14-03-2022, 11:47 PM
I’ve just finished watching the Channel 4 documentary looking into the production culture and effects on the guests of the Jeremy Kyle Show and it’s made me quite angry.
I love TV and have a passion for the production and design of it (as we all do on here), but this highlighted how the top bosses (whether production or higher in the network) cared more about the ratings than the lives of those participating in their programme. Exploiting the vulnerable by sugar coating it in the application of help and support. Whilst I’m sure that there was a high level of support (such as the rehab clinic that was provided as pointed out in the documentary), the guests were mocked, ridiculed and verbally abused beforehand. I feel for all of the guests, and the junior production staff who believed this to be the right thing at the time to assist the production.
The programme features unseen footage from backstage and balanced arguments well with discussion of support that was offered whilst also criticising the way in which the programme was produced. The comparisons to Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake, etc. and the differences between broadcasting regulations is explained how the shows in the UK had to use real guests. The inclusion of Trisha felt fitting as The Jeremy Kyle Show was not the first show to exploit guests in this way, even though Jeremy’s way of belittling the guests was a different approach to Trisha’s.
Twitter reaction from some discusses how Love Island is allowed to continue when JK was cancelled.
There is a long statement at the end of the programme from ITV proclaiming the various support services that were on offer to all guests.
I’m hopeful that not all broadcast production is this exploitive and simply chasing ratings.
I love TV and have a passion for the production and design of it (as we all do on here), but this highlighted how the top bosses (whether production or higher in the network) cared more about the ratings than the lives of those participating in their programme. Exploiting the vulnerable by sugar coating it in the application of help and support. Whilst I’m sure that there was a high level of support (such as the rehab clinic that was provided as pointed out in the documentary), the guests were mocked, ridiculed and verbally abused beforehand. I feel for all of the guests, and the junior production staff who believed this to be the right thing at the time to assist the production.
The programme features unseen footage from backstage and balanced arguments well with discussion of support that was offered whilst also criticising the way in which the programme was produced. The comparisons to Jerry Springer, Ricki Lake, etc. and the differences between broadcasting regulations is explained how the shows in the UK had to use real guests. The inclusion of Trisha felt fitting as The Jeremy Kyle Show was not the first show to exploit guests in this way, even though Jeremy’s way of belittling the guests was a different approach to Trisha’s.
Twitter reaction from some discusses how Love Island is allowed to continue when JK was cancelled.
There is a long statement at the end of the programme from ITV proclaiming the various support services that were on offer to all guests.
I’m hopeful that not all broadcast production is this exploitive and simply chasing ratings.