A talk-show is a television program that fits within the category of entertainment; the name itself of this type of program contains the word “talk”, a clear reference to the main component of this type of show, orality. Thus, the name of the genre creates immediately some expectation that is associated to it, and the spectator creates a perception of what he may be seeing and hearing in this kind of program; this expectation, or “promise” of what can be expected of a certain show, that is only created based on the knowledge of the genre the show is associated with was initially defined by professor François Jost[1], and he claims that this expectation can and is created towards any kind of cultural production.
Regarding the specific characteristics of this program, the name talk-show reinforces its vococentrism, so even though the talk-show can be considered as an audiovisual production, where the oral, visual and written components come together, the orality upstages the others, it is the guide of the program, and the visual and written parts have to follow it[2].
The importance given by talk-shows to the orality contributes largely to the success of this format, since modern television viewers can be considered “spectators of intensities”, who observe television with a somewhat continuous indifference, that only fades on the rare moments their attention is grabbed. It is then possible to say that the contact between spectator and television is in the most part oral, it is the sound that attracts the vision and awakes the viewers’ attention.
It is also important to mention that even though there is a context and a sort of internal narrative to direct each talk-show, this is a type of program that can be seen only until half, or only the ending, or even some parts throughout its entire duration, which helps making this type of shows the most seen be the XXI century audiences, since they don’t need to be entirely focused on the program from the beginning until the end, and can still be able to understand and enjoy the parts they choose to watch.
Lastly, the debates around current topics, the usual presence of famous guests, and the repeated use of humor and irony[3] are also important characteristics that make talk-shows one of the most popular television programs since the first television broadcasts until this day.
References:
[1] JOST, François, La Promesse des Genres.
[2] “La voix est presque toujours souveraine.”, in BOURDON, Jérôme, Le direct: une politique de la voix.
[3] In his book “La Promesse des Genres”, Jost defines a typology of enunciation, from which the ludic, the informative and the fictional stand out. Talk-shows are a mix of the ludic and the informative types, being then the only genre that encompasses in only one show topics that may be perceived as antagonistic, but that result in a complex and interesting type of show, much appreciated by the masses.
