The Bottom Line
What else can you say about The Jerry Springer Show? It is a vile, horrible waste of television, but so incredibly addicting that a casual viewer will be seductively drawn in and wrapped up in whatever garbage is being spewed. In a word that I’d like to coin right her, Springer is “talkertainment.”
Pros
- Knows its audience
- Gives ‘em what they want
- Isn't shy
Cons
- Incredibly vile
- Offensive
- Ridiculous
- Addicting
Description
- Syndicated, check local listings.
- Taped in Chicago.
- Is the basis for a British opera called, appropriately, Jerry Springer – The Opera
- Rooted in pop culture and referenced on programs like The Simpsons and Roseanne.
Guide Review - Overview: The Jerry Springer Show
The Jerry Springer Show has one of the most interesting “story arcs” out of all daytime, syndicated television programs. Its host, the one-time mayor of Cincinnati and a sometimes politician, debuted the program in 1991 as a politically oriented, somewhat hard news talk show, which included guests like Oliver North and discussed issues such as gun control and healthcare.
But low ratings and the increase in daytime competition pushed the program into more provocative territory, and slowly – like so many other shows – Springer became a home to tabloid stories of strange sexual practices and other crazy stories. The ratings soared.
And slowly the truth came out. The guests, though genuine, are given loose scripts to follow. The fights are usually staged and the outcomes completely expected. Once this came to light – well, god bless him – Springer embraced the situation and created even MORE ludicrous stories for his guests.
Today the show soldiers on, a vestige of an era gone by, driving its guests – and audiences – crazy with its antics.
