History Main / PointAndLaughShow

* ''{{Cops}}'' is often this with most of the suspects, being CompleteMonsters and WhatAnIdiot at the same time

* Laura Bozzo in Peru and nowadays in Mexico makes Jerry Springer seem to be a prude, her existance on tv was aimed to promote stupidity among the viewers an avoid political activism against the government.

* Although ''{{Jeopardy}}'' and ''WheelOfFortune'' are not strictly part of this genre, there is a large sub-fandom who enjoys the show because they can feel superior to the losers who punt the easiest questions. DaveBarry pointed out that while he knew the lights and noise distract you, he was sure he'd never mess up as badly...until he appeared on ''Wheel of Fortune'' himself, and found himself a deer in the (literal) headlights.

* Portal of Evil, Something Awful, Encyclopedia Dramatica and their ilk feed on this sort of thing. Which leads to them battling each other like hyenas over carrion at times, making them more entertaining than what they're attacking.
** Part of of the acrominity is differences in modus operandi. PortalOfEvil has a strict 'look but don't touch' rule, SomethingAwful used allow forum invasions but now bans them (except in the FYAD subforum), and with Encyclopedia Dramatica pretty much anything goes.

* The TropeCodifier of the Point and Laugh Show, and probably the best known example, is ''JerrySpringer''. Bring on the cross-dressing dog fetishists. Bring on the albino midgets. Bring on the homicidal glue-sniffing trailer trash. Bring on the [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot homicidal glue-sniffing cross-dressing albino midget dog fetishist trailer trash]]. It's an old-school circus sideshow freak attraction for the new millennium.

** The unfortunate characterization of the contestants is blatantly unfair, but yes, it's this kind of show. It's [[BeyondTheImpossible a little hard to believe]] that most of the contestants are not, in fact, smarter than fifth graders - but it's not so hard to believe that they don't necessarily remember trivia from their own first five years of schooling, let alone have memorized ''modern'' first- through fifth-grade textbooks.

*** It's more of a "point and watch while a [[BaldOfAwesome intimidating bald guy]] tears jerks a new one show".

** Part of of the acrominity is differences in modus operandi. PortalOfEvil has a strict 'look but don't touch' rule, SomethingAwful used allow forum invasions but now bans them (except in the FYAD subforum), and with EncyclopediaDramatica pretty much anything goes.

* ''{{Supernanny}}''

* Although ''{{Jeopardy}}!'' and ''WheelOfFortune'' are not strictly part of this genre, there is a large sub-fandom who enjoys the show because they can feel superior to the losers who punt the easiest questions. DaveBarry pointed out that while he knew the lights and noise distract you, he was sure he'd never mess up as badly...until he appeared on ''Wheel of Fortune'' himself, and found himself a deer in the (literal) headlights.

* ''The Blame Game (''I've Got a Secret'' meets ''JudgeJudy'' and ''Jerry Springer'' for coffee)

* DrPhil will frequently bring in guests who have no serious problems, just to gawk and criticize their lifestyle, like men who have many piercings and body modifications, or plural marriages.

* The ''Darwin Awards'' series, although a lot of the examples turn out to be urban legends.

* ''AmericasFunniestHomeVideos''

* FSTDT

* The TropeCodifier of the Point and Laugh Show, and probably the best known example, is ''JerrySpringer''. Bring on the cross-dressing dog fetishists. Bring on the albino midgets. Bring on the homicidal glue-sniffing trailer trash. Bring on the [[NinjaPirateZombieRobot homicidal glue-sniffing cross-dressing albino midget dog fetishist trailer trash]]. It's an old-school circus sideshow freak attraction for the new millenium.

* I am not sure if this qualifies, but the TruTV show ''BaitCar'' could be this trope. The show is ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin and the audience is treated to people stealing a car that the police deliberately leaves on the street. Once the car is a short distance away, the police turn off the car and arrest the theives. HilarityEnsues when said suspects lie or give a painfully straight answer about why they stole the car.

* [=PeopleOfWalmart.com=]

*''Road Rules''