The Facts
Jerry Springer, the former politician-turned-host of the controversial "The Jerry Springer Show," died on Thursday in suburban Chicago at the age of 79. His death was confirmed by Jene Galvin, a family friend and executive producer of Springer’s podcast.
Springer was born in London in 1944 to parents Richard and Margot, German Jews who fled to England to escape the Holocaust. At just a few years old, the family moved to Queens, New York. He studied political science at Tulane University and later received a law degree from Northwestern University.
The Spin
Narrative A
Through his wit and intellect, Jerry Springer was able to lead an extraordinary career in politics and show business. He opened a new door into what entertainment could be, and his vision was vindicated by years of successful ratings. He also understood the importance of treating people with respect and separating his political views from what he aired on TV. His closing remarks to each episode, to "take care of yourselves and each other," exemplified his status as a man and how he lived his life.
Narrative B
Even Springer himself has apologized for participating in the degeneracy of his show. In his own words, he "ruined the culture." While he may have been thrown into the sensationalized culture of Hollywood without knowing what he was getting into, "The Jerry Springer Show" launched a new era of TV lawlessness and decadence before millions of viewers.
