6 Yet another negative feature of modern television is called “trash TV.”
These daily talk shows bring real people with strange or immoral lives, personalities, or behavior to the screen.
Millions of viewers-including children-watch as these “instant stars” tell their most personal secrets, shout out their angry feelings and opinions, and attack one another.
TV watches seem to like the emotional atmosphere and excitement of this kind of programming-as well as the tension of the real but terrible stories on TV “news magazine” shows.
A new version of this kind of entertainment is called “reality TV.” In shows like Survivor; The Amazing Race, American Idol, and The Apprentice, “real people” compete for attention, fame, and other rewards.
What effect does frequent viewing of such programs have on people’s lives?
It makes television more real than reality, and normal living begins to seem boring.