Ringmaster!

by Jerry Springer, Laura Morton

Presents a backstage look at the trials, tribulations, and triumphs of creating the Jerry Springer Show

Genres: Biography

273 pages, Hardcover

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 · 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 🤷

[J. McCue · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written at a Jerry Springer reading level (the show, not the man, natch!) there is something of surprising value here. By far the most interesting parts, for me, were Springer talking about his time in Cincinnati politics, as a kind of proto-Marion Barry, you could say. He has a noticeably critical, almost cynical, tone when discussing the media. This is a point I've always been sympathetic to. Springer really wasn't doing anything much different than what the nightly news does every day. He was simply more honest about it. Less pretense.

Springer was certainly a complex figure. Quintessentially American, in many ways. This is worth a read. It tried to be something of a cash-in, but thankfully failed, becoming an interesting little window into a once-revered, but widely-maligned slice of Americana instead.

[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.