http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2010-09-12-jerry-springer_N.htm?loc= interstitialskip
Amid the ever-changing television landscape, one thing remains constant: Jerry Springer. On Monday, Springer will mark the 20th anniversary of The Jerry Springer Show with a new season. The topic of his first show? It's unclear and it doesn't matter because one thing's certain: It involves a fight. Punching, hair-pulling and crying has been a staple of the show since its began. "We're now getting the children of our original guests," says Springer, "which is just wrong because they were told not to procreate." Springer, 66, jokes about the syndicated show that has been denounced by Oprah Winfrey and others, as one of the leaders in the "trash TV" genre. It was once voted Worst TV Show Ever by TV Guide, but he says he knows why it has lasted. "No. 1, it has a niche; No. 2, there's no show like it; and No. 3, there are always young people who want to watch it. Our show is a fraternity party," he says, adding that he's well aware of the criticism, particularly from Winfrey. "It's hard to put her and me in the same sentence," says Springer. "She's No. 1 and she runs a real talk show. We do a circus. We're tongue in cheek. And she's phenomenal. I admire her more than anyone." He continues, "We're just crazy. If anything, it's that people realize I don't take it seriously. I'm not up there pretending that this show is saving the world. Our show is just plain silly. It has no function, other than momentary entertainment." Through the years, he says, he has noticed that the more reality-based shows, such as his, have driven out soap operas in the daytime programming arena. "The stories are the same, but 'real' always wins. People can relate to it." He knows his shows features fights, but says that's just part of the authenticity. "The problem is if you want people to always behave and just agree, then you won't get anything that's real. We were a very polite society in the 1950s and we had discrimination. All those Southern manners? Sometimes good manners isn't always the right thing." Springer insists the show is not low-class or low-rent. "There has never been a story on our show that hasn't been in the papers involving wealthy people. This notion that they're the underclass is fiction," he argues, saying that you can find similar cheating stories among high-class folks, too. "I always give the example: If an English professor from Harvard came home one night and found his wife in bed with next door neighbor, he wouldn't say, 'Forsooth, my dear, what have I found?'" he says. "He'd act exactly like the people on my show, chasing the guy, trying to hit him with a chair, cursing." But doesn't it ever get to him? Wouldn't he like to retire? Well, in fact, he says, "I have already notified NBC universal that I'm going to stop," he pauses, "when I'm 107." "Why not keep doing it?" he says. He works two days a week - taping three shows on Mondays and two on Tuesdays. It leaves plenty of time for other jobs, such as his hosting Baggage, a dating program on the Game Show Network, and for hosting the America's Got Talent's live road show, which kicks off Oct. 1 and will tour 25 cities. He won't say who his favorite is on the show, which is down to the final four and will crown a winner next week. "That wouldn't be fair," he says. Talent is the "personification of the American dream. You don't have to be rich, famous, have a parent in the business," he says. "You can live in Middle America, up in your bedroom singing into a hairbrush in the mirror. Everyone gets a shot." "There are very few life experiences where you get to put everything you have in your body and soul into a performance that will be judged by a whole nation," he says. "I honestly love the (contestants). I don't have celebrity friends. I feel more comfortable with regular people (who) aren't looking for headlines, coming with their agents. They're like everyone else in life - they want to be happy." And that makes him happy. _______________________________________________ Medianews mailing list Medianews@etskywarn.net http://lists.etskywarn.net/mailman/listinfo/medianews
