Springer, (Gerald Norman) Jerry (1944– )

US chat show host. His controversial and salacious daytime series, The Jerry Springer Show, became popular internationally during the 1990s.

The Jerry Springer Show, originally a news based political programme developed to replace The Phil Donahue Show, debuted in 1991. After poor ratings nearly caused the series to be dropped, it became increasingly controversial, confrontational, and sensationalist. Common topics include racism, homosexuality, adultery, and family dysfunction, and shows have been punctuated with violent confrontations, obscene language, nudity, and erotic dancing.

Springer was born in London, England, to German Holocaust survivors. The family moved to Queens, New York, in 1949. After gaining a bachelor's degree in political science from Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1965, he received a law degree from Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, in 1968. He was a political campaigner for Robert Kennedy and then became a lawyer and broadcast journalist. He became mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1977, and was an award-winning news anchor in Cincinnati for several years before debuting his chat show. In 2005 Springer launched Springer on the Radio in Cincinnati and The Springer Show in the UK. Jerry Springer – The Opera, inspired by The Jerry Springer Show, became a hit production in London's West End in 2004.