Sandoval, Luisa Angela S.

Comm 130
2018- 01129 February 05, 2020
Critique Paper: Quiz Show (1994)
Quiz Show (1994): A Manifestation of the ‘Illusion’ Imposed and Built by Mass Media and
its Audience

The film Quiz Show is a film released in 1994, directed by Robert Redford and is
starred by John Tuturro, Rob Morrow, Ralph Fiennes, David Paymer, and Paul Scofield. The
film was set during the year 1958 and revolved around the National Broadcasting Company’s
popular quiz show Twenty- One, which was sponsored by a supplementary tonic named
Geritol.
Describing the current ratings of Twenty- One as becoming “plateaued”, producer
Dan Enright talks to the current defending champion Herb Stempel of the said quiz show to
deliberately loose in his next quiz game, in order to make new way for a new defending
champion with hopes of reviving the show’s ratings. Stempel agreed to purposely losing in
exchange of Enright’s promise of him appearing on television even after his Twenty- One
career. With hopes of finding a new person to replace Stempel, Enright together with his co-
producer Albert Freedman to find out that a Columbia University instructor names Charles
Van Doren, happens to audition as the next challenger in Twenty- One.
Now convinced that they found a fit contender to replace Stempel, Enright and
Freedman privately talked to Van Doren to tell him that they could give him the answers to
the questions prior to the quiz show itself, Van Doren morally declines the offer at first, but
was later on succumbed to the system of deception.
Having heard that of the issue of the quiz show Twenty- One, congressional lawyer
Richard Goodwin curiously thought why the grand findings of the jury were sealed. He then
travelled to New York with hopes of uncovering the truth behind the system of Twenty- One.
Stempel later then on confessed to Goodwin that he was not only asked to deliberately lose
the game, but was also given the set of answers and questions prior to each game. With a
strong evidence of exposing the rigged system of Twenty-One, Goodwill was able to find
another former defending champion that claims to have been told the sets of questions and
answers to the quiz in order to win.
Now minded by his conscience and morality, Van Doren purposely answers a
question wrong without the advice of the producers, but as still given a contract to appear as a
special correspondent on the morning show named Today.
 In the hearing of the House Committee for Legislative Oversight, Van Doren
confesses in front of the jury that he had been given the list of answers, or the sets of
questions prior to the game in order to remain as the defending champion.
Meanwhile, the producers of the show Enright and Freedman fled to another country
to escape the issue regarding their quiz show Twenty- One, with no aims of fighting or going
against the NBC and Geritol.
Provided with a short summary of the film Quiz Show, this paper believes that the
film shows the manifestation of the great power of influence that the audience possesses
toward mass media, specifically in the television aspect as shown in the film. This paper also
argues that the reality imposed through the mass media is a mere illusion ‘simulated’ within
the system produced by the operators of mass media.
First, this critique shall examine the basis of the use of the Uses and Gratification
Theory as reference to the critique of the film.
The idea imposed by the Uses and Gratifications Theory suggests that the audience
are not passive when it comes to what forms of information is being exposed to them, but
rather, the theory is centered in the audience themselves and tends to focus more on what
people do with media, and not the other way around (David, 2016).
Moreover, Uses and Gratifications Theory posits three specific theoretical
assumptions that of which were found in certain scenes in the film.
The first assumption of the said theory is that the audience of mass communication is
active and goal- oriented (Littlejohn, 1992). The manifestation of this assumption can be seen
in the film where the Twenty- One producers Enright and Freedman personally orders the
defending champion of the said show Stempel to purposely say the wrong answer in his next
appearance. It explains how the audience greatly impacts mass media, particularly in this
aspect the television industry. A few minutes into the film, as Stempel dines with Enright, the
producer confronts Stempel about the ratings of the quiz show being stagnant—or as he
described it “plateaued”. In turn, he asks Stempel to lose the game to make a new way for a
new champion, with hopes of boosting the ratings of the show again.
The producer Enright was so conscious of the views or ratings that the show receives;
and when he realized that the audience were not that interested in watching Stempel defend
his place for consecutive weeks, he immediately resorts to a change in the show—in this
case, it was to replace the defending champion.
 The second theoretical assumption of the Uses and Gratification Theory states that the
audience member is largely responsible for choosing media to meet needs (Littlejohn, 1992).
The manifestation of this assumption can also be connected to the latter’s example
where the ratings, which were produced by the audience themselves, was the driving force
that urged the producers make new way for another person in the spotlight. But aside from
that, another instance to support the claim would be the audience’s preference in supporting
the champion of the show, with respect to racial background.
It is seen in the film that the former defending champion of Twenty-One Stempel was
Jewish, and was obviously less adored by many; on the contrary, his predecessor Van Doren
is a white American, who happens to be of the same race as the audiences. This instance
displays how Uses and Gratifications theory is seen in the film where the audience has the
power to control the demand of the show, with respect to whether or not they support the
champion or not.
The third and final theoretical assumption of the Uses and Gratifications Theory is
that media compete with other sources of need gratifications (Littlejohn, 1992).
Implications of this theory can be seen in the film where Van Doren, now bothered by
his conscience and morality, purposely says the wrong answer in order to break himself away
from the system within Twenty-One. But, because the audience adored and favored Van
Doren so much—so much that it had raised the views and ratings of Twenty- One since his
first appearance—the producers of the show still found a way to keep him in the show, and
that is to be a special correspondent on the morning Today show that, of course, also
constitutes a lot of money for him.
Aside from the Uses and Gratifications Theory, this paper also posits that the film
Twenty-One portrayed scenes that fit under the Cultivation and Analysis Theory or Gerbner
and Gross.
The Cultivation Analysis theory relates well with the film Twenty-One, specifically
because it specifically focuses on television—that of which where the said quiz show is being
shown. The theory states that “Television does not reflect the world but presents an artificial
world that focuses on certain issues depending on the will and interest of those controlling the
media.” (Gerbner & Gross, 1975)
In short, the ‘reality’ that is shown in television is only an artificial world that tends to
focus only on specific aspects, depending on those who have the power to control the media.
 This theory can be seen throughout the movie, where the host of Twenty-One even
practices his script beforehand, and lights, sounds, and even the applause of the audience are
subject to specific controls and signals.
Another example would be Stempel’s testimony in front of the jury where he admits
to being taught by the producers what to say and what to do, before uttering the right
answers. These examples just further explain how the film showed the manifestation of the
Cultivation Analysis Theory.
Based on the critique formed with regards to the film Quiz Show, the theories Uses
and Gratifications Theory and the Cultivation and Analysis Theory were both the theories
that best explained how the film prominently displayed the strong influence of the audience
toward mass media, specifically in the television aspect as shown in the film; and the
‘simulation’ perpetuated by the mass media industry through the power of those controlling
the operation of mass media.
Whereas, using the Uses and Gratifications Theory of Katz, the three theoretical
assumptions were seen present in the film where the basic point was the audience had a vital
impact in the flow of mass media.
Also, by referencing the Cultivation and Analysis Theory of Gerbner and Gross, the
artificial reality set up by television was present in the film; where people, props, and even
effects were made to perform a specific way in order to cater to a specific audience.
 References:
Cultivation Theory. (2015, March 27). Retrieved from
https://www.communicationtheory.org/cultivation-theory/
Quiz show. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GZ8HLnChMmA
David L, "Uses and Gratification Theory," in Learning Theories, January 26, 2016,
https://www.learning-theories.com/uses-and-gratification-theory.html.
Littlejohn, S. W., Foss, K. A., & Oetzel, J. G. (2017). Theories of Human Communication (11th
ed.). Retrieved from https://drive.google.com/file/d/1nP3aQYB3jamKeE7-
nhbhCuDBqstzcbgl/view?fbclid=IwAR06znZMs_xGuwpjSZ6BXIqwuSDsnkDMZa69D6PR
LmPdLaIPkPN3edK4DTw
Mosharafa , E. (2015). All you Need to Know About: The Cultivation Theory. Global Journal of
Human Social Science , 15(8). Retrieved from
https://globaljournals.org/GJHSS_Volume15/3-All-you-Need-to-Know.pdf