Springer Says Show Good for Freedom of Speech

Talk show host Jerry Springer told a packed Ames courtroom at the Harvard Law School on Friday that although his is the "stupidest show on television," its presence in the marketplace helps "endorse the concepts of freedom and liberty."

"The First Amendment is not for The Boston Globe or Newsweek," Springer said. "You're only free if everyone is, if you can say something outside American mainstream thought."

"The reason people hate the show is because they don't like the people on the show. We saw Princess Di on T.V. talking about cheating on her husband and about her bulimia. No one said 'How dare she.' No. She looked great and spoke the Queen's English."

Springer said that if all television programs were like his show, the medium would be unwatchable.

However, Springer said his show provides entertainment for millions of people. That, he added, is important after a long day of work, or for people who have little else to entertain them in their lives.

Springer also challenged the assumption that his show corrupts children.

"If anything, it's a morality play," he said. "The good guys win and the bad guys invariably lose. No one watches the show and says tomorrow I'm going to become a transvestite."

While Springer said he does not think his show encourages immoral behavior, he said he sees soap operas and big-budget movies as blurring lines between good and bad behavior. Springer says his show does not exploit people.

"The Jerry Springer Show" is "absolutely, unequivocally voluntary. They call us--and they are told what the parameters are well in advance. You don't have to talk about a subject you don't want to and no one may be talked about who isn't there."

He said he has never felt physically unsafe while taping any of his more than 2,000 programs.

Opening the floor to questions, Springer affirmed to a student that "most of the people on the show are very nice people."

When asked if he would trade lives with Oprah Winfrey, he said that he "would change bank accounts, but I love my life."

Springer said he "would love to do politics again," and joked that he "would fit in perfectly in the Senate."

The Cleveland Plain Dealer reported earlier this month that several Ohio Democratic leaders urged the talk show host to run for Senate against Republican incumbent Mike DeWine.

Springer said yesterday he won't run for office in the next several years--at least the time it takes for his contract to expire.

But he does have political experience.

Before becoming a talk show host, Springer worked as an aide to Robert F. Kennedy '48 and became mayor of Cincinnati, Ohio after a stint on the city council there. After reaching the

mayoral term limit of 10 years, he anchored a news program, collecting seven Emmys in 10 years. He also earned a law degree from Northwestern.

Springer said a political opponent might have too much ammunition against him because of his current job.

Also, he said, "as soon as politics is your career, you become intellectually dishonest because you have to get elected."

At the end of the event, Springer gave the audience one of his patented final thoughts: "May you never be on my show!"

Audience members said they were impressed.

Christopher W. Snyder '04, said, "I was surprised to hear how accomplished he is. He made a lot of valid points. I think there is a stigma against the show, and he showed where there is value in it."