The Poster Boy of Bad Taste

"The Jerry Springer Show is the best-loved show of the criminally insane" flashes across the television screen in my family room. I feel insane after watching the worst kind of human behavior paraded in front of me for an hour. Jerry Springer, who hosts the show, is the poster boy of bad taste. Without argument he has one of highest rated talk shows in the world. Unfortunately, he exploits dysfunctional people, promotes violence, and broadcasts bizarre sexual confessions. Jerry Springer refers to the people on his show "guests." In reality they are victims of television ratings. All the while, Jerry stands by looking slightly amused as the "guests" reveal their darkest secrets.

The episode "I'm Sleeping with My Sister" introduces us to Amber and Amy. They are two dysfunctional sisters. Amber is a beautiful brunette wearing a black, low cut, mini dress. She explains to Jerry that she is bisexual, but only with her sister Amy. Amber has a boyfriend Joe, who she wants to confess her incest to. Jerry bites his lip in amusement and announces, "Let's bring out your sister, Amy!"

Amy is attractive with auburn hair and is wearing tight black pants and shirt. Amy kisses her sister Amber on the mouth. The audience makes sounds of disgust. Amy sits down and yells at the audience, "Hey! Incest is best. Put your sister to the test!"

Amy tells Jerry that she hates Amber's boyfriend and that, "It makes me sick when he touches Amber."

Jerry laughs and says, "Let's meet Amber's boyfriend, Joe!"

Unsuspecting Joe walks out onto the stage. Joe is a handsome man with an athletic build. He kisses Amber, and Amy yells, "Get away from her, you creep!"

Joe asks Amber, "Why is your sister here?"

Amber confesses to Joe about her incest relationship with her sister. Joe is outraged and tells Amber that she is sick and he never wants to see her again. Jerry makes no offer to put the two sisters in touch with a therapist. Instead he shakes his head in amusement. The two sisters have been exploited for television ratings.

The Jerry Springer Show is never without a violent incident. Acts of violence will be perpetrated on individuals in each episode. The episode, "You Dumped Me at the Alter" is a perfect example of violence for ratings. A jilted groom named Eric is on stage with his ex-fiancée Stacy. Stacy decided to leave Eric standing at the Alter and live with Brad instead. Brad has been Eric's best friend since they were four years old. All three "guests" are attractive and highly charged with anger. Jerry ignites their anger into violence by asking Stacy; "Did you sleep with Brad while you were engaged to Eric?"

Stacy hangs her head down and nods in agreement. Eric gets a surprised look on his face then leaps across the stage at Brad. Kicking, throwing punches, and swearing, Eric rolls off the stage with Brad. No less than five of the Jerry Springer Show body guards pile on top of them. Jerry Springer walks up the stairs to the back of the audience and frowns. He seems innocent and confused about what is happening on his stage. The audience cheers wildly as the two men fight. The audience wave fists in the air and chant, "Jerry, Jerry, Jerry!"

The broadcast is never complete without some kind of bizarre sexual confession. A good example is the "Stay Away from My Babey" episode. It involves two middle aged, unkempt, "guests" named Jerry and Sterling. Jerry tells the audience that he loaned out his Babey to his friend Sterling. Sterling had sex with Babey as payment for a debt. Jerry wants Sterling to leave his Babey alone because the debt is paid. Jerry Springer has a look of confusion and asks Jerry, "Did you bring your Babey to the show?"

Jerry the "guest" thrusts out his chest with pride and says, "Yes!"

The Jerry Springer Show stagehands carry out Babey in a chair. Babey is a life size rubber doll. The audience laughs hysterically. Jerry Springer laughs too. Jerry the "guest" defends his doll by saying, "Hey, this lady is a sex machine. She's always ready!"

Jerry Springer says, "Let's meet your friend, Sterling!"

Sterling walks out and kisses Babey on the rubber mouth. The audience laughs and cheers wildly. Jerry the "guest" shoves Sterling away and shouts, "Leave my Babey alone!"

Sterling confesses, "I can't stay away from Babey. I love her."

The two men argue over the doll as the audience roars with laughter. Sterling looks at Jerry and says, "I only have one complaint. She can't cook." Jerry Springer acts amusingly shocked and a little confused at this bizarre sexual confession. He clasps his hand over his mouth in disbelief.

The Jerry Springer show attracts a great audience because of the "guests" whose lives have been exploited for ratings. His show makes a freakish display of dysfunctional people. Jerry Springer incites violence in his "guests" by his provoking questions. He broadcasts the most bizarre of sexual confessions from real people who live among us. The Jerry Springer Show episodes are always completed with the "poster boy of bad taste" words of wisdom at the end. He tells the viewers that we should never resort to violence. We should be kind to each other. He encourages the viewing audience to seek counseling if we are dysfunctional in any way. He leaves the viewers with the reminder that, "You are all a talk show just waiting to happen." I am sure for the ratings that Jerry would like to make a talk show out of us all.

Kathy Biggs, 1999

Return to Voices Table of Contents