10 Photos Remembering Trash TV Shows Of The 1980s

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10 Photos Remembering Trash TV Shows Of The 1980s

The shoulders that Springer stood on.

Published 5 months ago in Wtf

The Jerry Springer Show in the ‘90s has obviously become synonymous with “Trash TV,” but the term was actually coined in the ‘80s when Jerry’s biggest influences began sullying TV’s good name.

Talk shows, tabloid news, and a few soap operas were at the forefront of this sensationalist, provocative, low-brow trend that beefed up on-air conflicts and plunged right into pure shock value. They got audiences nationwide all riled up for the spicy goods, so if you found yourself shaking your head at Maury, Jenny Jones, and Springer in the ‘90s, you have these trashy pioneers to blame.

Here are 10 shows and moments from the ‘80s that trashed up TV for decades to come.

1
The Morton Downey Jr. Show
The talk show hosted by Morton Downey Jr. ran from 1987 to 1989 and it truly pioneered the "trash TV" format. The chain-smoking right winger would scream, swear, drum up controversy, and even get physical with his guests.

2
Geraldo
Hosted by Geraldo Rivera, the show quickly gained notoriety for its controversial topics and guests. A particularly infamous incident occurred in 1988 when a brawl broke out on set, resulting in Rivera's broken nose.

3
The Sally Jessy Raphael Show
Starting in 1983, this show invited guests to discuss sensational topics, making it a prominent example of the burgeoning tabloid talk show genre. It soon devolved into family fights and cheating scandals that heavily influenced Jenny Jones and others.

4
Chuck Barris - An Early Influencer
Prior to the ‘80s, Barris hosted “The Gong Show” in the late ‘70s. Desperate for ratings, the show began featuring more outrageous acts. One notable controversy in 1978 had two 17-year-old girls sit cross-legged and very suggestively eat a popsicle.

5
A Current Affair
Maury Povich wouldn’t become his trashiest self until the ‘90s but his hosting gig on this ‘80s tabloid news show definitely inspired him. It focused on crime, scandal, and celebrity gossip whether stories were true or not.

6
Morton Downey's "Skinhead Hoax"
In one episode, he falsely claimed to have been assaulted and branded by skinheads to drum up controversy.

7
The Phil Donahue Show
He’s been both heralded and criticized for featuring guests with AIDS, and others who came on to discuss homosexuality, religion, and race. This included David Duke, the grand wizard of the KKK. The controversy came when he allowed audience members to harshly criticize guests, resulting in very heated arguments.

8
The Moldavian Massacre Episode of "Dynasty" - 1985
The 5th season finale ended in a cliffhanger as terrorists opened fire on a wedding ceremony in Moldavia. Dozens of bodies laid in a pile as fans were left wondering if any cast members survived. The show capitalizing on the very real terrorism news at the time, leaving audiences shocked and appalled.

9
The MTV Video Music Awards
The live broadcast pushed a lot of boundaries at the time. In 1984, parents and older viewers lost their minds as Madonna singer rolled around on the floor during “Like a Virgin,” and in 1989, Andrew Dice Clay's raunchy set horrified people at home and got him banned for life.

10
Morton Downey Pushes a Stripper
In possibly the trashiest moment on the show, Downey physically pushed Kellie Everts, known as the "Stripper for God," leading to a lawsuit.