Jerry Springer, Talk Show Host
In 2001, I had lunch with my friend Kevin Mills in Beverly Hills at Nate ‘N Al’s Deli on Beverly Drive. Loud. Abrasive servers. Packed with people. As we approached the one unoccupied table, we could see that Jerry Springer was sitting alone at a table next to it, reading a massive tome. I commented to Kevin that I had gone to a hockey game the previous night. Mr Springer looked up from his book and said: “We don’t fight on my show anymore.”
He was right. USA Networks had bought the show the previous week, and announced that the battling was over. However, when viewership levels tanked, the prohibition quickly was rescinded.
While Kevin and I ate lunch, Mr Springer would occasionally ask us questions about the international tv market (the topic Kevin and I were discussing). He particularly wondered why his ratings in the UK were significantly higher than elsewhere in Europe. Kevin and I speculated that the British loved to watch others air their laundry in public, but were hesitant to show their own. That seemed to make sense to Mr Springer.
The three of us continued to chat during lunch. When it was time for Kevin and I to go, I said that I would pick of the check, but hoped that it would not end up on the front page of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Mr Springer put his face down on his open book, pointed to the door and said “Leave now. Say nothing more. Leave!”
Should I mention that while he was mayor of Cincinnati, Mr Springer paid a prostitute by personal check? Said payment was obtained by the newspaper, at least temporarily putting his political career on hiatus.
