As IF Times

link Tyra Banks ending The Tyra Show; popular talk show will end after this season

It’s quite revealing to observe what passes as popular entertainment in the mass media outlets and then to draw some conclusions about the audience. The five year run for Ms. Banks’ show is not really that surprising given the universal fascination of women with their appearance. What is surprising is that the show supposedly was about the empowerment of young women. Not to denigrate the intentions of Ms. Banks, but a show which at it’s core discussed body and beauty issues and empowerment and which offered the notion that looks aren’t important would have more credibility if let’s say, Rosie O’Donnell hosted it rather than a former runway model. On the other hand, Ms. Banks is still involved with another show, America’s Next Top Model, which, surprise,surprise as the title suggests, searches for exterior beauty, empowerment be darned. With Oprah also leaving, at least network TV, where will young women turn for life advice? I guess they’ll have to revert to the second stringer: their mothers…as if they knew something about life.

Charlie Sheen is in the news recently for some boorish behavior, what a shock. The real shock is that the TV show which he anchors, Two and a half Men, is still be on the air. It has been running for an astounding seven seasons! This is truly a remarkable feat of writing or a remarkable indictment of the audience. That a show can run this long with the same running gag is quite the achievement. If there was an Emmy handed out for the most overuse of double entendres, or the most variations of contrived sexual predicaments, or most predictable one liners, this show would get the lifetime statue. In America in the 21st century, do we really find his character’s escapades naughty and titillating? Is some gal in a towel really something to blush over? Is this not Three’s Company with bowling shirts?

Then of course, there’s Jerry Springer; real people, real lives, 18 seasons! Now there’s some reflection of the folk. Some selected topics from his shows which can be found on their website:

A Cross Dresser Wants my Gal
Mistresses on a Manhunt
Brutal Betrayals
I’m Marrying a Transexual
Forbidden Affairs
Dirty Double Crossers
Oops! Cheated again

And of course;

I slept with my daughter’s man.

In a culture which mercilessly reveals and glamorizes the sordid exploits of celebrities, in which no aspect of human behavior is too base to exploit, it’s amusing to think that a girl in a towel can be titillating. But maybe that’s refreshing; maybe that means more people are not as hardened by the onslaught of crap which passes as entertainment as we think.