Jerry Springer, the host of “The Jerry Springer Show,” a popular tabloid talk show, passed away at the age of 79. As a veil of everlasting silence falls on the TV host, we are reminded of everything the man was known for in his lifetime.
Springer’s show brought the biggest changes to reality TV shows, but it is hard to say if the changes were positive. He was also once the mayor of Cincinnati. However, he had to relinquish his political career as he was caught red-handed in a sex scandal.
The show was a pioneer and changed the course of reality TV after it started showing the most bizarre contents of a common man’s life. You can argue that the impact has brought out the ruin-loving side of his audience, but it is also true that it used to be the most-watched show at its prime.
Jerry Springer took a silent leave just five years after the show ended, giving us the perfect opportunity to look at the man behind the controversies.
When and How Did Jerry Springer Die?
Jerry Springer, an American TV show host, passed away at the age of 79 on April 27, 2023. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few months back and succumbed to it in late April. According to his family spokesperson, Springer died peacefully. He spent his last moments in suburban Chicago.
Jerry Springer’s Political Career
Before he was the host of the most toxic and controversial show, Springer was interested in politics. He was elected to the Cincinnati City Council in 1971 but resigned in 1974 after admitting to soliciting a prostitute. He was again reelected in 1977 and 79.
After the scandal, he began working as a local news anchor in Cincinnati. Yet, he still kept in touch with politics as he ran for the governor of Ohio. He has also considered running for the US Senate in 2000 and 2004, but his negative associations with the Jerry Springer show did not bode well.
The Jerry Springer Show
Of course, the highlight of Springer’s career wasn’t his political campaigns but the show named after him. The Jerry Springer Show debuted in 1991 but only as a politically oriented talk show. It wasn’t until he got a new producer in 1994 that the race for sensationalism began.
As people from everyday lives started appearing on the show, the show’s ratings rose. The episode’s titles were constructed to draw in people and would be called ‘clickbait’ if it aired in the present. Some titles include: “I Slept With 251 Men in 10 Hours!.” “I Married A Horse,” “Married to Your Dad But Want You Back,” and more.
As you can already tell by the titles, the show was infested with racism, sexism, and exhibitions of all kinds of hate. Just by looking at Springer’s show, you can tell that the 90s were a wild time.
From men who made love to horses to the most disgusting cases of cheating, everything was aired without fail. There were even scenes that could make you feel physically unwell; all the while, Springer feigned ignorance of the unpredictable behavior of the guests.
Hair pulling, threats, and violence were commonplace in the show, as people found it hard to control their emotions when faced with people they hated. Bodyguards were always employed to stop the violence, which is what the show’s blood-thirsty audience craved.
After airing more than 2000 episodes, the show quietly ended. During its runtime, it has faced more controversies than you can imagine. The worst is over the incessant violence, as any rational person would reason that the violent individuals should be arrested.
There have also been debates about how real the show is. While the producers claimed that the show was kept as real as possible, the audience suspected a high level of scripting.
Despite all the negative influences of The Springer Show, the man himself is called a pioneer for TV reality shows. His program gave other series a direction as to what ordinary people really liked to watch. What followed was, of course, an era of toxicity.
After the show ended its run, Springer was seen apologizing for it. “I’m so sorry. What have I done? I’ve ruined the culture.” He opened up regarding the devastating impact his show had on the history of broadcasting. Springer knew about the negativity his show had spread, and it seems he already knew where he was going for it:
“I just hope hell isn’t that hot because I burn real easy.”
Jerry Springer
Many would call Springer’s achievement a “dream career,” and the man himself was appreciated for his sense of humor and intellect.
Now that the host has departed this world, what comes to mind is his classic sendoff “Take care of yourself and each other.”
