On Thursday, a family spokesperson announced the death of Jerry Springer, a former Cincinnati mayor and long-time TV host. Springer was known for his tabloid talk show, which featured outrageous arguments, thrown chairs, and physical confrontations between couples and homewreckers. He was 79 years old.
According to Jene Galvin, a lifelong friend and spokesperson for the family, Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in politics, broadcasting, and everyday interactions with people on the street.
Despite being referred to as the “grandfather of trash TV,” Springer did not mind the label. In fact, he believed it was accurate and acknowledged that his show was one of the first to present outrageous topics.
The Jerry Springer Show ended in 2018 after over 4,000 episodes and countless discussions about its impact on culture and society. Springer was aware of the show’s lack of redeeming social value and acknowledged that it was merely an hour of escapism. However, he also pointed out that the show’s topics were often similar to those featured on the front pages of newspapers. The only difference was that the people on his show were not famous.