Categories, norms and inferences: Generating entertainment in a daytime talk show

This paper examines the way the host of a UK daytime television talk show, The Jeremy Kyle Show, generates entertainment through framing guests' stories using membership categories and category-based moral evaluations. The analysis draws upon Membership Categorisation Analysis, and in particular Sacks's (1995) discussion of categorial inferencing and category norms, to examine the way the host overlays individuals with membership categories and category-based actions. Moreover, this category work then provides for subsequent normative reasoning and moral judgements to be made for the overhearing audience. In summary the analysis demonstrates the way the show operates through making individuals and their actions morally accountable for the overhearing audience through routine categorisation work and related norms of behavior.

► Develops upon Sacks's category work to examine how a TV talk show host generates entertainment.
► Develops upon pure category reasoning relating to social norms and normatively inferred behavior.
► Highlights how individuals are made subject to public evaluation and moral judgement.