More on Jerry Springer's radio show
Starting next Monday, Springer will launch his three-hour, daily talker from Cincinnati (12/13 RBR #241), which he hopes to start rolling out nationwide as early as next month on about a dozen Clear Channel stations, reports the NY Post.
"At 60 years old, I get another profession - that's wonderful," Springer tells The Post. He will continue his notorious, knock-down-drag-out TV show by commuting to Chicago for tapings.
"It's a job with some substance and we'll talk about serious things in the world, but it's going to be fun as well," he says.
Springer says his politics lean "certainly left of center" - he worked for Robert Kennedy's presidential campaign - but says he wants people to "listen and make their own determination.
"I was the mayor of Cincinnati, so I guess there's some limits to [his liberal views]," he says.
Springer says he has great respect for conservative heavyweights Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity ("they're geniuses in the business"), but says talk radio needs "a voice on the other side" to counter what he calls "the Republican noise machine" - borrowing a phrase from author David Brock.
Talk radio's greenest gabber, who was born in London and raised in Queens, is a master of reinvention.
He has also been a lawyer, city councilman, mayor, TV news anchor and, for the past 14 years, ringmaster of the raunchy and rowdy "Jerry Springer Show" - which airs twice daily on Ch. 11.
"At least on paper, you couldn't have better preparation for the job of a [radio] talk show host.
"You have substance, skill of broadcasting, and being an entertainer," he says.
Springer says he knows he has a lot to learn about talk radio, which has a success ratio not unlike new movies and TV shows - low.
"I'm not in the same league as Rush and Sean, I understand that," he says.
"I cannot assume that, maybe because I've been successful at some things, I'll be good at this.
"I think we will be, but I'm not taking it for granted."
Springer says he'll take listener calls and have guests on the radio show, as well as "my rantings and comedy bits.
"We have Team Springer - the sidekicks to the [TV] show who will do bits"
But that's where any similarity to his TV show will end, he vows.
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