12 Shocking Truths About ‘The Jerry Springer Show’

The landscape of trash TV was forever altered when NBC Universal decided to end The Jerry Springer Show in 2018, following an impressive 27-year run. Jerry Springer, the ex-mayor of Cincinnati—who sadly died on April 27, 2023, at 79 years old—filmed over 4000 episodes across 27 seasons, hosting more than 35,000 guests. During the late 1990s, the show even surpassed Oprah Winfrey in ratings, likely due to its provocative themes and guests who often resorted to chair-throwing confrontations. Over time, allegations surfaced that producers orchestrated conflicts to boost viewership. Here are 12 intriguing facts about this polarizing talk show.

1. The debut season of The Jerry Springer Show was filmed in Cincinnati.

Before becoming a TV personality, Springer was deeply involved in politics. After an unsuccessful congressional campaign in 1970, he won a seat on Cincinnati’s city council in 1971. He briefly served as the city’s mayor in 1977 and attempted a gubernatorial run in 1982, which was overshadowed by a scandal involving his personal life.

In September 1991, Cincinnati’s NBC affiliate WLWT sought a replacement for The Phil Donahue Show and chose Springer to helm his own daytime talk show, The Jerry Springer Show, which initially focused on political topics. Simultaneously, Springer worked as a nighttime co-anchor for WLWT. By 1992, the show relocated to Chicago, requiring Springer to commute daily between Cincinnati and Chicago to maintain his nightly news role. However, in 1993, he left WLWT after a decline in ratings.

2. Two news anchors resigned due to Jerry Springer’s appearance on their program.

In 1997, as Springer’s talk show became infamous, he took on a temporary role as a news commentator at Chicago’s WMAQ. Veteran anchor Carol Marin, who had been with the station for 19 years, refused to co-host with Springer and resigned. Springer responded by saying, “I am sorry she found it necessary this week to use me as the stepping stone to martyrdom.” In support of Marin, co-anchor Ron Magers also left shortly after. The decision sparked protests from religious and women’s groups.

The backlash proved overwhelming for the station, leading to the cancellation of the Springer Show in May 1998. However, a Fox affiliate quickly picked up the program, airing it twice daily to offset costs.

3. The Jerry Springer Show security director Steve Wilkos initially believed his role was a “one-time gig.”

Steve Wilkos, a Chicago police officer and former marine, was initially hired for a 1994 episode featuring the KKK. “The pay was attractive, and I thought it would be a one-off,” Wilkos told Mediaweek. “However, I kept getting called back for more episodes, and soon I was appointed as the full-time security director. This led me to leave my police career to pursue this opportunity.”

Over time, Wilkos began offering advice in a segment called “Steve to the Rescue” and filled in for Springer when he participated in Dancing with the Stars. This paved the way for Wilkos to launch his own show, The Steve Wilkos Show, in 2007.

4. Public officials criticized The Jerry Springer Show.

In 1998, during the height of the show’s fame, education secretary William Bennett and Senator Joe Lieberman of Connecticut addressed the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) convention, urging broadcasters to take the program off their schedules. “Either drop it or push the producers to improve its content,” Lieberman urged.

“We’re here for three reasons,” Bennett stated. “First, to remind broadcasters of the high standards they once upheld; second, to highlight how far the industry has fallen; and third, to emphasize the significant influence and responsibility they hold.”

“The daily display of perversity and violence on that show undoubtedly harms viewers, especially children,” Lieberman remarked. “Springer isn’t a network show. You choose to air it. It’s not worth it … If you must, at least schedule it late at night to minimize children’s exposure.”

5. Jerry Springer ventured into film with his own movie.

At the peak of his career, Springer took on the role of a talk show host named Jerry Farrelly in the 1998 film Ringmaster, which flopped both commercially and critically. The movie, mirroring his show’s themes, revolved around love triangles and infidelity. Despite its failure, it earned Springer a Razzie for Worst New Star.

6. Religious figures urged The Jerry Springer Show to reduce its violent content.

Following pressure from Chicago religious leaders, The Jerry Springer Show executives vowed to curb the violence, despite the fact that such conflicts had helped the show surpass Oprah in daytime ratings. “We don’t want to dilute the show’s essence—we believe Jerry can adapt the format,” Greg Meidel, CEO of then-distributor Studio USA, told the Los Angeles Times in 1998. “It will remain confrontational, unpredictable, and full of tension. There will still be shouting and chaos, but physical altercations will no longer be shown.”

A spokesperson for the Community Renewal Society viewed this as a “partial win” but also advocated for reducing profanity and the mistreatment of women on the show.

7. Austin Powers humorously mocked Jerry Springer.

In the 1999 film Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me, Scott Evil (Seth Green) makes an appearance on The Jerry Springer Show—with Springer playing himself—to confront his father, Dr. Evil, who is scheming to dominate the world. True to the show’s style, a brawl erupts, and the guests unleash a torrent of expletives.

8. A love triangle featured on The Jerry Springer Show culminated in a tragic murder.

In 2000, during an episode titled “Secret Mistresses Confronted,” a husband, his new wife, and his ex-wife appeared on the show, leading to a heated argument. The newlyweds accused the ex-wife, Nancy Campbell-Panitz, of stalking them. Shortly after the episode aired, Campbell-Panitz was found brutally murdered in her home. Her ex-husband and his new wife later surrendered to authorities. In 2002, the ex-husband, Ralf Panitz, was convicted of second-degree murder and is now serving a life sentence.

9. The Jerry Springer Show prohibited the use of a derogatory term targeting transgender individuals.

The Jerry Springer Show was among the first talk shows to address transgender topics, but Springer often used the term “trannies” to describe his guests. After feedback from the LGBTQ+ community, he agreed to stop using the term. “I wasn’t aware it was offensive, and I have no intention of offending anyone, so I’ll adjust my language,” he told The Huffington Post. “It’s a non-issue.”

10. The show aired a highly controversial episode about bestiality.

A 1998 episode titled “I Married a Horse” showcased a British man who claimed to have married his horse. The crew traveled abroad to film the man and his “spouse.” The segment began with a warning: “Sexual relations with animals are illegal in this country and much of the Western world. This is the first program to explore a topic many find deeply unsettling.” Some stations deemed the episode too disturbing and chose to air a rerun titled “Past Guests Do Battle” instead.

11. The Jerry Springer Show inspired an opera that also sparked controversy.

A musical adaptation of the show, Jerry Springer: The Opera, premiered in London in April 2003 and toured the UK in 2006. The production faced backlash from Christian groups for featuring characters portraying God, Satan, and Jesus, along with approximately 8000 profanities. When the BBC aired a performance in 2005, it received 45,000 complaints from viewers. Despite the uproar, the opera made its way to the U.S., with Las Vegas hosting the first American performance in 2007. Harvey Keitel later took on the role of Springer in a two-day New York City run in 2008.

12. Springer relocated the show’s studio to Stamford, Connecticut, much to the dismay of local residents.

In 2009, following 17 years in Chicago, The Jerry Springer Show relocated to Stamford, Connecticut, attracted by the state’s tax incentives and the construction of the Stamford Media Center to foster a local entertainment sector. However, the move was met with resistance and protests from the local community.