Jerry Springer on Dancing With the Stars: Pre-judge Not
Published October 25, 2006
I had never watched Dancing with the Stars until my sisters got me hooked, but when I heard that one of this season’s contestants was to be Jerry Springer, I became nauseous. I mean, did I want to see this guy dance? The Sultan of Salaciousness? The King of Trash TV? Could I put up with that just to see Mario Lopez’s dimples and Emmitt Smith’s gorgeous smile?
My only knowledge of Jerry Springer, admittedly, came from his TV talk show, which is like watching a bunch of circus freaks. You can be zapping with your remote and come up with something like this: A 15-year-old girl is telling her 60-year-old husband that she’s fallen in love with her cousin (could be a man, could be a woman, could be both). From that point on, it’s hard to understand what’s being said because of all the bleeps for the bad language; plus it’s also hard to see because the wife, for reasons known only to herself, has taken off her top, so there’s a big white box over her chest. Then the cousin appears.
The husband, whose belt is around his thighs and whose stomach precedes him by a good three feet, lunges toward the new boyfriend, who is probably already the result of a marriage between cousins. The security guards arrive. Jerry stands to the side, holding his microphone. [Note: You would be zapping to a show like this in the past – today, apparently, there is no violence or foul language allowed on the program. I must have caught a rerun.]
I admit I had Jerry all wrong, and like a lot of other Americans who watch Dancing with the Stars, I’ve fallen hard for Jerry Springer: father, dancer, trash talk show host, and a man whose name is the title of an opera where people sing expletives on high notes.
Jerry decided to appear on Dancing with the Stars so he could do the waltz with his daughter Katie at her upcoming wedding. Katie was born without nasal passages, is legally blind, and partially deaf. She works with special needs children. She has a beauty that transcends all the leggy professional dancers with their sequined costumes. After Springer and his lovely partner Kym Johnson danced the waltz to “Could I Have This Dance?,” he went into the audience to hug his daughter. There wasn’t a dry eye to be found.
- Jerry Springer on Dancing With the Stars: Pre-judge Not
- Published: October 25, 2006
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Performing Arts, Video: Reality TV, Video: Television
- Writer: Maria Ciaccia
- Maria Ciaccia's BC Writer page
- Maria Ciaccia's personal site
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Comments on this articleComments
This year is the first time I've watched Dancing with the Stars and have admired Jerry Springer for going out there and doing what he has done for the past 7 weeks. Thank you for a most interesting and enlightening article about him. Now I know why I liked him so much. You forgot to mention that Wed. evening as he did the Fox Trot with Kym, his smile was so warm and full of love for what he was doing that it moved me. I have enjoyed watching him as he learned and grew in his dancing. I sure couldn't have done what he did.
I am a native of Cincinnati, Ohio and have lived here most of my life. I have always loved Jerry Springer. The man you see on the daytime show is not the real Jerry Springer. He is a genuinely good man. He is intelligent, caring and compassionate. He was mayor of Cincinnati and won by an overwhelming vote. He was also a news commentator and since he left, there has been no one who even remotely possesses his talents. I wish he would come back and be mayor of Cincinnati again. Perhaps he could straighten out the mess it has become. Better still, he should come back and be governor of Ohio. Heaven knows Ohio needs the help. I'm sorry he is no longer on Dancing With the Stars. I know he is not a fabulous dancer but he certainly made the show a lot more enjoyable. He was the only reason I was watching.
Knowing Jerry Springer only by the reputation of his show - which I have ever seen - I had thought it was totally ridiculous for him to be on DWTS. Yet in these past 7 weeks, I have come to know a seemingly wonderful man. I for one am sorry to see him go. He brought a lot of joy, as well as fun, with him. Last night when his name was announced, he said "Good." He knew it was time. BUT, he will be missed. Thank you for a great article about a truly fine man.
kim johnson you did a very good job;;;;;;;;i will love to dance with you;;;darryl forbes new bern n.c.i want to meet you''713 vail st new bern n.c.
Thx for the insightful article. I've know of Jerry's past and some of the good things his done so I'm glad to see so many people get another perspective on the man. I've been a fan of DWTS but after the first week, all I wanted was to see Jerry and Kym strut their stuff. At the end of the day dance is about freedom, celebration and joy and they brought it every week. I'll give a 10 for spirit over technique any day. The show is better for them competing and their very unique dancing.
Great to see your other side again Jerry! Kudos to Kym for being the perfect partner/teacher to Jerry. Jerry could not have been luckier. I could not imagine what it would've been like if he had Karina as a partner...
Kym is a sweetheart and the perfect straight person to Jerry's dancing and comedy. We really hope she's back next season! She seems to really get it-her job (as well as all the pros) on DWTS is to make your amateur partner SHINE and she did just that.
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couldn't have said it more eloquently myself