27/04/2023
Just short of five years in retirement with his self entitled The Jerry Springer Show that made its host a multimillionaire, we can say that a different type of celebrity has transcended the earth today. By simply letting people from "around the way" curse out, try to beat up one another and otherwise make complete spectacles of themselves on national TV Mr Springer's celebrity was carved out of a unique niche for the ghetto minded and curious from all walks of life. In contrast the man himself lead a very quite private life in modest surroundings working on other projects steadily until near time of his death. While I could never stomach more than a few minutes of the show I appreciated its crass boldness and ability to get away with exploiting folks in need of professional counseling. Americans watched mesmorized in disbelief but tunned in although staging was probably a programmed element of the shows success. Mr Springer was a modern day pop icon of his own making. Every time I accidentally encounter a filmed social media fight scene, before clicking off I can't help thinking that Mr Springer created the appetite for such horrible public behaviour. The opening show chant "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry" will not be forgotten anytime soon and neither will the man. Like him or not may he forever RIP.
Jerry Springer, the onetime mayor and news anchor whose namesake TV show featured a three-ring circus of dysfunctional families, died Thursday at 79.