Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV - Season 1

First aired: 1/14/2026 3 episodes

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Episodes

1. Part 1: Origin of the Species

Aired: 1/14/2026

Soap operas and game shows set the stage for the rise of the explosive daytime format of the '90s: the talk show.

2. Part 2: Talked to Death

Aired: 1/21/2026

By the mid-'90s, daytime talk shows had earned the name "Trash TV," with many guests willing to air their dirty laundry on national TV; with ratings spiking, the shows began pushing the envelope -- and its guests -- to extremes.

3. Part 3: Adapt or Die

Aired: 1/28/2026

By the late '90s, talk TV had not only survived a murder trial but was now reaching new levels of sensationalism; driven by viewers' insatiable appetite for sex, violence and conflict, many shows lowered the bar.