Re-Presenting: A conversation with Jerry Springer, who died Thursday

Editor's Note: Jerry Springer, best known as the host of a chaotic and long-running syndicated talk show has died, his family confirmed. He was 79.  Here, we re-present Richard Duckett's 2017 interview with Springer, ahead of his appearance at the Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts.

WORCESTER —  Life is just about right for Jerry Springer these days, politics notwithstanding.

"I'm not looking for more than this to do," the 73-year-old cultural and civic icon said of his activities that include the Monday-Friday TV syndicated "Jerry Springer Show" and stepping out 40 to 50 times a year as the host of "The Price is Right Live!"

The touring version of the long-running popular CBS game show "The Price is Right" will be at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts at 8 p.m. Friday, and contestants can come on down to play games such as "Plinko" and "Cliffhangers" with Springer.

"It's great fun," Springer said during a recent telephone interview. "It's such a happy show. Everyone's there to have a good time."

More: Jerry Springer, controversial daytime talk show host, dies at 79

Other shows that Springer has hosted in the past include NBC's reality TV series "America's Got Talent" from 2007 to 2008 and then "America's Got Talent Live!", which took Springer and the show to Foxwoods Resort and Casino for nearly a month in 2010.  FremantleMedia produces both "America's Got Talent Live" and "The Price is Right Live!" and the company obviously finds Springer's affable, easygoing and often amusing demeanor to be the right kind of fit for the shows.

"What they do for several years is give me their schedule (for 'The Price is Right Live!') and I pick out the dates," Springer said. He's also scheduled to be hosting the show when it goes to Providence Oct. 22.

Like its TV counterpart, "The Price is Right Live!" also has "The Big Wheel" and the fabulous "Showcase," where in this instance prizes may include appliances, vacations and possibly a brand-new car.

"It's the same rules (as TV)," Springer said. "There's probably a little more comedy than in the TV show because you don't have the (time) restrictions with commercials and that stuff."

After 45 years, "The Price is Right" is one of the longest continuous running game shows in TV history. Bob Barker, the host for 35 years, stepped aside for Drew Carey in 2007 and he's been hosting ever since.

Asked if he ever had his eye on the TV show, Springer said, "Drew does a great job. I have my own show." 

Indeed, "The Jerry Springer Show" is also long-running and in its 27th year, Springer added.

"There's no excuse for it," he joked.

The show, which can be caught locally at 11 a.m. weekdays on CW56-Boston, had topics last week that included "Alyssa wants to experience a first with her best friend, Megan. But does Alyssa’s boyfriend Zack approve?" as well as "Dad, I hooked up with your wife."

Participants don't seem to have nearly as much fun as they do on "The Price is Right." Chairs have been known to be thrown.

It wasn't always thus.

"It was a normal talk show in the beginning, but at the time it was like the 27th talk show (like Oprah Winfrey)," Springer said. "Then along came Ricki Lake going after the kids."

"Ricki Lake" debuted in 1993 when Lake was 24.

Springer thought, "As a business model, why don't we go young?" Rather than get one-twenty-seventh of a market he might be able to get one half.

"Only young people in the audience. Only young subject matter. As we know, young people can be crazy once in a while."

It seemed to work. Then when NBCUniversal Television Distribution acquired the show, an edict came down: "You can only be crazy," Springer said.

It has been called the worst show on television, but Springer takes such criticism in good stride and finds it a bit passé these days.

"We're so much part of the popular culture," he said. "Compared to the White House, how can you complain?"

Springer has been a Democrat most of his life. He was born in London during World War II, a son of European Jewish refugees, and moved with his family to the U.S. when he was 5. Starting out as a youthful political idealist aide to Robert Kennedy during his tragic presidential bid in 1968, Springer stayed in politics. After joining a law firm in Cincinnati, he served as the city’s mayor from 1977 to 1978.

However, along the way there was an incident almost worthy of a “Jerry Springer Show”  involving an ill-advised trip to a "massage parlor" in Kentucky. A run for the governor of Ohio proved unsuccessful, but Springer’s legendary television career began in news commentary with Cincinnati NBC affiliate WLWT.

Concerning the current political situation, Springer said, "This may shock you, but I'm not too happy ...

"It's almost as if the administration doesn't believe in the idea of America — a multicultural society where it doesn't matter where your parents come from, you can be the best you can be. Our symbol is the Statue of Liberty. The president in more than a metaphorical sense wants to replace it with a wall."

People are feeling disoriented and scared, Springer said. "It's made a mockery of the idea of America and it's very unsettling."

Springer stays "very active" in politics supporting the Democratic Party. "I don't need to run for office. I think those days are gone. I'm 73."

He paused, then said, "OK, I'll run."

Over the years Springer has also been a ballroom dancer, country singer, movie actor and a stage actor with star turns on London's West End and Broadway in the musical "Chicago" (he said the reason he stopped hosting "America's Got Talent" on TV was to pursue the musical).  But some of those days may be gone as well.

"That was fun," he said of "Chicago." "That was very enjoyable. It was also physically exhausting to sing, dance and act. That's for younger people."

Back in England, where Springer's TV show has had a cult following, "Jerry Springer — the Opera" became a hit musical satire, though not without the almost requisite controversy.

"I had nothing to do with that," he said of the musical. But he did go and see it. "I though they did a good job ... I just wish it was about someone else. There was no one I could share the experience with. It's a very small club of people that had an opera (written about them)."

Still, "I'm very lucky," Springer said. "As long as I stay healthy I'll stay politically active, I'll do the show for a while (longer), and spend time with my grandson."

Individuals interested in being a contestant on "The Price is Right Live!" Friday should arrive up to three hours before showtime to be eligible to play. No ticket purchase is necessary to register to become a contestant.

Contact Richard Duckett at richard.duckett@telegram.com. Follow him on Twitter @TGRDuckett

This article originally appeared on Telegram & Gazette: Springer Showcase