Audience involvement in the epideictic discourse of television talk shows

Abstract

This study examines the popularity of television talk shows by linking the manner in which they are practiced to a theory of epideictic discourse. Four principles of epideictic discourse are laid out and then applied to television talk shows. The argument is presented that today's television talk shows are resonating with viewers because the epideictic form of the genre rhetorically invites the audience to perceive of the viewing experience as meaningful at more than one level. This essay concludes that television talk shows fill a timeless need for human beings to feel involved in civic discourse.

Key concepts:

• epideictic
• audience involvement
• praise or blame
• performative display
• moral consequence