"I have no talent"- When Jerry Springer opened up about gaining mainstream popularity 

Jerry Springer was a famous television personality, attorney, and former politician who achieved fame primarily because of his talk show, The Jerry Springer Show. He was born in London on February 13, 1944. After coming to the USA, he completed his undergraduate political science degree at Tulane University, which led to a law degree at Northwestern University.

After many years as a lawyer, Jerry Springer entered politics and served as the mayor of Cincinnati from 1977 to 1978. He passed away on April 27, 2023, at the age of 79.

Jerry believed that his success was a result of circumstances and adaptability rather than conventional talent. He reflected on his unexpected rise to fame in an interview with reporter Rodney Ho for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on September 19, 2007, and said:

"I have no talent," “I can’t act. I can’t sing. I can’t dance. I’m the typical schlub.”

The former mayor of Cincinnati secured a fifth-place finish on Dancing With the Stars in 2006, yet he attributed his success to his endearing clumsiness rather than any polished dance skills.

The interview was re-published in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on April 27, 2023, the day Jerry Springer died due to pancreatic cancer.

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"I’m always playing a crazy talk show host or news anchor or mayor. I didn’t understand the big reaction" - Jerry Springer reflected on his sudden fame

In the candid interview with Rodney Ho for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on September 19, 2007, Jerry Springer reflected on his appearance on Dancing With the Stars and how the show allowed the audience to know his real personality.

"It’s kind of mainstreamed me. Maybe people didn’t know who I was, that I was just this nice person," he said.

Springer explained how the show allowed him to step away from his larger-than-life roles as a talk show host, news anchor, or mayor. For the first time, viewers saw the man behind the persona.

Springer admitted he had no game plan while competing and expected to be eliminated in the first week. "I don’t know how to dance," he confessed, crediting his daughter Katie for convincing him to participate. Despite his self-proclaimed lack of skill, Springer’s charm carried him further than he anticipated.

"I paid the cameraman not to show my feet, just show me making faces, so people wouldn’t notice I was a klutz," he joked.

Reflecting on his time on the show, Springer acknowledged his dancing didn’t improve much, but the experience left a mark. He fondly recounted a special moment at his daughter’s wedding, where his lack of dancing prowess didn’t matter.

"Katie wore this beautiful wedding gown. In the middle of the dance, my daughter looked up at me and said, ‘Dad, they can’t see our feet,'" Springer recalled with a laugh.

Springer said in the interview that he left dancing after his daughter's wedding.

He argued that his empathetic side made even the wildest episodes of his show relatable on some level. This knack for connection was evident in his off-screen life as well.

Recently, the two-part Netflix documentary, Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action was released on January 7, 2025. It is based on the show’s behind-the-scenes tactics, and how they prepared guests for on-air confrontations.