Example of essay on the oprah winfrey show and the ellen degeneres show

Compare and Contrast:

Compare and Contrast:
The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Ellen DeGeneres Show

Introduction

Talk shows are among the popular formats used by the media today for the purpose of entertaining while at the same time informing television audiences. With the many celebrities having their own talk shows where each one seemingly has the same purpose, the respective celebrities try to come up with ways to make their shows distinct.

Two of the popular talk shows are The Oprah Winfrey Show and the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Although the former has already finished its run, it remains to be a popular show, with reruns still airing, making it fit for comparison with the latter. It can be said that the two shows cater to two slightly different audiences where audiences of The Oprah Winfrey Show would likely expect to learn about social issues whereas audiences of The Ellen DeGeneres Show would likely expect to just have a good time.

Comparisons

One of the similarities between the two shows is that they’re both hosted by women who are well respected and who have spent a lot of time trying to build their reputations in their respective fields. Another similarity is that both of their shows not only aim to entertain and inform but also to help out. For example, both talk show hosts would often give gifts to their audiences – especially on special occasions – or would pick out a fan in need and help them out in whatever struggles they’re currently having, an example of which would be financial problems. They would also have performances on their show and their lineup of guests includes both celebrities and non-celebrities. They also occasionally have games on the show and try to engage their audiences – including those at home – whenever possible.

Contrasts

The differences between the two shows can be largely attributed to the differences in the hosts’ backgrounds. Oprah Winfrey started out in broadcasting and as such, her show often has a news reporting feel where Oprah often have politicians and crime victims as her guests. As such, her show tends to have a serious tone. Her topics also dwell mostly on social issues and on topics that aim to inspire the audience. In every show, Oprah has one central topic, although it’s possible for many guests to be interviewed regarding the same central topic.

On the other hand, Ellen DeGeneres’ background is on comedy – stand-up comedies, sitcoms, and the like. As such, she infuses a lot of comedy into her show. For example, she starts off her show with a stand-up comedy and does and says a lot of silly – although mostly sensible — things throughout the show. This gives her show a lighter tone compared to Oprah’s. It can be said that the main purpose of this show is to make the audience laugh rather than to promote awareness of social and political issues.

The Ellen DeGeneres Show does not have a central topic for every show. Ellen usually has several guests in each show where the topic usually revolves around what’s new in the guest’s life and around which some funny things can be discussed. This show also holds more games and more performances than The Oprah Winfrey Show does.

Conclusion

It s evident that both The Oprah Winfrey Show and The Ellen DeGeneres show aim to provide information and entertainment to their audiences. However, they have different ways of doing so. The Oprah Winfrey Show mostly has a serious tone and usually dwells on social and relevant issues. The Ellen DeGeneres Show, on the other hand, has a lighter tone. It aims to provide the audience with fun and laughter through the infusion of comedy into the show.