Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV

Examining how daytime TV transformed from an earnest community forum into a full-blown spectacle of provocative topics and salacious guests that redefined American culture.
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Part 1: Origin of the Species
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Soap operas and game shows set the stage for the rise of the explosive daytime format of the '90s: the talk show.

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Part 2: Talked to Death
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By the mid-'90s, daytime talk shows had earned the name "Trash TV," with many guests willing to air their dirty laundry on national TV; with ratings spiking, the shows began pushing the envelope -- and its guests -- to extremes.