A word about Maury...

Since I find myself with a lot of time on my hands, she euphemizes, I've been watching the Maury Show. At least once a week is "Shocking Paternity Test" Day...with the most compelling segments focusing on women who come back multiple times for 'help' from Maury finding the biological fathers of their children. There's a woman named Simone, on today, who has tested eight men...she calls him Murray without irony...
I have come to a few conclusions about these episodes:
1) The women involved cannot possibly understand the mechanics of conception. I can't help but believe that these women are testing men they merely were sexually active with, as opposed to those who could reasonably have conceived their child. I have no moral judgement about what I'll clinically call promiscuity...but I find it hard to believe that a woman has had as many as eight different sexual partners in the 36-48 hour period when she is ovulating. Unless she is some sort of professional sex worker, which these women do not purport to be. D'oh Man #8 is not the father either....Therefore I think these women need a sex education class so that they could sit down and count back the 36 odd weeks from their child's birth to figure out who really might be the father of their children rather than drag every guy they got busy with onto this show.
2)Some people's need for attention is deeper and more compelling than their sense of shame. Given that some people do have negative judgements about promiscuity, especially the men who are being tested--"She's a ho, Maury!" is the most used, plaintive defense offered-- and the fact these children's faces are featured in the segment as well, it would seem that these women's better judgement is being overridden by the opportunity to have an overnight in New York and a hand-holding session with Maury in front of millions of syndicated viewers. I can't imagine it's worth the trouble but clearly for some, the chance to be spotlighted, albeit dubiously, is worth the trouble and embarrassment never enters the equation. Though the women do invariably run from the stage with their hands over their faces when the results are revealed.
3)Maury has discovered quite a racket. In exchange for consideration to the testing lab, he has a sure-fire, low-cost ratings grabber for the show. I'm sure they re-use that manila envelope over and over again...It's to the point where he skips much of his commentary. The guests, already familiar with the format, come out swinging interrupted only by the pre-taped vignettes of the parties insulting each other. From a producer's perspective, its solid gold. The subjects call in, some repeatedly. The format is set...
How can I watch this trash you may ask? I don't know. Even though it's tacky, it's compelling...The idea of going to a national forum to resolve something so intimate, while wildly inappropriate, is compelling. The episodes are compact, contained dramas. The time commitment pays off. In a few minutes, I'll find out if indeed this idiot is the father...In years past, the show would introduce the witless mothers one day and have a reveal show later. But I guess the variability of the syndication schedule and the flexibility in rebroadcasting made it easier and more straightforward to do it more quickly. And it is no-muss, no-fuss...