Jerry Springer, a well-known American talk show host, has passed away at the age of 79. Springer was popular for his eponymous program that featured on-air fights, profanity, and revelations of infidelity. The news of his demise was reported by US media on Thursday.
Jerry Springer’s family spokesperson announced that he died peacefully at his home in Chicago after a brief illness. However, no further details were provided. According to TMZ, a popular celebrity news outlet, anonymous sources revealed that Jerry Springer was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few months before his death.
Initially launched in 1991, “The Jerry Springer Show” began as an ordinary talk show that focused on social issues and US politics, hosted by Springer, a mild-mannered lawyer and former politician who briefly served as the mayor of Cincinnati in 1977.
However, in a bid to boost ratings, the show’s format was dramatically altered after a few years. Springer, the son of Jewish German immigrants, shifted his focus towards salacious and outrageous content.
In most episodes, people came to talk about their family issues and expose adultery and other transgressions. Springer tried to mediate but the encounters often ended up in physical fights, with security guards intervening to separate the guests.
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By the late 1990s, the show had become so popular that it topped daytime television ratings in the US, surpassing even Oprah. The program ran for 27 years, finally coming to an end in 2018. Jerry Springer’s contribution to the world of television will be remembered for years to come.
