Of course, questions will be raised as to why television production outfits, syndication companies, networks and the hosts themselves would want to be involved with such lowbrow entertainment. The answer is simple: money.

The television industry learned the hard way that unless it keeps costs down then the ability to earn money will be hampered. Talk shows, much like game shows and sitcoms, are inexpensive to produce. In fact, they are probably the least expensive of all show formats to produce and that is why they remain a staple. Unlike today, however, the talk shows of a previous decade seemed to wallow in sleaze as they learned a lesson that the movie industry also learned: exploitation can attract large audiences to cheap programming. There is a reason why the old drive in exploitation films earned big bucks despite their low budget: they delivered cheap thrills. The Talk Shows basically did the same thing, but unlike the bizarre charm of the old drive in films the talk shows wallowed in a boorish and buffoonish self importance that made them more annoying than anything else.

While the horror films and action adventure flicks of the drive-in era had a lowbrow charm the old talk shows simply broadcasted their lack of creativity and talent.