TV TALK SHOWS HAVE POWER TO DO GOOD

Television talk shows have been hot topics in recent months, with the "Jerry Springer Show" taking most of the heat. As if the antics on the broadcast version of this daily program aren't bad enough, now a videotape is being advertised that purports to show the stuff that couldn't be broadcast on the nation's airwaves. And it appears to be selling like hotcakes.

What a low level for TV programming, particularly when it is obvious that the medium that occupies so much of the American zeitgeist is capable of being uplifting and thought-provoking as well as entertaining.

While the "Jerry Springer Show" may have its imitators, it should be quickly and vigorously pointed out that there are other shows that aspire to touch our lives in significantly positive ways.

For example, "Oprah" has almost singlehandedly restored reading as a popular pastime. Oprah Winfrey's recommended choices for books that deserve to be read has generated hundreds of thousands of sales of these popular works. In fact, Oprah's reading club has put many titles on best-seller lists, often several at the same time.

Another example of a talk show doing something good came recently when the "Sally Jessy Raphael" show arranged to have two daughters of a dying woman adopted.

A woman dying of AIDS and cancer was desperate to find homes for her daughters, and Sally Jessy Raphael made it possible. An official of the Adoptive Families of America said it was the first time she had ever heard of a TV show helping to arrange a specific adoption. This is a positive indication of what talk shows can accomplish, if the personalities behind them want to do it.

Just imagine what could be done if all the other talk-show hosts discovered that the viewing public would prefer to see little miracles happen every day instead of onstage -- and sometimes staged -- brawls between sisters who say they share the same boyfriend.

Americans are caring people. But our lifestyles tend to isolate us from those who could benefit from our help. It seems that every time a needy case is brought to the nation's attention through newspapers, television and radio, there is an outpouring of concern and financial aid.

Oprah and Sally may have tapped a wonderful well of human kindness with their TV shows. This is an area that certainly deserves to be developed further.