Company Town : 2 Democratic Senators Join Bennett to Blast ‘Trash TV’

Two Democratic senators joined with William J. Bennett, author of the popular “Book of Virtues,” to criticize advertisers who support what critics call “trash TV” talk shows. The three said the shows are contributing to a decline in morals in America and selling exploitation.

In television and radio ads to begin airing today, Bennett and Sens. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) and Sam Nunn (D-Ga.) urge companies to withdraw advertising dollars from “Ricki Lake,” “Sally Jessy Raphael” and “Jenny Jones.” Other talk shows singled out for criticism included “Jerry Springer,” “Montel Williams,” “Maury Povich,” “Geraldo,” “Charles Perez,” “Rolanda” and “Richard Bey.”

The ads didn’t target specific shows, but the programs were named in materials distributed at a news conference. The ads, backed by Bennett’s conservative Empower America organization, note that some sponsors have stopped advertising on the shows.

Executives at the “Maury Povich” show; Tribune Entertainment, which produces “Geraldo” and “Charles Perez;” and Multimedia Entertainment, which produces “Jerry Springer” and “Sally Jessy Raphael,” did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Nunn urged viewers angered with the shows to boycott advertisers. Nunn said the shows, which often feature shouting matches and sordid tales of sex and violence, are “spreading the message that conflict should be resolved by emotional outburst and violence.”