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What do Jay Leno, David Letterman, and Oprah Winfrey have in common? They are the hosts of the most popular talk shows. I mostly watch David Letterman’s late show on CBS. There is a certain type of pattern in the show, and many other show hosts such as Craig Kilborn and Conan O'Brien are sharing this pattern. Although the Nielsen Media Research shows that the rating for such talk shows is not as high as other TV shows like Friends nowadays, I still want to make an in-depth analysis of talks shows because there is no such talk shows in the country I came from; therefore I think they represent the American culture in a certain way. The requirements to be a talk show host are the ability of giving a good speech and sense of humor. David Letterman has them both. Hosts need these qualities to conduct the show, to bring enthusiasm and excitement. Can you imagine what would happen if a host has nothing else to say five minutes after the beginning of the show? Dave never has this kind of problem because he is wisely funny, talkative, and mean. He can make his monologue interesting. Dave always starts the show with about five short jokes. Many jokes are about current issues with celebrities. I personally hate people who make fun of the private lives of others, but I also understand that the subject would be attractive. After all, minding other people's business and private life is the media's main mission; it’s also part of the American culture. Actually I think it’s true for all cultures around the world. The fact that paparazzi chasing after Princess Diana and reporters hunting Monica Lewinsky says it all. I don’t know if Letterman comes up with all the materials or someone writes the jokes for him, but one thing I do know is, those jokes are the root of the show; not only do they keep the program running, they also reflect modern American culture.
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