Name: Jerry Springer
Age: 55
Place of birth: London
Political past: Campaign aide to Sen. Robert Kennedy, 1968; Cincinnati councilman-at-large, 1971-76; mayor of Cincinnati, 1977-81
Television experience: Cincinnati’s WLWT-TV political reporter, 1982-84; anchor and managing editor, 1984 93 Occupation: Talk-show host, 1991-
Jerry Springer attended Tulane University from 1961-65 where he earned a bachelor’s degree in political science. Today he is the host of a one-hour talk show, “Jerry Springer Show,” which is now in its seventh season.
Growing up in New York City, what made you come to New Orleans to attend Tulane?
I was 17 at the time and fairly sheltered. It was the family decision that I should go out of town to college. My high school was so huge – 5,200 students – that they could only process the applications for five colleges for every student. So I chose one in every part of the country – Tulane, UCLA, Wisconsin, Cornell and one at home. I got accepted to all of them, and I just said, ‘New Orleans, what an exciting place to go.’
How did your New Orleans college experience change you?
Today 17 years old is much more worldly than it was back then. So, you know, I was book smart, not worldly. I just remember having my eyes wide open, immediately learning about civil rights and thinking, ‘Wow, New Orleans.’ It was just this massive assault on my senses.
This was my first experience with cultural diversity – I mean really being close to people who had completely different life experiences. I had grown up with people from the same background. [This] was really eye-opening for me.
I remember just loving it. I was not one of those who couldn’t wait until school ended. I enjoyed class. I enjoyed the academics of it too.
What’s your favorite aspect of New Orleans? It’s the most unique of all American cities. Most cities are alike, some are bigger than others, but they all look alike. There’s no city in America that looks like New Orleans. You almost, at times, feel that you’re in a foreign environment. It’s so culturally diverse and unique – physically, you know; the architecture, the language, the ethnic background. There is nothing like it. New York is a bigger Chicago. And an L.A. and a San Francisco and a Dallas . . . they all have their unique personalities, but if you’re on the interstate you wouldn’t know one city from the next. You come down to New Orleans, and there’s nothing like it.
What are your memories of Tulane football games at the old Tulane Stadium? Friday night – games had to be at night because of the heat – we’d go and have a great time . . . never won, but had a great time. The first time I can remember that we won, we beat Vanderbilt. There had been a tradition then where if you won, you’d go and ring the bell at the student union. Finally, the night we won, everyone charges to the bell and someone had stolen the [clapper]. It was either a prank or it went out of use because we just never won.
Can you sum up New Orleans in two words? Eccentric and unique.
Has any part of New Orleans inspired one of your trademark wacky talk-show topics? Everything does. New Orleans is the “Jerry Springer Show” of cities. During Mardi Gras, everyone here could be on our show. There’s nothing in New Orleans that we haven’t had on our show. Except the food. Here you eat it; there we throw it.
True confession: I’ve never wanted a talk show . . . including my own. •
