Good points, Av.
I think part of the appeal is not so much that the listener feels “superior” to the “dumb” schmuck, but instead feels an awe, nearing horror, that people actually are that deaf, dumb and blind—in America.
Your reaction, I fear, is the intent of some who play the roll of dummy as well as some who welcome their performance.
How does tyranny gain from this?
Once you are convinced that a very large number of Americans are really as dumb as Jo or any of the Hollywood locals appearing on Jay Walking or any of the guests on any show (e.g. Jerry Springer) that showcases geeks with a story, you are more apt to believe fake voter results.
These sort of people are provocative, and provocative is entertaining even if it’s terrible and even repetitive (witness rubber-neckers at every highway accident), and entertaining begets ratings, so the allowance of the appearance geeks “sells.” In many of these shows, acting dumb pays well.
The downside, if we permit it to be, is that we become convinced there are many more REALLY like them. Anyone who feels that way and lives in a society with democratic voting, is going feel overwhelmed and despondent. You think “I am surrounded by dummies, so what’s the use?” That helps the vote riggers and the tyrant.