JER-RY JER-RY (Jerry Springer Show, The)

Member Name: jesperado

Product:	Jerry Springer Show, The
Date:	10/03/09 (73 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Weird and wonderful entertainment

Disadvantages: Exploitative at times and very offensive in parts

WHAT IS IT:
The Jerry Springer show is an American talk show in which Jerry invites members of the general public to share their weird and wonderful problems with the audience. It is one of the more extreme talk shows dealing with a variety of topics ranging from cheating on their lover/spouse to incest or even bestiality!

GOOD POINTS:
The complete craziness of the show makes it really funny to watch most of the time. Some truly bizarre things start to happen; I find it particularly funny when women who have been going on about how they are 'all that' - and a lot of them seem to talk in that exaggerated finger-wagging head-shaking kind of way - are confronted with the 6'5" drag queen their man has been sleeping with. The guests often come out with some truly astonishing confessions which you would never believe if it was in a film. The producer actively encourages catfights as he sits behind a sound desk and every time it looks like things might calm down he plays a sound effect of the bell you hear just before round two of a boxing match. This program shows the true definition of white trash!

The audience are often just as amusing as the guests, coming up with some excellent putdowns. Every now and then when someone mentions something particularly white trash, the sound guy plays Jerry's country record the audience all get up and start dancing on stage.

Jerry himself is very funny and remarkably laidback considering the high emotion that is often happening onstage. He has plenty of witty comments and somehow manages to control the chaos.

Aside from Jerry there is head bodyguard Steve who presents the show when Jerry is away and doesn't take any prisoners with the guests that have done something really bad. He also chats to a guest whilst heading towards the dressing rooms as the end credits roll and there is normally some sort of silly skit as this is going on. There is also a running joke that the floor manager, Todd, is gay with the audience shouting for transvestites to kiss Todd. There is also a very strange preacher who performs marriages live on the show and occasionally comes on to lecture and berate guests for their sins. I'm not quite sure whether he really believes what he is saying or whether it is totally an act but it's entertaining nonetheless.

BAD POINTS:
Some of the guests have views that are so distasteful that it becomes difficult to watch. Episodes about extreme sexual deviance come about occasionally and these are just a step too far. The Jerry Springer show is not for those who get outraged easily as some of the views expressed by some guests are really very bigoted and offensive. The show often verges on the exploitative and some of the guests obviously have mental health issues and should be offered some sort of help rather than being on the show.

But if you ignore your moral barometer, it's half an hour's weird and wonderful entertainment.

Summary: Turn your brain off and enjoy