'Thanks for having me on the show' is as pathetic as callers to talk back radio saying 'thanks for taking my call'. The radio shock jock or the TV interviewer are not doing anyone a favour; it's their job, you fools; they are not doing you a favour. At least TV viewers don't have to put up with the rot radio listeners do - listening to the silly caller asking how the presenter is, and the waffle about how good it is when the answer is positive. It might be more entertaining if the question was taken seriously, the presenter said he or she was s...t house, and went into a good old whinge.

Ian is right: it is just entertainment, and we would be no worse off if it didn't exist; "news and current affairs reportage is so necessary", but we could do without programmes like 'current affairs' with the opinions of barely literate media workers and their attempts to take the piss out of politicians. We need to hear what politicians intend doing for us, or to us, so that we can make up our own minds. Politics is not meant to be entertaining.

I disagree with the central tenet and premise, that the host or shock jock draws out what the audience needs to know!

Far from it acts as a conduit that allows only permitted information to be promulgated to an information/knowledge deprived, Joe Public.

The hosts/presenters act as filters that strain out unpermitted information, such as the true nature and danger of safer and cheaper than coal or renewables, nuclear-generated power. thus we now have practically the highest energy prices in the world in the most over-governed country, bar one, in the world.

Our tax system is effectively broken and we continue to elect the same conflicted/inept power junkies that treat the average mug out there in mugsville as pawns that can be drugged with an injection of moribund sport.

Yes, sure there is a place for sport in all of this, but surely not as morphine for the ill-informed/uninformed masses, who are simply used to line the pockets of TV channels and a host of foreign bookies!

And have for all practical purposes are just sacrificial frogs being slowly brought to the boil while their country and their freedom is being gradually almost imperceptibly purloined from them before their very eyes!

Ying tong ying tong, piddle li po, piddle li po?
Alan B.

Have you ever noticed how they pick their Panel ? They hardly ever get someone with sense & when they do they zoom in & discredit them. Q & A in particular use that strategy when the Panel member doesn't tell them what they need to hear to push their agenda.

A point that has forever annoyed the b'jeesus out of me is the presenters giving opinions on things they know stuff-all about.
There are shows after shows, with all manner of "experts" that would not have the slightest clue of what they speak/preach, if it were not for the invaluable "prompt" machines, that are written up by, who knows?
And I definitely can't stand being talked down to like some 3 year old.
Like that maggot Lisa whats her face, married to that ex footballer boof head.
There had just been a rape/murder of a stupid girl, (stupid because she dismissed her boyfriend who was escorting her home, and decided to walk through a lonely dark park late at night, now on her own, and was subsequently found raped and murdered the next day)
So this Lisa clown takes it upon herself to try to get some 'Look at moi" mileage.
Turns to the camera and with a stern look on her face demands that all mothers or fathers tell their kids to "stop raping girls".
Well WOW, if ever there was a need for a good hiding, that was it.
What a, oh I can't say what she is on this medium.
Suffice to say she got some bad press and was off air for a while.
I would have kicked her off for good, and I mean "kicked".
Smart arse, they are the sort of people who should not be in a position of influence as they are because of the medium they are on they encroach on so many peoples lives, and it is especially more critical because these presenters have followers, who will take in what they say without question.