There’s a good chance that anyone who grew up in the ‘90s watched The Jerry Springer Show at one time or another. After all, the controversial daytime talk series was hard to ignore thanks to its many taboo subjects that often deteriorated into profanity-laced tirades that sometimes led to all-out brawls between guests. Now, thanks to Netflix, viewers looking for a heavy dose of nostalgia have something to celebrate, as the streamer has announced a new two-part docuseries that’s set to release early next year called Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action.
Per Variety, Fights, Camera, Action will release on January 7, 2025, and promises to take fans behind the scenes to expose the truths of The Jerry Springer Show, revealing how much was real, and how much was scripted. Directed by Luke Sewell, the docuseries comes by way of Minnow Films, the same company behind another Netflix exposé, Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies and Scandal. Check out the official synopsis below.
“Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action will feature jaw-dropping first-hand testimony from show insiders, including producers and former guests and will reveal the murkier picture behind the entertainment façade of the destruction it caused, raising renewed questions about who was responsible, and how far things should go in the name of entertainment.”
What Made The Jerry Springer Show So Controversial?
Debuting on September 30, 1991, The Jerry Springer Show didn’t start out mired in controversy. Its first few seasons were much more tame, focusing on sociopolitical issues of the day. Unfortunately, that wasn’t what audiences were looking for, and it showed in the ratings. As such, the syndicated series underwent a drastic tonal shift to become one of the most infamous shows in history, opting to explore more risqué topics to help draw in viewers.
With episodes titled “High Class Hookers Tell All” and “I Want My Man to Stop Watching Porn!,” The Jerry Springer Show was a ratings hit following the format change. To say it focused on the unusual would be an understatement, because who can forget the zoophilia episode, which centered around a man who married his horse. There was also the episode titled “Klanfrontation,” which saw members of the Ku Klux Klan and the Jewish Defence League come on for a “friendly” chat, only to throw hands with one another – and the audience – by the time it was all said and done. What a time to be alive, right?
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Perhaps even more surprising than its many outlandish guests is the longevity of The Jerry Springer Show itself. It managed to continue on long after it rose to prominence in the mid-90s, lasting all the way up until 2018 before it was finally canceled. Named the “Worst TV Show of All Time” by TV Guide in 2002, it’s clear that there was a market for trash TV despite what critics had to say about it, as is evident by Springer’s many imitators, including Maury, which was named after its titular host, Maury Povich, who famously became known for uttering such lines as “You are not the father!”
Regardless of what you have to say about it, the lasting legacy of The Jerry Springer Show and its late host is hard to ignore. For better or worse, it helped usher in what became known as Tabloid TV, thus changing the face of daytime talk shows as we know it. Needless to say, we’re kind of intrigued by Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action, and will definitely be tuning in to Netflix on January 7 to find out more about the show we love to hate.
- Release Date
- September 30, 1991
- Main Genre
- News
- Cast
- Jerry Springer