It’s All about Ratings and Money
The film, “Quiz Show” revolved around the conflict of upholding the public trust to television and of financial matters that ratings can bring on the table. Television networks are in principle accountable in presenting the truth specially in chronicling the latest events and in reality shows that include intellectual game shows. Otherwise, television institutions commit deception that will destroy the public trust. The film brought to life the scandals surrounding the famous television quiz show in the 1950s entitled, “Twenty One.” The character, Charles Van Doren who hails from a dignified and intellectual family and who is also an instructor in Columbia University rose to fame in the United States when he beat long-time winner, Herb Stempel. There was no question that Van Doren is intelligent but when the pressure lasted as long as he was winning, he succumbed to deception. He received answers to the questions which were supposedly sealed.
Stempel on the other hand went through the same process. They gave him the questions and answers days before they run the quiz show. However, the ratings of the show continued to drop because the audience and the corporate advertisers did not like the personality of Stempel. The network made a deal with him to give a wrong answer on a specific question in exchange for his continuous television appearance. Despite the humiliation, Stempel gave a wrong answer even though he perfectly knew the answer hoping for his television appearance. That promise however did not materialize as the producers of the quiz show kept on brushing his calls off. Meanwhile, since Van Doren won, the approval rating of the advertisers specifically “Geritol” and the public went up. He continued playing for over fourteen weeks.
Richard Goodwin, a congressional lawyer became hooked with the intrigue and went to New York to gather facts on the issue before it can be heard before the grand jury. He met with people who can give linkages on the webs of intrigues including Stempel and Van Doren. As days pass by, he cannot help but appreciate the personality of Van Doren. Eventually, it became difficult for him to comprehend that a person like him who has a dignified background can commit such a deceit against the millions of American citizens. Van Doren’s personality is way different to that of Stempel who is emotionally unstable. Goodwin still dug deeper until he was able to find evidence that finally untangled the web of intrigues.
During the congressional hearing on the issue, instead of holding the television network and its corporate sponsors accountable on the deceit, it became a hearing to pin down the participants of the show like Stempel and Van Doren. From the pedestal, Van Doren fall and hit the floor hard just because he spoke of the truth and the lessons he learned in participating in the conspiracy. The television program entitled “Today” fired him and the Columbia University demanded for his resignation as he does not have the “moral ascendancy” to teach anymore.
The National Broadcasting Corporation and the Pharmaceuticals Inc., on the other hand washed their hands on the issue and continued with their business. Seeing the result of the hearing, Goodwin was disappointed because it was not what he expected. He wanted that the jury will end with the Corporations accountable for the deception. He believes that the contestants are only used by the NBC and their advertisers to further their corporate interests.
Goodwin did not get the result he wanted because he cannot dictate what the other actors in the case do. For example, he already instructed Stemple on how to answer the questions of the jury in order to be a credible witness. However, Stemple freaked out during the investigation and made him appear as a bitter genius contestant who needs a psychological help. He testified that he got the answers before the show and even implicated Van Doren. Goodwin’s plan was then destroyed because prior to the jury, he already told Van Doren to stay out of sight until the issue is blown off. The latter then needed to appear before the jury to clarify things that he was implicated into. When he testified that it was true that he got the answers, the jury instead of probing against NBC and its cohorts created a circus out of the personality of the witnesses.
Also, Goodwin was not able to get the producers to testify because of career matters. Their career in the television industry relies on the advertisers and owners of television corporations. If they testified, they might not enter into the industry anymore. After the jury, they were out of sight for several years and eventually appeared for another show. After Goodwin’s efforts to investigate on the deceit, the business entities who should take responsibility on the issue of public trust were out of the picture while the small individuals suffer the consequences. In the end, it remained a conflict of interest among the owners and advertisers in the television business. The entity that should be upholding public trust has become an entity that is all about approval ratings and money from the sponsors.
Works Cited:
Redford, Robert. “Quiz Show.” Hollywood Pictures. United States of America. 14 Sept. 1994.
