Ep 6. Tabloid TV

In the sixth episode of season two of Dark Side of the '90s, titled "Tabloid TV," viewers are taken on a journey through the sensational world of tabloid television journalism in the 1990s. The episode explores how tabloid TV shows such as Inside Edition, Hard Copy, and A Current Affair became incredibly popular during this decade, earning big ratings and even bigger profits.

The episode starts by showcasing the War of the Roses, one of the most infamous segments of all time in tabloid TV history. The segment featured a couple who were in the midst of a bitter divorce battling it out on national television. With screaming matches and physical altercations, this segment exemplified the type of sensationalism that attracted viewers to tabloid TV.

Tabloid TV was notorious for its voyeurism, as it aired footage of celebrities and everyday people at their most vulnerable moments. From OJ Simpson's slow speed chase down the LA freeway to Tonya Harding's infamous attack on Nancy Kerrigan, tabloid TV was there to capture it all.

The episode delves into the ethics of tabloid journalism, asking whether the pursuit of ratings is worth sacrificing the privacy and dignity of others. It also questions whether tabloid journalists were simply fulfilling the public's insatiable appetite for scandal and gossip or if they were actively shaping the way the public viewed certain individuals and events.

Viewers are introduced to the controversial figure of Geraldo Rivera, a journalist known for his sensationalist reporting style. Rivera's rise to fame was largely due to his coverage of the satanic panic that swept the country in the 1980s and 1990s. He famously aired a two-hour special titled "Devil Worship: Exposing Satan's Underground," which claimed to expose a vast network of Satan-worshipping cults that were allegedly responsible for a rash of murders across the country. However, many of the claims made in the show were later debunked.

The episode also covers the rise of Jerry Springer, whose show featured guests engaging in outrageous behavior such as fighting, throwing chairs, and revealing shocking secrets. The show served as a precursor to reality TV, with its unscripted drama and emphasis on conflict.

One of the most infamous moments in tabloid TV history occurred on the Jenny Jones Show in 1995. The episode featured a man who revealed to his male friend that he had a secret crush on him. The friend was visibly uncomfortable during the taping and three days later, he shot and killed the man who had professed his love for him. The episode sparked a lively debate about the responsibility of tabloid TV hosts and their possible role in inciting violence.

The episode concludes with the decline of tabloid TV in the late 1990s, as audiences grew tired of the constant scandal and sensationalism. The rise of the internet and social media also made it easier for people to access information without having to rely on tabloid TV shows.

Overall, "Tabloid TV" provides an in-depth look into a genre of television that defined the 1990s and its impact on society and journalism. Through interviews with former tabloid TV producers, journalists, and experts, the episode explores the dark side of our obsession with scandal and sensationalism.