly noted for the quality of their programming (at any time of day).

Still, as long as there are enough people with messy and/or unhappy home lives who are willing to share them, believe in the power of the polygraph, and don't want anything so expensive as appearance or repeat fees, I'm sure Kyle will be happy.

Speaking of whom, I'm not entirely sure how he made the move from taking telephone calls about sexual confessions on the radio to being a 'conflict resolution' expert on TV, but strange are the ways of the media...

12:19 / 01.10.07

Now I know Popbitch is no arbiter of journalistic accuracy, but if what they've been alleging about Mr. Kyle and his own attitudes to the , uh, sanctity of marriage turns out to be true, and if said information were put out in the open, then this could all get a helluva lot rowdier in the coming weeks...

13:24 / 04.10.07

Jezza is clearly trying to clean up his acts. Recent episodes have centred around him trying to help people by shouting at them and calling them names. Which isn't much fun anymore. It was much better when he shouted at people and called them names and without trying to look like a social campaigner.

All Acting Regiment

17:10 / 04.10.07

The Jeremy Kyle show appeals to the idea that we don't need all these social services and psychologists to sort out our problems - no, we just a bit of being shouted at by unqualified persons in front of a huge audience. The way it positions its audience is key - you're on the good side, glaring down on the "monsters".

Pyewacket The Elder

18:58 / 04.10.07

Is not the issue at hand the fact that there is a vested interest in creating a spectacle? If the news media appear to thrive from showing only that which draws indignation, horror and upset, as seems literally the case, then is the issue the fact that we communally appear to give our attention to such things as opposed to focusing and emphasizing positive directions? Why does playing with our own shit sell.

We can extend this further to say that what effect does does continuous media representation of family in soap opera effect and influence ongoing social behaviours. Why do soaps thrive on argument, disfunctionality and wrong action and why do we, as implied by viewing statistics, fucking LOVE that?

Whatever Mr Kyle does is simply grist for the attention-machine i.e. how many pairs of eyes can we get trained at this focal point? Jerry Springer did this already to enormous success - the model is defined and the rest is simply following the script. Even the people on the show have seen shows like it and have a model of behaviour somewhere deep down. 'Controversy' is a simple tool to wield in the media world and one that appears to work consistently and is artistically created by those such as Max Clifford amongst others. Any moral statements, especially by the establishment, inevitably serve to popularize the thing being criticized, not so much in terms of people 'liking' it but how many people pay attention to it. It is the battle for attention, in my opinion, that dominates UK culture, business and media. Perhaps there is some general comment on society implicit in these behaviors although I am not sure i can put it in reasoned words as well as others might. What do you think - am I right or just cynical?

Jawsus-son Starship

07:42 / 05.10.07

Why do soaps thrive on argument, disfunctionality and wrong action and why do we, as implied by viewing statistics, fucking LOVE that?

There's no drama without conflict, so it'd be the worst soap on earth that wasn't based on arguments and disfunctionality.