I’ll give it to Springer, he’s put the name and money he’s made for himself to good use. He established a scholarship fund at the Keliman School (Chicago, IL) that serves inner-city youth. He was behind the effort to lower the voting age from 21 to 18, testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee to support ratification of what became the 26th Amendment to the Constitution. He’s Vice President of the Muscular Dystrophy Association. In his spare time, he hosts a radio show and writes and performs country music. That is, when he’s not tripping the light fantastic with Kym.
Springer’s fame is now in the stratosphere. Besides gaining a new audience on Dancing With the Stars, Jerry Springer: The Opera, starring David Soul of Starsky and Hutch fame (I think he was Hutch, I always got the names mixed up) played the Cambridge Theater in London for 609 performances before embarking on a national tour of the United Kingdom. It has won many awards, including the prestigious Olivier Award for best musical of 2003. Whether it will reach our shores is dependent upon several things. Even if it plays Broadway, I wonder if the rest of the country is ready for a big man in a diaper, a leathered-up Brünhilde type doing a pole dance, paunchy people fighting and making out, and the aforementioned high-note profanity. Why pay for it when you can see most of that on TV for nothing?
Whatever the fate of the opera and the outcome of Dancing with the Stars, the talk show host’s future seems secure. He’ll be able to dance with Katie at her wedding, and lots of people, including myself, won’t need a barf bag when they hear his name. When he says at the end of his show, as he always does, "Until next time, take care of yourself and each other," I’m going to believe he means it.
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.