“Dirty Talk: When Daytime Talk Shows Ruled TV” Premieres Wednesday, January 14, on ABC and Streams Next Day on Disney+ and Hulu
By exploring the psychological forces that shaped the talk TV genre, the series reveals how these shows transformed from trusted confessional spaces into lightning rods of controversy, leaving a lasting impact on culture, media and the people caught in the chaos.

The docuseries features Maury Povich, Sally Jessy Raphael, Montel Williams and more.  “Dirty Talk” traces the evolution of the daytime format, from the influence of soap operas and game shows to the cutthroat competition for ratings and features new accounts from the architects and icons of the genre, including legendary eponymous hosts Maury Povich, Sally Jessy Raphael, Montel Williams and Leeza Gibbons; “Talk Soup” host John Henson; “Ricki Lake” creator Garth Ancier; “Jerry Springer” and “Sally” executive producer and creator Burt Dubrow; and “Geraldo” executive producer Marty Berman. Additionally, former “Jerry Springer Show” bodyguard-turned-host Steve Wilkos, media psychologist Dr. Pamela Rutledge, journalist Ross Benes and more offer behind-the-scenes perspectives and expert context.

Episode Synopses

EPISODE 101 – “Part 1: Origin of the Species” (Wednesday, Jan. 14)

Soap operas and game shows set the stage for the rise of the explosive daytime format of the ’90s: the talk show. What starts as an earnest, audience-driven forum quickly devolves into a full-blown spectacle of provocative topics and salacious guests. With shows raking in profits, the competition to out-shock rivals increases – as does the audience’s appetite for unchecked sex and conflict. But despite blurring moral boundaries, “Trash TV” hasn’t reached its limits … yet.

EPISODE 102 – “Part 2: Talked to Death” (Wednesday, Jan. 21)

By the mid-’90s, daytime talk shows had earned the name “Trash TV.” Why were so many viewers tuning in? And why were so many guests willing to air their dirty laundry on national television? With ratings spiking, the shows began pushing the envelope – and its guests – to extremes. But the dark side of Talk TV gets exposed when a guest murders another after being ambushed at a taping. The shocking incident puts the entire industry on trial. Will talk shows finally be forced to clean up their act?

EPISODE 103 – “Part 3: Adapt or Die” (Wednesday, Jan. 28)

By the late 1990s, 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, with “The Jerry Springer Show” leading the race to the bottom. The show’s snowballing popularity sends shockwaves through the entire genre, forcing producers to escalate even further to keep audiences hooked. How will rival programs adapt to survive in this unprecedented new landscape?