You have to admit there was nothing like Jerry Springer on TV. The talk show excelled in creating a brand of white trash, exploitative sensationalism that hasn't been seen since. Honestly, I kind of miss Springer and his usual brand of misfits.
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But no one sets out to be Jerry Springer. No, that's something you get turned into. And it may shock some of you to know that wasn't Springer's original intention with the show. The new documentary Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action explores the rise of Springer and exactly what went on behind the scenes.
"I don't think anybody knew how crazy this show was going to be," former producer Toby Yoshimura admits in the trailer. The original show ran from 1991 to 2018, lasting for 27 seasons and thousands of episodes. "Some stories went too far."
It's not something Springer himself was necessarily proud of.
Jerry Springer Explored The Dark Side Of America
"I want to take this opportunity to apologize for everything I've ever done," Springer says in the trailer. Springer died after a battle with cancer in 2023. "I have ruined the culture."
Initially, Springer hoped to be a typical daytime talk show that focused on hard-hitting news. However, with poor ratings, the show devolved from there and got really weird.
"All I had to do was convince him, 'Let's make it wild,'" Richard Dominick, a former executive producer, says in the trailer. One producer called it "the modern version of the Roman Colosseum." The show became known for on-stage fights, shocking revelations and more.
"The bigger that show got, it raised questions about what really went on backstage," one person said.
"The producers were coaching us on what to say and how to act," a former guest on the show revealed. "They weren't interested in what kind of impact it was going to have on you."
"Some stories went too far," Yoshimura admits.
Springer passed away in 2023. His publicist confirmed his death.
"Jerry's ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried, whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word," Jene Galvin, a family spokesperson and friend of Springer's since 1970, said in a statement. "He's irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on."
See the documentary on January 7.
