Netflix released a two-part documentary series Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action which covers the daytime tabloid television show.
Jerry Springer was a former politician who wanted to make it in show business. This leads to the creation of The Jerry Springer Show. For over two decades, the tabloid show highlighted incest, affairs, crimes, and other such drama. Once a participant commits a murder, theories about the show create big questions in the public square.
I remember one day in the nineties, I turned on the television and The Jerry Springer Show was on. I saw two men fighting on stage. Before it could proceed further, my mom, upon hearing the iconic audience, ran in and turned off the TV. She informed me that the show was not appropriate for kids and that it was fake. That was my only encounter with this show.
This was a very interesting documentary. We hear from producers, staff, and guests from the show. It digs deep into how it went from a run-of-the-mill morning talk show to one of the most infamous examples of trash television. If you believe what was presented, Springer seemed to thrive off the chaos of the show and would defend it whenever it was criticized.
My favorite section was when they talked about the odd rivalry Springer developed with Oprah. She regularly attacked The Jerry Springer Show especially as he started to beat her in the ratings. At the time, she was well-respected and not the Hollywood social elite she is now known as, so hearing her righteous indignation at Springer gave me a couple of chuckles.
If you grew up in the nineties, there is no way that you have not heard about this show and this series shines a lot on a lot of the background of Jerry Springer and his story. It is a shame that Springer passed away in 2023 as I would have loved to hear his perspective on all of this.
Check out the trailer below:
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Thematic elements, Foul language, Violence, Sexual content
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