Jerry Springer has died

Jerry Springer, the TV personality whose titular talk show helped launch a new and divisive era of reality television, has died, according to local news reports. He was 79 and passed away at his home in Chicago.

Born in 1944, Springer served as a Cincinnati city councilor and spent one year as its mayor. Even during the peak of his political career, Springer developed a popular presence on local radio for his commentaries, which would prove crucial for launching him into television.

The Jerry Springer Show premiered in 1991. The program quickly ditched its initial focus on politics and moved on to the baser, more crude format that made it a national phenomenon. Its showcase of the extreme anti-social behavior of its guests and frequent outbursts of on-stage violence, cheered on by a raucous studio audience, helped the show become a hit. Throughout its run, which ended after 27 seasons in 2018, the program was condemned by critics of all political persuasions who accused it of exploiting its guests and poisoning the cultural and moral climate of the United States.

Jene Galvin, a spokesman for the Springer family, shared the following statement: “Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word. He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart, and humor will live on.”