One of the many criticisms levelled against a show like Jerry Springer is that the controversy was inauthentic and manufactured in order to drive up ratings. But why do we worry about whether fiction is true or not? Should we just stop caring and enjoy it for what it is?

In this week’s episode, we discuss truth and fiction. We speak about New Journalism, postmodernism, open-world computer games, historiography, the coconut effect, Nick Bostrom’s simulation hypothesis, histrionic personality disorder and the nature of reality. Finally we share our favourite fictional media that are based on a true story.

A few things we mentioned in this podcast:

- Jerry Springer: Era-defining TV host dies aged 79 https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65415348 - Tops in Tele-Trash : ‘Springer’ worst stinker on TV guide list https://nypost.com/2002/07/13/tops-in-tele-trash-springer-worst-stinker-on-tv-guide-list/ - "Not Making This Up" Disclaimer https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/NotMakingThisUpDisclaimer - The Coconut Effect https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TheCoconutEffect - Aluminum Christmas Trees https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/AluminumChristmasTrees - Histrionic Personality Disorder https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/9743-histrionic-personality-disorder

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