Ringmaster!

by Jerry Springer, Laura Morton

For the first time ever, Jerry Springer dares to remove the bleeps and bars that hide away all of the real action, and takes you behind the scenes of the circus maximus-known as "The Jerry Springer Show." From his years as a politician and Emmy-winning journalist to becoming the host of America's most watched and controversial talk show-here is an uncensored and uninhibited look at the rise of Jerry Springer and the craziest show on earth.

It could only happen on "The Jerry Springer Show!"

"Phone sex killed my husband"
"I do drugs at church"
"Making love behind bars"
"My parrot runs my life"
"The man with eight wives"
"I'm making my first adult film"
"I'm 12 and I take care of my 680-pound mom"
"I'm a breeder for the klan"
"I'm 7 months pregnant and still stripping"
"I cut off my manhood"
"I broke the world's sex record"
"I stole my 12-year-old's boyfriend"
"Paternity I slept with two brothers"
"I'm pregnant by a transsexual"
"My pimp runs my family"
"I married a horse"

Genres: Biography

256 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published November 1, 1998

About the author

Jerry Springer was an American broadcaster, journalist, actor, producer, former lawyer, and politician. Springer served as the 56th Mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978. He was best known for hosting the tabloid talk show Jerry Springer from 1991 to 2018. From 2007 to 2008, Springer hosted America's Got Talent.

Reviews

[Liannis · Rating 5 out of 5]

If all you know about Jerry Springer is that he hosts a scandalous talk show, you need to read this book. Details his entire life, and is just as entertaining and much less offensive.

[Marianne Nichols · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was ok. I've never been a big Jerry Springer fan. So one of the things on a reading challenge I'm working on is "Read the memoir of a celebrity you don't like". I went wandering up and down the bio aisles at the library. I saw Ringmaster! By Jerry Springer, so that was the one!

It began strange, with Jerry appearing on God's talk show. Even though I found it off, I kept reading. There were some things I already knew, like he's a screaming liberal. He admits it, so I'm not talking off the wall. I'm conservative, so there's one reason I chose this book for the challenge.

There were other things I didn't know, such as he immigrated to the United States from Great Britain, where he was born during the bombing of London during WWII. His parents had immigrated to England from Germany. The family came to the US in 1949. They lost several friends and family members to the camps in Germany. THAT made me sad. Jerry continues on about his life growing up in America, how involved in politics his family was, and the insight into his family made me dislike him less.

He is still not one of my favorite people, but I did enjoy the book, much more than I thought I would. Three solid stars!

[Sue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book

[arlene · Rating 1 out of 5]

had to read for work so 🤷

[Patti · Rating 1 out of 5]

It was interesting to learn that Jerry was born in England. His parents were German Jews who escaped to England two weeks before Hitler invaded Poland which started WWII. Both Jerry's maternal and paternal grandparents, along with his father's brother, were exterminated in concentration camps.

Jerry and his family moved to America when Jerry was five years old. I find this kind of background interesting as Jerry is only four years older than me.

The focus of the book, however, is his TV show. The book is as relevant/irrelavant as the show.

[Judy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I've already heard that Jerry Springer had an interesting life above and beyond his trashy popular show and indeed this book touches on that but not overly in depth. Of course this story focuses on the part of his life and the show that made him a household name. It was an interesting read, good for entertainment value, felt a little dated, and definitely not cerebral at all. You know just like the show.

[Stephen Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Featuring the movie Ringmaster's preview!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's easy to forget that Jerry is a very smart, talented guy. He won multiple emmy awards for his work as a news anchor in Cincy. His argument that the news is exploitive but his show is not is very convincing. I honestly feel that they made him dumb down his prose. An interesting man, even if his show isn't my cup of tea.

[Keith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Oddly enough, I found this autobiography of Jerry Springer to be fascinating.

An added note: The description in Goodreads seems to be for the movie by the same name and doesnt have anything to do with this book. Check Amazon for a better summary.

[Laurie Stoll · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this book for .49 and it was worth every penny! This book was actually more thoughtful and interesting than I was expecting. It doesn't read anything like his show.