Christina Peter questions to what extent recipients draw on television personalities for identity work. She focuses on the theory of social comparison processes and examines the extent to which viewers turn to different television genres for comparison motives, how strongly they establish connections with the individuals portrayed, and what consequences this has for them. To this end, the theory is applied to the media environment, integrating communication science and media psychology research on the topic. The author demonstrates that the often idealized, stereotypical representation of television personalities presents unrealistic standards, making comparisons potentially detrimental for the recipient.