Jerry Springer Biography

Summary

"Gerald Norman 'Jerry' Springer" (born February 13, 1944) is a British-born American celebrity; a former Democratic mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio; musician; television personality; and host of the controversial television tabloid talk show bearing his name, "The Jerry Springer Show" until spring 2007. He is also the current host of "America's Got Talent".

Early years

Jerry Springer was born in East Finchley tube station, London, England in 1944. His parents, Julie and Springer, were Jewish refugees from Nazi Germany. In January 1948, he emigrated to the United States, settling in Kew Gardens, Queens, New York. He attended Forest Hills High School. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University in 1965, majoring in political science. He earned a Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Northwestern University in 1968. He then became a political campaign aide to Robert F. Kennedy; after Kennedy's assassination, he joined the Cincinnati law firm of Frost & Jacobs, now Frost Brown Todd.

Political career

In 1970, Springer ran for Congress, but failed to unseat incumbent Republican Donald D. Clancy, garnering 45% of the vote. He had previously spearheaded the effort to lower the voting age, and had testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of ratification of the 26th Amendment.

Springer was elected to the Cincinnati city council in 1971. He was forced to resign in 1974 after admitting to hiring a prostitute. The episode was uncovered when a police raid on a Fort Wright, Kentucky 'massage parlor' unearthed a check Jerry Springer had written for its 'services'. Jerry Springer came clean at a press conference. His honesty helped him win back his seat in 1975. In 1979, he was chosen to serve one year as mayor by the City Council. Springer was also alluded to in a number of episodes of the television series "WKRP in Cincinnati", but never appeared.

In 1982, Springer sought the Democratic nomination for Governor of Ohio. TV commercials for Springer's campaign referenced his use of a check to pay a prostitute; it was a way of proving that he wasn't afraid of the truth 'even if it hurts'. (... more) He failed to win the Democratic party's nomination, and his political career was put on hiatus. Springer considered running for the United States Senate in 2003, but backed down due to negative affiliations with "The Jerry Springer Show".

Politics to journalism

His broadcast career started while he was still Mayor of the Cincinnati with album-oriented rock radio station WEBN FM, noted for its laid-back and irreverent radio format. The station featured commentaries by Springer under the banner 'The Springer Memorandum'. The popularity of these commentaries helped launch his broadcasting career.

He was hired as a political reporter and commentator on Cincinnati's NBC affiliate, WLWT TV, which had, at the time, the lowest-rated news program. Later, having been named primary news anchor and Managing Editor, he needed a broadcast 'catch phrase' in the model of other great newsmen. With the help of some others at WLWT, he created his signature line: 'Take care of yourself, and each other'. Within two years he was Cincinnati's number one news anchor, along with partner Norma Rashid, and for five years, the most popular one in the city, garnering 10 local Emmy Awards in the process. It was a position he held until January 1993.

The Jerry Springer Show

"The Jerry Springer Show" debuted on 20 September 1991. It was developed by WLWT-TV to replace its "Phil Donahue Show". It started as a politically oriented talk show, a longer version of Springer's commentaries. Guests included Oliver North and Jesse Jackson, and topics included homelessness and gun politics.

Springer revamped the format of the show in order to garner higher ratings. The show became more and more successful as it became more and more lowbrow, with an emphasis on infidelity. Its guests are typically lower class, minimally-educated, blue collar people confronted on a television stage with a spouse or family member's adultery, homosexuality, prostitution, transvestism, hate group membership, or other such situations. These confrontations often lead to profane shouting, chair-throwing, fist-fights, and removal of clothing. Female guests also receive 'Jerry Beads' (basically just another name for a set of beads) when exposing their breasts to the crowd . The show picked up and garnered huge ratings and lots of attention.

On 10 July 2002, the sons of guest Nanny Campbell-Panitz, who was murdered by her ex-husband after they appeared on an episode with his girlfriend, filed suit in Sarasota County against Springer, his producers and his distributor, claiming he created 'a mood that led to murder.'

In 2005 a UK version was shown on ITV1 entitled "The Springer Show". It beat its talkshow rival Trisha Goddard five to one in the ratings, despite being a subdued version of the US show.

The VH-1 'celebreality' series "The Springer Hustle", took a look at how "The Jerry Springer Show" is produced, premiered April 2007.

Other appearances

Springer portrayed his own talk show host character in the 1998 movie "Ringmaster", though his character's name is Jerry Farrelly. "Ringmaster" offers a behind-the-scenes look at would-be guests who apply to a Springer-like show. The same year, Springer also relased an unrelated autobiography named "Ringmaster"; he claimed 'I can only think of one title a year.'

He appeared on an episode of "Married... With Children"as the masculine feminist, in which he was for women getting a bowling night at a bowling alley. Al Bundy and his friends tie Springer to a chair and take over his show with a stripper who jumps up and down for the crowds delight.

On 25 October 1998, Springer appeared in a Halloween episode of The Simpsons entitled Starship Poopers. Springer provided the voice himself.

Jerry Springer made a cameo appearance in "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" as himself during an episode of his show featuring Dr. Evil and his estranged son Scott Evil.

Jerry Springer appeared on two episodes of "Whose Line is it Anyway?"

From January 17, 2005 to December 5, 2006, Springer hosted "Springer on the Radio", a liberal talk show on Cincinnati's WCKY-AM. He did the show from the Clear Channel studios in Kenwood on Mondays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and in Chicago (where his television show tapes) on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

On 16th April 2006, Springer hosted the opening show for the third series of The Friday Night Project for Channel 4 in the UK as the Guest Host.

In the autumn of 2006, Springer was a contestant on the third season of "Dancing with the Stars", with his professional dance partner, Kym Johnson. He wanted to appear on the show so he could learn the waltz for the wedding of his daughter, Katie. Springer and Johnson were eliminated in the seventh week of competition.

In March 2007, NBC announced that Springer would be the host of "America's Got Talent" in its second season, replacing Regis Philbin.

In July 2007, Springer made a guest appearance on Days of our Lives as 'Pete,' a high roller in Las Vegas who helped Nick Fallon win $50,000.

On October 20th, 2007, Jerry made a cameo appearance on "Late Night with Conan O'Brien" as a 'random' audience member.

He is also now the host of Nothing but the Truth, a UK based quiz show where contestants win money by simply telling the truth.

Jerry has previously taken his show format to the UK under the Jerry Springer title.

Jerry has co presented UK daytime programme This Morning on ITV1.

Jerry was a guest on UK daytime programme The Paul O'Grady Show on Channel Four on 12th November 2007.

Scandals

In May 1998, a photo story about Springer having sex with porn star Kendra Jade in Chicago's Executive Plaza Hotel appeared in the tabloids "News of the World" and "The Globe". Kendra's stepmother Kelly Jade was also present in the hotel room, and Kendra, Kelly and porn director John Bowen appeared on Springer's show the next day, discussing a 350 person gang bang. Another tabloid reported that Springer's wife Micki left him because of this event. Kelly Jade later alleged that it all had been set up by Bowen who would receive several hundred thousand dollars from Springer to suppress a video tape of the romp shot with a hidden camera. Bowen denied the payoff and said that he had signed an agreement with Springer's lawyers not to discuss the matter.

Inspired by Springer

A musical by Stewart Lee and Richard Thomas, "Jerry Springer - The Opera", is based on his show. It first became popular at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2002 . It has since played at the Royal National Theatre in London, and London's West End before embarking on a UK Tour in 2006. It has recently opened in Chicago, in the US, and will be moving onto regional productions throughout the United States. It was also screened on BBC 2 Television, causing some controversy. The televised version is now available on DVD.

Springer and his television program are mentioned in Mark Knopfler's song "Devil Baby".