Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action

Not really about Jerry Springer and more about his executive producer and gopher and two female producers, being all glib and cocky about how great their obviously phony JERRY SPRINGER SHOW was until they finally say they had had enough...

The men eventually quitting while, somehow, god knows how, Jerry stayed on the air for another 18 years after peaking and after stopping the fighting right before a murder he was blamed for since the killers were former guests...

There are so many things missed here, like the crazy idea to make a fictional movie (Ringmaster I think it's called) about the show, that ended up bombing instead of getting viewers into the theater like the show got their audience onto the couch, basically the lowest denominator...

Meanwhile, Jerry, in archive interviews, seemed like an alright guy, and he made a few bucks, that's good since this is America...

But these kind of new-style documentaries on Netflix and Amazon are mostly just propaganda for the subject... and yet they act as if this kind of niche was somehow edgy since they admit upfront that the documentary is basically shilling for people that, because of that fact, will supposedly be more honest about themselves since the documentary is in their favor...

It's too difficult to figure out these new promotional videos masquerading as docs but, this one drops the ball by not having anywhere to throw it: and could have been one episode instead of two since the cliffhanger didn't really lead anywhere...

Showing both sides and opinions equally actually has the subjects being more honest instead of repeating the same thing over and over like they do here....

But it's still interesting to see some of the old shows in the 1990's when trash was king.

Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action offers a look behind the scenes of the infamous talk show that once made a worldwide furore. Directed by Luke Sewell, the documentary focuses mainly on the intentions and methods behind the scenes, with ratings and sensations proving to be the leading drivers.

Although the documentary hits a critical note, the perspective remains strikingly one-sided. Most of the time is spent on the view of the old production team, without former participants being given an extensive platform. Something is missing: how would they, the people who actually experienced these explosive scenes, describe their experiences?

What is becoming clear is the dynamics between entertainment and ethics. The fights turn out to be nothing more than a deliberately chosen means of achieving high ratings, a strategy that undeniably made the talk show a phenomenon. Jerry Springer's role is discussed, and although some nuance is added, the question remains unanswered how much he really knew about the manipulations and provocations that took place behind the scenes.

The documentary largely confirms what many already suspected: selling sensation, and "The Jerry Springer Show" was a prime example of this. However, the limited angles make the film only superficially scratch a story that could have gone much deeper. For fans and critics it is an interesting look, but unfortunately the balance is missing to really surprise or make a broader impact.

I should begin by disclosing that I worked as a production assistant for "The Jerry Springer Show", when it was still plain vanilla and before it moved from Cincinnati to Chicago, sometime between September 1991 and September 1992. By the late 90s, I'd tuned out as the show descended into its infamous chaos. This entertaining 2-episode docuseries pulls back the curtain on how the talk show spiraled into a cultural phenomenon. As sleazy as the show itself, it showcases an unapologetic executive producer and offers a fascinating, if completely cringeworthy, look at its rise. Viewed through today's fractured reality, though, the show almost feels quaint, and Jerry comes across as a decent guy (even with the bounced check to the prostitute). For anyone with ties to Jerry or memories of his WLWT Channel 5 news days in the '80s, this is a quick trip down nostalgia lane.

It's common for modern documentary series to feel padded out, with content stretched to fill at least three episodes, leading to a sense of repetition. Curiously, the two-part documentary on Jerry Springer's talk show suffers from the opposite problem: it feels too short.

This is most evident when the executive producer, the puppet master behind all the controversy, is interviewed. Given the opportunity to delve deeper into the mind of this key figure in the show's drama, and considering his apparent lack of remorse for the practices he promoted, the filmmakers miss a significant opportunity. Why didn't they explore the broader implications of exploiting people for entertainment in today's media landscape?

The documentary starts promisingly, addressing a relevant contemporary topic, but ultimately fails to provide a meaningful conclusion. It perpetuates the very superficiality it seeks to expose. The overall impression is that, like the show itself, the documentary prioritizes entertainment over substance, leaving viewers wanting a deeper exploration of the issues at hand.

I may have watched Jerry Springer from time to time, if nothing else was on, or simply because it was in the background. It seemed ridiculous, but Jerry always seemed likeable and endearing to me. People who want to blame this show for the breakdown of society surely realize that the show didn't create these disturbing situations and these outlandish individuals, right? Do you want the show to disappear? Then stop watching!

The sad reality is that the Jerry Springer show was probably the first to showcase all that is wrong with the "best country in the world". There is a huge divide between the learned and the ignorant, the refined and the base, the intelligent and the stupid.

Pretty good doc.