The 'knowledge' that we learn from talk shows
It was just about two decades ago that talk shows were introduced to Thai TV audience. Two decades on, audience has been treated with informative/fun stuff and, as lately witnessed, some dirty talks that carry nonsense messages and benefit nobody.
Twilight Show could be the first of its kind. At the time when personal information on public figures could be found only in magazines or newspapers, veteran host … brought the figures into his show. It was a big hit, encouraging the introduction of many talk show programmes.
From entertainment, the talk shows have focused more on serious stuff like economic or political issues. From straight news programmes, TV channels can’t afford not to have special programmes that feature the other side of straight news.
Among those news talk show programmes, Sorrayuth Suthasanachinda’s on Channel 3 are probably the most popular – judged by the frequent reference in daily conversations and sound from your neighbours’ TV sets.
Foreigners in Thailand may be taken aback if watching his programmes. If Thai language sounds foreign to them, fascinating them more would be the host’s dressing style – the knee-length shorts and T-shirt, something that no hosts in established TV stations would don. He started wearing that for weekend programmes, but since field trips during the floods, they become his permanent style. Indeed, Sorrayuth was successful in making people feel at home when they tune to his programmes. Even though some of the stuff he talks about concern politics, audiences are convinced that they are listening to some kinds of gossips from a friend in shorts and T-shirt.
His programmes are totally different from “Public Stage”, a talk show programme by Thai PBS. There are no celebrity guests here, but some academics, government officials, and villagers who are voicing their grievances and suggestions to their problems. Recorded outdoor, the programme features hosts dressed formally enough not to fend off audience but not too formal when compared to guests’.
In the era of burgeoning growth of satellite TV channels, talk shows fill up a large slot of time. Thanks to ASTV which was tremendously popular, most of the talk shows now focus on politics. In the society where forms come before substance, it is easier to find people who can talk about politics than those who are to divulge information on economic stuff. Economic gurus are mostly too busy to become regular guests, given extensive time they have to monitor global movements. But in politics, there is no right or wrong. No verified facts are required if you start with something like “I don’t know… Personally, I think… or Could it have been …”
If I’m not mistaken, the most famous (or notorious) satellite TV talk show now should be “Sai Lor Fa” (Lightening rod) on Blue Sky TV. Hosted by three politicians from Democrat Party led by formerly-dubbed-rising-star Sirichok Sopha, the programme caught public attention with the focus on a secret meeting of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra with a businessman. Yes, speculation on the purpose of the meeting at Four Seasons Hotel was thoroughly discussed. Sansiri President Srettha Thavisin was forced to reveal later that it was a meeting with some businessmen, not just him. (Indeed, this serves as a good lesson for Yingluck’s advisors; as a public figure, she is forbidden to join a secret meeting particularly at a hotel.)
It’s not surprising why Yingluck’s voice was shaking, during an address to female workers on Saturday. She was wise enough not to counter-attack the silly scandal. Instead, she said all should not tolerate all kinds of discrimination, against race, birth place or gender.
Like what veteran female politician Sudarat Keyuraphan said before Yingluck took office, female politicians have to work harder than male counterparts. They have to prove that they can be as efficient as men, and in men-dominated Thai society females are prone to sexual scandals.
While Sudarat herself had been involved with some, this is the first for Yingluck. And she should expect more, as nonsense talks like this are easy subjects for media, particularly to many talk-show hosts. And that's some of the knowledge we can expect from some talk shows.
