Analyzing One of the Wildest Stories Told on 'The Jerry Springer Show'
On today’s Pardon My Take, a very successful talk show host and politician joined Mr. Cat and Mr. Commenter. His name: Jerry Springer. During their interview, the trio discussed his career, Skyline Chili, and of course, “The Jerry Springer Show.” For those who have never watched the show, it is a tabloid talk show unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Basically, an explicit, physical version of those other daytime court shows that attempts to settle various disputes and spotlights other interesting dilemmas. His show was even featured in a classic movie: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.
Anyways, a portion of today’s interview that stuck out to me was when Mr. Cat and Mr. Commenter brought up one of the more popular incidents on Jerry’s show, the time a man married his horse:
(Keep in mind Jerry did NOT know the topic of his show until the subject filled him in. All the producers would give him was a card with the names of the people coming on with no context)
Mr. Cat: What was the most shocking story, that once you started asking questions, like, this is what we’re doing today?
Jerry Springer: Well, the one, obviously, with the guy who married his horse. Because obviously I didn’t know that was the story. So, I start out with the first guest, which is the guy, and let’s say his name was Bob. I don’t remember what it was but let’s say it was Bob. Bob's a 40 something year old man and he's sitting up there on stage and my first question every segment always is “So what's going on?” So, I said:
Jerry Springer: Hey Bob, what's going on?
Bob: Well, I'm having trouble with the neighbors.
Jerry Springer: Well what's the trouble?
Bob: Well, they don't like my wife.
Jerry Springer: Why don't they like your wife?
Bob: Well, I don't know. She keeps to herself she doesn't start any argument. She's quiet.
You can probably sense where this one is going. As I mentioned earlier, Jerry was perplexed as to what was going on here. There’s got to be more to this story, right?
Jerry Springer: I have no idea. Well, I can see this show’s going nowhere. It’s boring. So, I look at the next guest [on the card], Pixel. OK, well, let’s meet her: Here’s Pixel. Out comes this horse. Now, my reaction would be the same as any human being’s would be…
“OH MY GOD THE WIFE, PIXEL, FELL OFF THE HORSE BACKSTAGE!!!”
And the executive producer is yelling at me, “No, no, that’s his wife!”
Mr. Commenter: That must be tough to come up with little jokes and quips when you’re just shocked into a state of almost being frozen. “What’s the bridal shower like?” That’s where I would have gone.
I am still trying to dig up this exact episode and have yet to find it. The episode aired on May 22, 1998, so we are talking more than 20 years ago here. Something that I found quite amusing, though, was a clip of Jerry recalling this same exact story on “The Meredith Vieira Show” three years ago. If you watch this back, it’s crazy how he almost tells the same exact story word for word. Take a look yourself:
He goes the distance with the similarities here with the tone of his voice all the way to using “Bob” as the example name. That got a chuckle out of me. What is your favorite moment from Jerry’s show?