High-pitched voices, acrimonious words and heated debates, along with inappropriate comparisons involving sex and ethnic groups, and false historical facts. These are the quintessential elements of political talk shows in Taiwan. Even Hollywood horror flicks and thrillers cannot hold a candle to these shows in terms of getting the audience’s hearts racing.
With different political talk show spectacles on air every day, viewership figures have been climbing as the presidential election draws closer. Sensational buzzwords such as “blue-white alliance,” “6 percent margin,” “the Grand Hyatt horror show,” “the Shin Kong Financial Holding princess” or “modern day Zhao Yun (趙雲)” have flashed across people’s screens. As shows ratchet up anxiety and tension, audiences are tuning in every single day to watch hosts and pundits give commentaries on political matters and begging for more whenever there is a change in developments. However, audiences have forgotten that talk shows are part of the grand political spectacle and commentators are merely the players.
In terms of the media outlet and the host’s political stance, the lineup of commentators speaking for different political parties and topics to be discussed in the show, political talk shows are an integral part of the ever-changing political scene. Instead of giving objective comments as a neutral third party, the shows tend to re-enact the latest political drama and shenanigans to the audience in the studio, suggest conspiracy theories and shape public opinion.
In terms of takeaways, the shows, instead of fact-checking or clarifying issues, tend to leave the public with feelings of solace and identity or belonging. Shows that adhere to media objectivity usually do not receive as large a viewership as those with biased hosts, conspiracy theories and imbalanced reporting. The audience knows this, but viewers simply do not want to face inconvenient truths.
An online poll about people’s impressions of commentators showed that the top 20 commentators received a higher disapproval rating than approval, while only one among the top 40 received a higher approval rating than disapproval.
Watching political talk shows has also become a ritual. The head of the household, the one who holds the remote control, always uses the opportunity to keep the family’s political ideology in line and on the same page. For anyone fed up with this kind of situation, there are a few ways to avoid this.
First, find an excuse to extract yourself from the ritual. Use the evening to attend courses, work night shifts or take a walk, as these are all activities more meaningful than watching political talk shows.
If finding an excuse is not an option, perhaps you could do some housework such as doing the dishes or clearing the table, or even online gaming. Multitasking is another way of distraction.
Lastly, do not try to argue with family members while they are watching a talk show or even try to persuade them to watch another show that supports another party. As people do not like to be changed or persuaded to believe otherwise, trying to persuade others to agree with you is not a good idea. The closer we get to an election, the more connected the political talk shows are with the goings-on in the political sphere. If you would like to keep things rational and the family in harmony, I would suggest giving political talk shows a wide berth. If you are the one with the remote control, put your family before the people on a screen.
Chang Yueh-han is an adjunct assistant professor in Shih Hsin University’s Department of Journalism.
Translated by Rita Wang
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