“The Jerry Springer Show,” which aired from 1991 to 2018, became synonymous with trash television thanks to its take on taboo social topics. Now the producers are revealing everything in the documentary series “Hollywood Demons”.
From the outside looking in, “The Jerry Springer Show” was a Pandora’s box of outlandish personalities and chaotic corners. But as it turns out, there was a solution to this madness.
While appearing in the documentary series “Hollywood Demons,” the producers of the controversial daytime talk show spoke candidly about the behind-the-scenes process that created the show’s scandal, according to People magazine and Entertainment Weekly.
The “Investigation Discovery” series aims to expose the underbelly of pop culture’s most infamous moments through in-depth interviews and industry analysis. The show’s upcoming second season will conclude with “The Jerry Springer Show,” “Saved by the Bell,” the deaths of celebrities Prince and Matthew Perry and other cultural touchstones.
“Jerry Springer had no idea about this story until we came to tape,” producer Jimmy “The Hat” Hyman said in advance footage obtained by People. “And that might have actually been helpful, just for the fact that he probably didn’t want to see what we put together, you know?”
“The Jerry Springer Show,” hosted by former politician and journalist Jerry Springer, started out as a full-fledged political show modeled after Phil Donahue, but ratings were initially low. It quickly turned into a tabloid extravaganza with even more outrageous guests in each episode.
The talk show, which aired from 1991 to 2018, became synonymous with trash TV thanks to its coverage of taboo social topics, from incest and adultery to self-harm and sex work. The series frequently featured profanity, physical fights, and scantily clad guests.
According to People, the talk show’s other producer, Leena Friedman Watts, gave a candid interview to Springer shortly before his death in 2023, asking him if he knew “what it took to get that show on the air.”
“Yes, I knew what you guys did,” Springer told Watts. “But I was so far removed from what actually happened, including not knowing beforehand. They never told me who the guests would be.”
‘The Jerry Springer Show’ producer says talk shows encourage on-screen conflict
Houston Curtis, an associate producer on “The Jerry Springer Show” who also appears on “Hollywood Demons,” revealed how the talk show’s production staff often incite conflict between guests.
“I knew right away what the secret was,” Curtis said, according to preliminary footage obtained by Entertainment Weekly. “Suppose I have two brothers who are fighting. When you’re preparing for a guest, you say to one of them, “If your brother says something you don’t like, you can yell at him, you can stand up in his face, you can spit on him, but whatever you do, don’t hit him.” And you don’t say anything about it to anyone else.”
he continued. “If one person stands up and spits in someone’s face, without giving any instructions to the other person, the other person will drag the person away and beat the hell out of them. A fight ensued.”
Part of the series’ success came from its trafficking in racial stereotypes, homophobia, transphobia, and othering of disabled people. Guests from marginalized and vulnerable communities were often the subject of harsh jokes and were sometimes subjected to actual violence (whether staged or unplanned).
“It’s so hypocritical to say, ‘That show sucks,'” Springer previously said of his talk show. “I always said it’s stupid. It’s just camping. It’s chewing gum. It’s an hour of escapism. There’s no real value to it.”
“Hollywood Demons” Season 2 will premiere on April 20th on Investigation Discovery.
Contributor: Kelly Lawler, USA TODAY
