How Jerry Springer defended show’s wildest controversies

Legendary host Jerry Springer was often dubbed the “grandfather of trash TV” – but he had a surprising defence for his controversial show.

Jerry Springer has died.

Throughout his life, legendary talk show host Jerry Springer was often referred to as the “grandfather of trash TV”.

The former news anchor came to global fame due to The Jerry Springer Show which enthralled millions as the public battled out their grievances in front of the TV cameras – sometimes coming quite literally to blows.

The program became so popular that at its height, in 1998, it was out-rating The Oprah Winfrey Show.

Springer, whose death was announced on Thursday at age 79, will be remembered for the controversial – yet iconic – show, which he defended in an interview with Page Six not long before his death.

“There was a democratic quality to it, you know, and it wasn’t intended as such,” Springer said in March 2022.

“When I look back at it, before our show came on [in] ‘91, American television was basically all upper-middle-class white. And whether it was, you know, in terms of entertainment, Seinfeld, Frasier, Friends, it was always well-scrubbed looking, upper-middle-class people. And that was it.”

He added: “And all of a sudden, my show comes on.”

The host died on Thursday. Picture: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The wild talk show originally debuted in September 1991 as a politically-oriented series, but dramatically pivoted when a new producer came on board in 1994.

From then, guests were everyday people who would regularly become embroiled in mayhem on stage as they were confronted by family members, friends and love interests over their gobsmacking secrets.

Some of the most controversial episodes included: I Slept With 251 Men In 10 Hours!, I Married A Horse, and Married to Your Dad But Want You Back.

Iconic.

Springer, a former politician, argued to Page Six last year that his series had given a platform to sections of society “that had never really been on television before”.

“It’s not as if the people on our show displayed behaviour that was unknown to any adult in America or in the world,” he explained.

“You know, none of it is surprising. We just had never seen it on television before.”

Springer also admitted that his show wouldn’t have packed the same punch in today’s world if it was still on air.

“Nowadays, considering social media … there’s nothing outrageous about it anymore,” he said.

“But that’s just the movement of the culture and it’s the democratisation of our society.”

Following news of the legendary talk show host’s death, his friend Jene Galvin paid tribute to him on behalf of the family.

“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,” Galvin said.

“He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humour will live on.”

– with Page Six