Oh no! Not another TV talk show! (12-9-2005)
Published: December 9, 2005
Last Modified: December 20, 2005 at 04:36 AM
If there is an overabundance of one thing on television -- and narrowing it to one might seem crazy, what with there being too much of nearly everything on TV -- it would have be talk shows.
The announcement that Food Network staple Rachael Ray would be trying her hand at talk TV proves without a doubt that someone in the world of talk TV needs to put a foot down.
Every person who becomes semifamous or semi-interesting (and "semi-interesting" is a stretch where annoying food personality Ray is concerned) does not need a talk show. Viewers do not need to see everyone they sort of like interviewing people they usually don't like.
"Oprah" is great, of course, although Oprah Winfrey seems to be one of the most egregious talk show enablers, helping the likes of Dr. Phil, her friend Gayle King, Tyra Banks and now Ray branch into a realm in which none of them really belongs. (While we're at it, neither does Tony Danza. Nor Carson Daly.)
Along with Ray, "Will & Grace" alum Megan Mullally will have her own talk show starting next fall. Those ladies will be joining the likes of Winfrey, Phil and Ellen Degeneres -- who puts most other talk show hosts to shame for entertainment value and relevance -- in the world of daytime talk. That's not to mention all of the late-night talkers, some good (David Letterman and Jon Stewart) and others not so much (Jay Leno and Daly).
Everyone from Howie Mandel to Wayne Brady to Queen Latifah to Sharon Osborne has had a failed talk show, so I guess production companies ask themselves, "Why not try another go?"
The answer: because not only does no one care about these "celebrities" who get their own shows, but you are scaring people away from their televisions. Who wants to turn on their TV to see Ray interviewing anyone? It's scary enough watching her address waiters and chefs on her good-idea-but-poorly-executed "$40 a Day."
Among the swelling numbers of TV talk shows, the most welcome breath of fresh air came from Stephen Colbert and his Comedy Central show, "The Colbert Report." Even when it seems his entire purpose with the show is to poke fun at the inflated egos of talk show hosts and pundits, he ends up being more relevant than any other talking head out there. (Sorry, Stewart, but this even includes you.)
Most importantly, though, Colbert will do just about anything for a laugh -- like any "good" talk show host would -- and he will never admit he could be wrong. He unapologetically and politically incorrectly touts himself as the greatest thing in America. He even has his own "groupies" at www.colbertnation.com.
If more talk show hosts were honest about their motivation (self-love), it might make the entire landscape of television a little less frightening. But then there might be room for someone like Colbert. He's probably worth all of that suffering.
• TV reviewer and Portland, Ore.-based freelance journalist DeAnn Welker can be reached at tvgoddess@gmail.com.
Five shows to watch this week
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
7 p.m. Monday, Cartoon Network: If you saw the Jim Carey version, you can try to erase it from your memory by watching this original classic.
Arrested Development
7 p.m. Monday, Fox: Michael finds out his mother is dating the warden (James Lipton of "Inside the Actors Studio") behind his father's back in one of the few precious episodes remaining, unless a miracle happens and people actually start watching.
The Amazing Race
8 p.m. Tuesday, CBS: The hopefully redeeming finale to this underwhelming season is already -- or finally -- here.
Bad Girls
8 p.m. Saturday, BBC America: From the creators of "Footballers Wive$" comes a drama set in a women's prison -- finally! And these women almost put the men of those other prison dramas to shame. Catch this five-episode marathon of the first season to see what you've been missing.
The O.C.
7 p.m. Thursday, Fox: Something entertaining is bound to happen in this third annual Chrismukkah episode, this time hilariously titled "A Chrismukkah Bar Mitz-Vahkkah to Remember"
