The Media Couple
The Media Couple is a weekly podcast hosted by the husband-and-wife duo behind A Few Good Productions. Each episode delves into the latest in entertainment, TV, and film, along with the realities of working in media as a couple. From industry trends and behind-the-scenes insights to the challenges of balancing business, creativity, and marriage, we bring candid conversations, humor, and firsthand experiences to the table. Whether you're a media professional or just love great content, join us for an inside look at the industry—through the lens of a real-life creative partnership.
The Media Couple
From Jerry Springer to Mr Beast: 30 Years of Public Humiliation
Once upon a time, TV was cruel. From Fat Families to Kid Nation to the X Factor’s most humiliating auditions, producers engineered public shaming for entertainment. We cancelled it on TV… so why has it come back stronger than ever online?
In this episode of The Media Couple, we expose the shocking history of humiliation content and how algorithms have weaponised it. From reality shows of the 2000s to today’s viral “prank parenting” and “what I eat in a day” videos, we trace the disturbing line between old-school exploitation and modern-day social media cruelty.
What you’ll learn:
- How TV pioneered algorithm-style manipulation decades before TikTok existed
- The exact parallels between past reality shows and today’s viral trends
- Why global reach makes online humiliation far more dangerous than TV ever was
- The uncomfortable truth about our role as viewers
- Rotten Tomatoes game: “Mean Media” edition, The Truman Show, The Hunger Games, Mean Girls & more
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New episodes drop every Thursday —see you next week!
www.themediacouple.com
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