Photo: Justin Hoch, Wikimedia Commons
Jerry Springer died at age 79 in his Chicago home, according to the Associated Press.
Jerry Springer, the provocative daytime talk show legend and former mayor of Cincinnati, was given the ultimate honor at his celebration of life service at Memorial Hall in Over-the-Rhine on June 9.
Starting in 1991, The Jerry Springer Show debuted to a limited audience as a political talk show. Springer’s namesake show quickly evolved into a shocking daytime display of conflict between everyday people. Springer would facilitate paternity test reveals, marriage confessions and in-studio brawls that blurred the lines between reality and scripted television. Chants of "Jerry! Jerry!" from audience members soon became an iconic battle-cry for messy drama in America.
Over the course of Springer’s epic and meandering career, he paused in 2006 to put on his dancing shoes and appear on Dancing with the Stars. His dancing partner, Kym Johnson, remembered her first interaction with Springer in her Memorial Hall message.
“The producers said this is the biggest star we've ever had on the show. In my head, I was thinking, 'It's George Clooney.' I was very excited. I open the door, I took one step in and I was shocked," she said. "He looked at me and, I'll never forget these words, he said, 'I'm sorry.' And I just thought, 'Wow, I adore you!'"
Before The Jerry Springer Show officially wrapped in 2018, Springer returned to his roots as a political and cultural commentator with The Jerry Springer Podcast (subtitled Tales, Tunes & Tomfoolery) which was recorded at the Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, Kentucky.
CityBeat highlighted the Folk School Coffee Parlor in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue as the “Best Place to Hang Out with Jerry Springer.”
Springer died in April at 79 in his Chicago home after a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Tickets for the free event ran out hours after being announced. Local leaders and Springer’s former media industry colleagues provided remarks and memories for the service, including Vice Mayor Jan-Michele Lemon Kearney, who proclaimed June 9 to be known as “Jerry Springer Day” in Cincinnati.
“He is beloved for his intellect, insight and ability to bring about positive change,” Kearney said.
“He is beloved for his intellect, insight and ability to bring about positive change,” Kearney said.
Springer was elected to Cincinnati City Council in 1971 but resigned in 1974 after admitting to paying a sex worker by check. Springer was re-elected to council in 1975 and served on council and as mayor before a failed run for the governorship in 1981. Springer then spent another 10 years as WLWT’s nightly news anchor where he earned several Emmys and coined his famous sign-off, "Take care of yourself, and each other."
Starting in 1991, The Jerry Springer Show debuted to a limited audience as a political talk show. Springer’s namesake show quickly evolved into a shocking daytime display of conflict between everyday people. Springer would facilitate paternity test reveals, marriage confessions and in-studio brawls that blurred the lines between reality and scripted television. Chants of "Jerry! Jerry!" from audience members soon became an iconic battle-cry for messy drama in America.
Over the course of Springer’s epic and meandering career, he paused in 2006 to put on his dancing shoes and appear on Dancing with the Stars. His dancing partner, Kym Johnson, remembered her first interaction with Springer in her Memorial Hall message.
“The producers said this is the biggest star we've ever had on the show. In my head, I was thinking, 'It's George Clooney.' I was very excited. I open the door, I took one step in and I was shocked," she said. "He looked at me and, I'll never forget these words, he said, 'I'm sorry.' And I just thought, 'Wow, I adore you!'"
Before The Jerry Springer Show officially wrapped in 2018, Springer returned to his roots as a political and cultural commentator with The Jerry Springer Podcast (subtitled Tales, Tunes & Tomfoolery) which was recorded at the Folk School Coffee Parlor in Ludlow, Kentucky.
CityBeat highlighted the Folk School Coffee Parlor in the 2019 Best Of Cincinnati issue as the “Best Place to Hang Out with Jerry Springer.”
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