People come into view, talk, cry, disappear, and in between we watch the commercials for consumer products that promise to improve our lives. Traditional expectations of polite formalities and barriers are constantly breached within the action of the play. We've sat around, and got to know each other, and had fun and games . . . Television talk shows are arenas for real people. These people may really be seeking help or understanding.
Appropriate reactions seem virtually impossible under the circumstances.
We the viewing audience have entertained ourselves at the disasters of real lives. This is one of the more shameless aspects of the talk show spectacle. As passive witnesses, we consume others' misfortunes without feeling any responsibility to do anything to intervene.