While sick with the flu this past weekend, I finally had time to binge-watch some of the shows on my ever-growing watchlist. At the top was Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action, the new two-episode Netflix documentary that revisits one of the most infamous daytime talk shows in television history. Growing up, The Jerry Springer Show was a guilty pleasure for my brother and me, while my mother loathed it, considering it trashy and fake. (For the record, her most hated show remains South Park.)

What makes this documentary fascinating is that, despite the title, it offers surprisingly little insight into Jerry Springer himself. Instead, it takes viewers behind the scenes of the wildest, most controversial talk show of all time. The documentary doesn’t feature any new interviews with Springer, as he passed away in April 2023 from pancreatic cancer. Instead, his commentary is pulled from archival footage and previously aired interviews.

The Real Puppet Master: Richard Dominick

While Springer was the face of the show, the true mastermind was Executive Producer Richard Dominick, who led the show until he left in 2008. Dominick, a former tabloid journalist, had a knack for sensationalism. One producer described him in the documentary as “a mob boss with a cigar behind the desk”—a terrifying figure who orchestrated much of the show’s madness.

Springer, formerly the mayor of Cincinnati and a respected news anchor, initially launched his show in September 1991 with the hope of hosting meaningful discussions. However, it flopped and was relegated to a 1 AM time slot. Faced with cancellation, Dominick shifted the show’s approach, leaning into outrageous, often absurd content because, as he put it, “you can get away with a lot more at 1 AM.” This decision turned out to be a stroke of genius, as ratings skyrocketed.

When Chaos Became the Brand

The show took a darker turn when it began featuring controversial guests—none more infamous than the KKK. The episode, dubbed “Klanfrontation,” was the first to feature an on-air fistfight. When the ratings soared, Dominick realized that chaos equaled success. Soon, The Jerry Springer Show transformed into a spectacle of violence, yelling, and outlandish behavior. Producers admitted that Dominick “didn’t give a f*ck” and seemed like a “diabolical genius” in his relentless pursuit of higher ratings. The media, unsurprisingly, labeled the show “trash TV.”

Despite the controversy, Springer himself remained neutral. He detested censorship, believing everyone—no matter how vile—had the right to speak. As the son of Holocaust survivors, he personally despised the KKK, but he defended their right to express themselves, even on his show.

Pushing the Limits—And Beyond

The pressure to top past episodes led to increasingly extreme content. The show eventually knocked Oprah off the #1 daytime talk show spot, thanks in part to a now-banned episode titled I Married a Horse. The second half of the documentary delves into the ethical and legal issues surrounding the show, including the lengths producers went to in manipulating guests for maximum drama.

Among the most shocking revelations is that producers routinely misled and pressured guests. Many were low-income individuals flown in with the promise of a free trip, only to be told their return tickets depended on finishing the episode. Producers admitted that deceiving guests was standard practice to ensure they delivered the most dramatic moments on camera.

One of the most disturbing segments featured a father and his 16-year-old daughter. The daughter wanted to confront her father about using prostitutes—unaware that he had unknowingly solicited her. A producer who booked the segment recounted that upon realizing what was about to unfold, he walked away from the show for good.

The show’s culture of excess and shock value extended behind the scenes. Many producers admitted to drinking and doing drugs to cope with the intense pressure of constantly outdoing themselves. The unpredictability of guests and the extreme lengths required to create viral-worthy moments led to burnout among staff.

The Downfall of The Jerry Springer Show

Problems started when the authenticity of the show was increasingly questioned. Former guests appeared on other talk shows, claiming their segments were heavily scripted or manipulated. Prior guest admitted that Jerry himself had little knowledge of what went on behind the scenes, with one saying, “The producers were running the show, and Jerry knew nothing.” It’s true, Richard always knew more than Jerry. He would even give him “baseball gestures” while on the show to direct him. Jerry was even caught sleeping with guests which added to “fake” discussion.

A major tipping point came when a former guest was murdered after appearing on the show. A woman was tricked into appearing under false pretenses, ambushed on national television, and later killed by her enraged ex. The incident ignited a media firestorm, further reinforcing the argument that the show exploited emotionally vulnerable people for ratings. Though the network faced potential legal consequences, no one from the production team was ultimately subpoenaed.

Legal battles loomed over the show’s legacy, but it managed to avoid serious repercussions. At one point, the network even considered relocating the production to Jamaica as a means of dodging legal scrutiny. Ultimately, the show’s outrageous content and the shifting landscape of television led to its decline. With the rise of social media, outrageous content was readily available online, and The Jerry Springer Show lost its grip on audiences.

By 2008, Dominick left the show, citing increased legal scrutiny and network interference. Springer continued hosting for another decade, essentially “selling his soul” to the show, as one interviewee put it. Despite the controversy, he was financially set for life, amassing an estimated net worth of $60 million by the show’s end.

Jerry Springer’s Legacy

Springer eventually expressed regret for the show, famously stating in a post-show interview that he was “most likely destined for hell” and asked for prayers. Despite its notoriety, The Jerry Springer Show undeniably paved the way for modern reality TV. The explosive confrontations seen in franchises like The Real Housewives and 90 Day Fiancé can be traced directly back to the boundary-pushing antics of Springer’s show.

Though The Jerry Springer Show was labeled as one of the worst TV shows of all time, its impact on pop culture is undeniable. It redefined what audiences were willing to watch and changed the landscape of daytime television forever.

So, thanks, Jerry. Wherever you are (hell or heaven), we hope you’re enjoying the reruns.