TV show host, former politician Jerry Springer dead at 79

Jerry Springer, the TV host whose namesake show attracted a strong following in the 90s, has died.

A family spokesperson said Springer died at his home in suburban Chicago on Thursday at age 79.

“The Jerry Springer Show” was a favourite American guilty pleasure for many viewers. It started in 1991 and ran for 27 years, creating a stage for chair-throwing antics and bleep-filled arguments.

At its peak, the show’s ratings topped that of Oprah Winfrey’s show. It ended in 2018 after what some considered to be “a dumbing-down decline in American social values” as a result of the show.

“Jerry’s ability to connect with people was at the heart of his success in everything he tried whether that was politics, broadcasting or just joking with people on the street who wanted a photo or a word,” a family spokesperson and friend of Springer’s since 1970, Jene Galvin said in a statement.

“He’s irreplaceable and his loss hurts immensely, but memories of his intellect, heart and humor will live on.”

Springer was the son of Jewish immigrants and played an active role in politics for most of his adult life, being elected to Cincinnati city council in 1971.