Jerry Springer

Jerry Springer is a cultural and civic icon. NBC recently named him the host of America's Got Talent. Springer has also been selected to host a new series called Nothing But The Truth.

Springer “arrived” as a true cultural icon as the featured character in The Simpsons’ 1998 Halloween Special. He has graced the cover of Rolling Stone, Esquire, New York Magazine and Sarasota Magazine. He was featured in Vanity Fair’s “Vanities.” Barbara Walters chose Springer as one of the 10 Most Fascinating People in her 1998 special.

That year, Springer penned Ringmaster, a personal account. He then starred in Ringmaster, a fictionalized movie chronicling his television talk show. In 1999, Springer portrayed himself in Austin Powers 2: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Born in London, he frequently travels back for many late night shows. A parody of The Jerry Springer Show, Jerry Springer The Opera played in London to sold-out crowds and garnered awards akin to the Tony Awards. The Opera has enjoyed success in the US.

Springer also hosted one of the most popular South African television shows, a variety show. All proceeds from the show went to AIDS charities.

Springer became a radio talk show host with Springer On The Radio. Springer recorded two CDs, one titled Dr. Talk. He has twice hosted the Miss World Pageant. Springer also starred for a week in Broadway’s Rocky Horror Show Live.

Springer graduated from Tulane University, receiving his law degree from Northwestern University. After joining a Cincinnati law firm, he spearheaded the Ohio movement to lower the voting age to 18 culminating with his Senate Judiciary Committee testimony supporting ratification of the 26th Amendment. He ran for Congress in 1970, nearly beating the Republican incumbent. In 1971, he won a seat on Cincinnati City Council, serving five terms. He became mayor at 33 with the largest plurality in the city’s history.

After an unsuccessful bid for governor of Ohio in 1982, Springer worked as anchor and Managing Editor of NBC News affiliate WLWT. It was his nightly commentaries, the precursor to his legendary “Final Thought,” that landed him seven Emmys. Springer was voted television’s best anchor for five consecutive years by readers of Cincinnati Magazine.

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