At 64, Springer is an amazingly good sport and a game dancer. He plays maracas like a madman, leaps into the air, turns and lands on his knee, arms outstretched, wears a John Travolta Saturday Night Fever suit to introduce a disco segment, and rolls across the floor during the actual disco dance. He’s this year’s George Hamilton – not afraid to make a fool of himself or have a laugh at his own expense. Where Hamilton hit the nursing homes to get votes, Jerry went to the prisons – his people. When Kym was injured, one of the hosts asked him if he was concerned about the competition. “Oh, yeah,” he says, “I mean, there goes first place.” As of last week, he’s managed to hold on, but by October 25, he may be out.
Normally, it appears to me like he wants off that show like nobody’s business so he can soak his aching muscles for a week in a hot tub. However, after the judges chastised him for his prank-filled toreador act last week, in which he looked like a waiter, he did want to come back: if he has to exit, he wants to do it with a better dance. On October 24, he did a fantastic job and looked great in his tux. “If I’m going to die,” he tells the emcee, “I wanted to go out with a better dance, and this is a better suit to be laid out in.”
In researching Springer, I was surprised to find out a few things that many people probably already know. He was born in a London subway station after his parents fled the Holocaust. In 1949, the family immigrated to Queens, New York. He holds a degree in political science from Tulane University and a JD from Northwestern. He was a campaign aide to Robert Kennedy during his presidential run, and Springer himself was elected the mayor of Cincinnati by the largest plurality in history. After an unsuccessful run for governor of that state in 1982, he did nightly news and political commentaries for Cincinnati's WLWT-TV, winning 10 Emmy awards.
So just how did a man of Springer’s education and political savvy come to host this show that bears his name? Well, it turns out there was another big talk show host at Cincinnati’s WLWT-TV by the name of Phil Donahue. When it came time to replace Donahue’s sober, issue-driven talk show, The Jerry Springer Show was developed as a replacement, modeled along the same line as Donahue’s. Unfortunately (or maybe fortunately, I guess it depends on how you look at it), the show had a poor reception and the syndicators were ready to drop it. In order to save it, the format was changed to -- cough, cough -- a less serious one.
Article comments
1 - weste
couldn't have said it more eloquently myself
2 - CLM
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.
3 - Mary C. Gerhard
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.
4 - Mary Taylor
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.
5 - darryl forbes
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.
6 - Chunlow/LA
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.