Legendary US talk show host Jerry Springer has died aged 79. He was best known for showcasing dysfunctional families on The Jerry Springer Show, which ran from 1991 until 2018 in the US.

Legendary US TV host Jerry Springer dies aged 79

US politician-turned-show host, Jerry Springer died due to a ‘brief illness’ at his Chicago home on Thursday morning. He is survived by his daughter Katie Springer and his older sister, Evelyn. The 79-year-old TV presenter will be remembered for his 90’s American talk show that featured everything from, fights to flying chairs but talks.

Springer hosted one of the longest-running shows in the history of American TV, The Jerry Springer Show, which ran nearly three decades. The show became a symbol of low-brow television over the course of almost 5000 episodes.

Fellow chat show host Ricki Lake led the tributes on social media, "Just waking to the very sad news of the passing of my longtime talk show rival and friend Jerry Springer. A lovely man. May he rest in peace."

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Broadcaster Piers Morgan described Springer as a "TV icon and such an intelligent, warm, funny man".

His family and friends described him as “irreplaceable”. They said that he will be remembered for his connection with people at heart.&nbsp;

<h2>Jerry Springer: Early life</h2>

Gerald Norman Springer, or, Jerry Springer was born in London, England to Holocaust survivors who came from Germany. He was raised in Queens, New York City and attended the Northwestern University School of Law. He qualified as a lawyer, from where he first became actively involved in politics. He worked for the campaign of Robert Kennedy in 1968.&nbsp;

<h2>Jerry Springer: A mayor</h2>

Springer ran for Congress in 1970 but failed to dethrone Republican Donald D. Clancy. In 1971, he was elected to the Cincinnati City Council but had to resign from the council after admitting to soliciting a prostitute. He then ran for office in 1975 and won by a landslide victory. He was re-elected as mayor of the city in 1977 and 1979.&nbsp;

He was considered a ‘gonzo’ type politician with stunts such as staying a night in jail and commandeering a bus after the city took over bus service. But what made him famous worldwide was his 1991 TV sensational TV show.&nbsp;

<h2>Jerry Springer: A TV show host&nbsp;</h2>

Many people may not remember this but when Springer started his show in 1991, he focused on US political issues. But eventually, his show took a steep turn in the exact opposite direction and became a hit. It is known that it was deliberately done to boost the ratings of the show. His show was so popular in the late 90s that it even beat Oprah Winfrey’s Show in several cities and topped the charts.&nbsp;

Springer repeatedly defended his show against accusations of being too low-brow.&nbsp;

He told the BBC in 2014: "You could decide only to put well-scrubbed, wealthy people who speak the Queen's English on television and just do that but that wouldn't reflect the whole society."

"If all shows were like mine, that would be wrong. But you can't just have a television that is like Friends, Seinfeld, all these wealthy people, good-looking people and you love it," he added.

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"If some wealthy, famous person goes on television and talks about who he or she has been sleeping with, we can't get enough of it. We cheer them. But if it's some person of low income, all of a sudden we say trash."

The show had a fixed template for many years in which guests would come to the show and discuss their family problems which eventually turned into exposed adultery and other transgressions. Springer, then, tries to mediate but suddenly the verbal encounters turn into fistfights.&nbsp;

The audience would regularly chant "Jerry! Jerry!" when tensions became heightened during the episodes.

<h2>The Jerry Springer Show: Some of the most bizzare and outrageous moments</h2>

1. ‘I Married a Horse’&nbsp;

In a 1998 episode, Springer invited three people who were said to have an ‘interspecies relationship’. A man named Mark from Missouri claimed he had married a pony named Pixel. He insisted his marriage was consensual, “If she didn't like it, she could always leave,” he said.&nbsp;

After telling his weird love story, he also disclosed that he was slowly dying from hepatitis as a result of the sex.&nbsp;

2. ‘I Slept With 251 Men in 10 Hours!’

In 1995, Springer spoke to Annabel Chong, a 22-year-old porn actor who took part in the “world’s biggest gangbang”. Despite the predictable slut-shaming that took place, Chong spoke of the experience as an empowering reversal of gender norms. After some years in the industry, Chong went on to work in software development and left her record behind.&nbsp;

3. ‘Married to Your Dad But Want You Back’

A Montana woman fell in love with a California man, who apparently walked 1,200 miles to be with her (he didn’t have a car). When they broke up, she ended up with his father, who she had a child with – her ex-husband’s younger sister. But regret nagged at the woman so much that she tried to reunite with the son on Springer’s show. He declined.

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

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US politician-turned-show host, Jerry Springer died due to a ‘brief illness’ at his Chicago home on Thursday morning. He is survived by his daughter Katie Springer and his older sister, Evelyn.

US politician-turned-show host, Jerry Springer died due to a ‘brief illness’ at his Chicago home on Thursday morning. He is survived by his daughter Katie Springer and his older sister, Evelyn. The 79-year-old TV presenter will be remembered for his 90’s American talk show that featured everything from, fights to flying chairs but talks. Springer hosted one of the longest-running shows in the history of American TV, The Jerry Springer Show, which ran nearly three decades. The show became a symbol of low-brow television over the course of almost 5000 episodes. Fellow chat show host Ricki Lake led the tributes on social media, "Just waking to the very sad news of the passing of my longtime talk show rival and friend Jerry Springer. A lovely man. May he rest in peace." Also Read | Ed Sheeran reaches for guitar to defend self in court: report Broadcaster Piers Morgan described Springer as a "TV icon and such an intelligent, warm, funny man". His family and friends described him as “irreplaceable”. They said that he will be remembered for his connection with people at heart. Jerry Springer: Early life Gerald Norman Springer, or, Jerry Springer was born in London, England to Holocaust survivors who came from Germany. He was raised in Queens, New York City and attended the Northwestern University School of Law. He qualified as a lawyer, from where he first became actively involved in politics. He worked for the campaign of Robert Kennedy in 1968. Jerry Springer: A mayor Springer ran for Congress in 1970 but failed to dethrone Republican Donald D. Clancy. In 1971, he was elected to the Cincinnati City Council but had to resign from the council after admitting to soliciting a prostitute. He then ran for office in 1975 and won by a landslide victory. He was re-elected as mayor of the city in 1977 and 1979. He was considered a ‘gonzo’ type politician with stunts such as staying a night in jail and commandeering a bus after the city took over bus service. But what made him famous worldwide was his 1991 TV sensational TV show. Jerry Springer: A TV show host Many people may not remember this but when Springer started his show in 1991, he focused on US political issues. But eventually, his show took a steep turn in the exact opposite direction and became a hit. It is known that it was deliberately done to boost the ratings of the show. His show was so popular in the late 90s that it even beat Oprah Winfrey’s Show in several cities and topped the charts. Springer repeatedly defended his show against accusations of being too low-brow. He told the BBC in 2014: "You could decide only to put well-scrubbed, wealthy people who speak the Queen's English on television and just do that but that wouldn't reflect the whole society." "If all shows were like mine, that would be wrong. But you can't just have a television that is like Friends, Seinfeld, all these wealthy people, good-looking people and you love it," he added. Also Read | Citadel early review: A $300 million letdown? Priyanka Chopra's spy-thriller series fails to impress "If some wealthy, famous person goes on television and talks about who he or she has been sleeping with, we can't get enough of it. We cheer them. But if it's some person of low income, all of a sudden we say trash." The show had a fixed template for many years in which guests would come to the show and discuss their family problems which eventually turned into exposed adultery and other transgressions. Springer, then, tries to mediate but suddenly the verbal encounters turn into fistfights. The audience would regularly chant "Jerry! Jerry!" when tensions became heightened during the episodes. The Jerry Springer Show: Some of the most bizzare and outrageous moments 1. ‘I Married a Horse’ In a 1998 episode, Springer invited three people who were said to have an ‘interspecies relationship’. A man named Mark from Missouri claimed he had married a pony named Pixel. He insisted his marriage was consensual, “If she didn't like it, she could always leave,” he said. After telling his weird love story, he also disclosed that he was slowly dying from hepatitis as a result of the sex. 2. ‘I Slept With 251 Men in 10 Hours!’ In 1995, Springer spoke to Annabel Chong, a 22-year-old porn actor who took part in the “world’s biggest gangbang”. Despite the predictable slut-shaming that took place, Chong spoke of the experience as an empowering reversal of gender norms. After some years in the industry, Chong went on to work in software development and left her record behind. 3. ‘Married to Your Dad But Want You Back’ A Montana woman fell in love with a California man, who apparently walked 1,200 miles to be with her (he didn’t have a car). When they broke up, she ended up with his father, who she had a child with – her ex-husband’s younger sister. But regret nagged at the woman so much that she tried to reunite with the son on Springer’s show. He declined. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Who was Jerry Springer? Mayor-turned-host dies at 79- Take a look at weirdest moments from his show

Jerry Springer, the onetime mayor and news anchor whose namesake TV show featured a three-ring circus of dysfunctional families willing to bare all on weekday afternoons including brawls, obscenities, and blurred images of nudity, died Thursday at 79. At its peak, The Jerry Springer Show was a ratings powerhouse and a US cultural pariah, synonymous with lurid drama. Known for chair-throwing and bleep-filled arguments, the daytime talk show was a favorite American guilty pleasure over its 27-year run, at one point topping Oprah Winfrey’s show. Springer called it “escapist entertainment,” while others saw the show as contributing to a dumbing-down decline in American social values.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oXYd0e6efZk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

“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,” said Jene Galvin, a family spokesperson and friend of Springer’s since 1970, in a statement. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”

Springer died peacefully at home in suburban Chicago after a brief illness, the statement said

On his Twitter profile, Springer jokingly declared himself as “Talk show host, ringmaster of civilization’s end.” He also often had told people, tongue in cheek, that his wish for them was “may you never be on my show.”

After more than 4,000 episodes, the show ended in 2018, never straying from its core salaciousness: Some of its last episodes had such titles as Stripper Sex Turned Me Straight, Stop Pimpin’ My Twin Sister, and Hooking Up With My Therapist.

In a Too Hot For TV video released as his daily show neared 7 million viewers in the late 1990s, Springer offered a defense against disgust.

“Look, television does not and must not create values, it’s merely a picture of all that’s out there — the good, the bad, the ugly,” Springer said, adding: “Believe this: The politicians and companies that seek to control what each of us may watch are a far greater danger to America and our treasured freedom than any of our guests ever were or could be.”

He also contended that the people on his show volunteered to be subjected to whatever ridicule or humiliation awaited them.

Gerald Norman Springer was born Feb. 13, 1944, in a London underground railway station being used as a bomb shelter. His parents, Richard and Margot, were German Jews who fled to England during the Holocaust, in which other relatives were killed in Nazi gas chambers. They arrived in the United States when their son was 5 and settled in the Queens borough of New York City, where Springer got his first Yankees baseball gear on his way to becoming a lifelong fan.

He studied political science at Tulane University and got a law degree from Northwestern University. He was active in politics much of his adult life, mulling a run for governor of Ohio as recently as 2017.

He entered the arena as an aide in Robert F. Kennedy’s ill-fated 1968 presidential campaign. Springer, working for a Cincinnati law firm, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1970 before being elected to city council in 1971.

In 1974 — in what The Cincinnati Enquirer reported as “an abrupt move that shook Cincinnati’s political community” — Springer resigned. He cited “very personal family considerations,” but what he didn’t mention was a vice probe involving prostitution. In a subsequent admission that could have been the basis for one of his future shows, Springer said he had paid prostitutes with personal checks.

Then 30, he had married Micki Velton the previous year. The couple had a daughter, Katie, and divorced in 1994.

Springer quickly bounced back politically, winning a council seat in 1975 and serving as mayor in 1977. He later became a local television politics reporter with popular evening commentaries. He and co-anchor Norma Rashid eventually helped build NBC affiliate WLWT-TV’s broadcast into the Cincinnati market’s top-rated news show.

Springer began his talk show in 1991 with more of a traditional format, but after he left WLWT in 1993, it got a sleazy makeover.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wzItzCoea-g" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>

TV Guide ranked it No. 1 on a list of Worst Shows in the History of Television, but it was ratings gold. It made Springer a celebrity who would go on to host a liberal radio talk show and America’s Got Talent, star in a movie called Ringmaster, and compete on Dancing With the Stars.

“With all the joking I do with the show, I’m fully aware and thank God every day that my life has taken this incredible turn because of this silly show,” Springer told Cincinnati Enquirer media reporter John Kiesewetter in 2011.

Well in advance of Donald Trump’s political rise from reality TV stardom, Springer mulled a Senate run in 2003 that he surmised could draw on “nontraditional voters,” people “who believe most politics are bull.”

“I connect with a whole bunch of people who probably connect more to me right now than to a traditional politician,” Springer told the AP at the time. He opposed the war on Iraq and favored expanding public healthcare, but ultimately did not run.

Springer also spoke often of the country he came to age 5 as “a beacon of light for the rest of world.”

“I have no other motivation but to say I love this country,” Springer said to a Democratic gathering in 2003.

Springer hosted a nationally syndicated Judge Jerry show in 2019 and continued to speak out on whatever was on his mind in a podcast, but his power to shock had dimmed in the new era of reality television and combative cable TV talk shows.

“He was lapped not only by other programs but by real life,” David Bianculli, a television historian and professor at Monmouth University, said in 2018.

Despite the limits Springer’s show put on his political aspirations, he embraced its legacy. In a 2003 fund-raising infomercial ahead of a possible US Senate run the following year, Springer referenced a quote by then National Review commentator Jonah Goldberg, who warned of new people brought to the polls by Springer, including “slack-jawed yokels, hicks, weirdos, pervs and whatnots.”

In the informercial, Springer referred to the quote and talked about wanting to reach out to “regular folks ... who weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth.”

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Jerry Springer, the onetime mayor and news anchor whose namesake TV show featured a three-ring circus of dysfunctional families willing to bare all on weekday afternoons including brawls, obscenities, and blurred images of nudity, died Thursday at 79.

Jerry Springer, the onetime mayor and news anchor whose namesake TV show featured a three-ring circus of dysfunctional families willing to bare all on weekday afternoons including brawls, obscenities, and blurred images of nudity, died Thursday at 79. At its peak, The Jerry Springer Show was a ratings powerhouse and a US cultural pariah, synonymous with lurid drama. Known for chair-throwing and bleep-filled arguments, the daytime talk show was a favorite American guilty pleasure over its 27-year run, at one point topping Oprah Winfrey’s show. Springer called it “escapist entertainment,” while others saw the show as contributing to a dumbing-down decline in American social values. “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,” said Jene Galvin, a family spokesperson and friend of Springer’s since 1970, in a statement. “He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.” Springer died peacefully at home in suburban Chicago after a brief illness, the statement said On his Twitter profile, Springer jokingly declared himself as “Talk show host, ringmaster of civilization’s end.” He also often had told people, tongue in cheek, that his wish for them was “may you never be on my show.” After more than 4,000 episodes, the show ended in 2018, never straying from its core salaciousness: Some of its last episodes had such titles as Stripper Sex Turned Me Straight, Stop Pimpin’ My Twin Sister, and Hooking Up With My Therapist. In a Too Hot For TV video released as his daily show neared 7 million viewers in the late 1990s, Springer offered a defense against disgust. “Look, television does not and must not create values, it’s merely a picture of all that’s out there — the good, the bad, the ugly,” Springer said, adding: “Believe this: The politicians and companies that seek to control what each of us may watch are a far greater danger to America and our treasured freedom than any of our guests ever were or could be.” He also contended that the people on his show volunteered to be subjected to whatever ridicule or humiliation awaited them. Gerald Norman Springer was born Feb. 13, 1944, in a London underground railway station being used as a bomb shelter. His parents, Richard and Margot, were German Jews who fled to England during the Holocaust, in which other relatives were killed in Nazi gas chambers. They arrived in the United States when their son was 5 and settled in the Queens borough of New York City, where Springer got his first Yankees baseball gear on his way to becoming a lifelong fan. He studied political science at Tulane University and got a law degree from Northwestern University. He was active in politics much of his adult life, mulling a run for governor of Ohio as recently as 2017. He entered the arena as an aide in Robert F. Kennedy’s ill-fated 1968 presidential campaign. Springer, working for a Cincinnati law firm, ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 1970 before being elected to city council in 1971. In 1974 — in what The Cincinnati Enquirer reported as “an abrupt move that shook Cincinnati’s political community” — Springer resigned. He cited “very personal family considerations,” but what he didn’t mention was a vice probe involving prostitution. In a subsequent admission that could have been the basis for one of his future shows, Springer said he had paid prostitutes with personal checks. Then 30, he had married Micki Velton the previous year. The couple had a daughter, Katie, and divorced in 1994. Springer quickly bounced back politically, winning a council seat in 1975 and serving as mayor in 1977. He later became a local television politics reporter with popular evening commentaries. He and co-anchor Norma Rashid eventually helped build NBC affiliate WLWT-TV’s broadcast into the Cincinnati market’s top-rated news show. Springer began his talk show in 1991 with more of a traditional format, but after he left WLWT in 1993, it got a sleazy makeover. TV Guide ranked it No. 1 on a list of Worst Shows in the History of Television, but it was ratings gold. It made Springer a celebrity who would go on to host a liberal radio talk show and America’s Got Talent, star in a movie called Ringmaster, and compete on Dancing With the Stars. “With all the joking I do with the show, I’m fully aware and thank God every day that my life has taken this incredible turn because of this silly show,” Springer told Cincinnati Enquirer media reporter John Kiesewetter in 2011. Well in advance of Donald Trump’s political rise from reality TV stardom, Springer mulled a Senate run in 2003 that he surmised could draw on “nontraditional voters,” people “who believe most politics are bull.” “I connect with a whole bunch of people who probably connect more to me right now than to a traditional politician,” Springer told the AP at the time. He opposed the war on Iraq and favored expanding public healthcare, but ultimately did not run. Springer also spoke often of the country he came to age 5 as “a beacon of light for the rest of world.” “I have no other motivation but to say I love this country,” Springer said to a Democratic gathering in 2003. Springer hosted a nationally syndicated Judge Jerry show in 2019 and continued to speak out on whatever was on his mind in a podcast, but his power to shock had dimmed in the new era of reality television and combative cable TV talk shows. “He was lapped not only by other programs but by real life,” David Bianculli, a television historian and professor at Monmouth University, said in 2018. Despite the limits Springer’s show put on his political aspirations, he embraced its legacy. In a 2003 fund-raising infomercial ahead of a possible US Senate run the following year, Springer referenced a quote by then National Review commentator Jonah Goldberg, who warned of new people brought to the polls by Springer, including “slack-jawed yokels, hicks, weirdos, pervs and whatnots.” In the informercial, Springer referred to the quote and talked about wanting to reach out to “regular folks ... who weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth.” WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Jerry Springer, politician-turned-TV ringmaster, dies at 79

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Legendary US TV host Jerry Springer dies aged 79

Who was Jerry Springer? Mayor-turned-host dies at 79- Take a look at weirdest moments from his show

Jerry Springer, politician-turned-TV ringmaster, dies at 79