Oprah Winfrey Goes The Jerry Springer Route To Garner High Ratings
Robert Paul Reyes
February 24, 2006
Rating sweeps periods are used to determine future ad rates for local stations. It's not unusual during these crucial sweeps months for TV shows to feature the bizarre and the scandalous -- anything to garner high ratings. Don't expect any "Masterpiece Theatre" type programming during a sweeps period.
Oprah Winfrey has a very loyal following, she will not lose any appreciable share of her audience if she discusses a boring topic like osteoporosis or menopause.
There was no need for Oprah to imitate Jerry Springer during the February sweeps period, but surprisingly she went to the gutter in an effort to achieve high ratings.
The Queen of daytime TV interviewed a lady who claimed to have had sex with more than 90 men during her life and who keeps an ongoing list and a video diary about these one-night stands.
Oprah asked this woman a question that was so sexually explicit that it would have brought a blush to the cheeks of Paris Hilton. My sense of propriety and a respect for my readers prevent me from revealing Oprah's scandalous query.
At one point Oprah asked the woman: "So you told our producers you're disgusted with yourself?"
My question for Oprah is: Aren't you disgusted with yourself? Millions of women tune in to you for inspirational and educational programming and you interview a nymphomaniac who's had unprotected sex with almost a 100 guys?
Oprah's program featuring this over-sexed lady had no socially redeeming values, it was a naked grab for ratings.
Shame, shame on Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey has a very loyal following, she will not lose any appreciable share of her audience if she discusses a boring topic like osteoporosis or menopause.
There was no need for Oprah to imitate Jerry Springer during the February sweeps period, but surprisingly she went to the gutter in an effort to achieve high ratings.
The Queen of daytime TV interviewed a lady who claimed to have had sex with more than 90 men during her life and who keeps an ongoing list and a video diary about these one-night stands.
Oprah asked this woman a question that was so sexually explicit that it would have brought a blush to the cheeks of Paris Hilton. My sense of propriety and a respect for my readers prevent me from revealing Oprah's scandalous query.
At one point Oprah asked the woman: "So you told our producers you're disgusted with yourself?"
My question for Oprah is: Aren't you disgusted with yourself? Millions of women tune in to you for inspirational and educational programming and you interview a nymphomaniac who's had unprotected sex with almost a 100 guys?
Oprah's program featuring this over-sexed lady had no socially redeeming values, it was a naked grab for ratings.
Shame, shame on Oprah Winfrey
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