I’m a few days late commenting on this but I heard this tidbit on NPR Saturday that has had me thinking. All Things Considered reported on a new study that asks whether Democrats and Republicans respond differently to different TV shows. The study asks people about their engagement with certain shows; engagement being how much they remembered about shows they watched the night before. The results list Cash Cab, a game show that takes place in a New York cab, and Comedy Central’s South Park as the highest among Republican voters. The Colbert Report, an offshoot of Comedy Central’s The Daily Show, and Deadliest Catch, a Discovery Channel sereis about fisherman in the north Pacific, rated highest among Democratic voters.
Maybe it’s how my brain works but my thoughts immediately go on a rhetorical bent. What kind of people watch these shows? What are the characteristics of people who are “into” each respective show? Now generalizations are hard because I know plenty of people who watch all of these shows. But the study makes a point of emphasizing that it’s not just viewership but “engagement” – you may watch both the Colbert Report and Cash Cab but you remember more about, or are more “into” one than the other.
My immediate thoughts venture something along this line. Cash Cab and South Park are no-brainers - Cash Cab is a game show where you answer questions “Who Wants to Be A Millionare” style with lifelines and clues etc, and the chance to gamble your knowledge or take the cash and walk. “Surprise you’re in the Cash Cab now how many trivia questions can you answer correctly” - nothing too complex. South Park likewise – funny, witty, irreverant, potty-mouth, slapstick humor. If this describes Republicans then my assumptions lean toward hard-working people who are looking for escapism rather than mental stimulation.
As for the Colbert Report, this show is again funny, irreverant, and sarcastic. But in spite of its irony and sarcasm the show addresses key political and newsworthy issues, often pointing out and questioning details that go unaddresses by mainstream news. Deadliest Catch is a reality-style show that follows crab fisherman in the north Pacific. If Democrats are the target or typical audience for these shows, then I’m assuming they’re interested in hearing a slant on the issues, and like learning about things they have no expereince with.
What this really makes me wonder is what this says about what people are absorbing concerning the upcoming elections. Since TV is where most people learn about the candidates and upcoming ballot measures how much are partisian viewers tuning in. It scares me to think that the attention span typically reserved for Soputh Park is being to used to decide the future of local and national issues. All I can do is shake my head. And all this was done with the intent of informing advertisers where the best placement was for political and campaign ads.
I’d love to hear people’s views on this. What do you think? What do you like to watch and why?
