Netflix viewers gobsmacked watching ‘shocking’ series about The Jerry Springer Show
Netflix viewers have been glued to their screens watching adocumentary series highlighting the scandal-ridden Jerry Springer Show.
First hitting screens in 1991, the American talk show aired 3,891 episodes over the subsequent 27 years.
It became known for its shocking segments detailing cheating, incest and even bestiality, with guests also frequently trading blows on stage as the studio audience heckled and egged them on.
During its time on air, The Jerry Springer Show was labelled ‘reversible’ and ‘the worst TV show of all time’.
It was also engulfed in several scandals, including airing an episode about a man who married a horse, while one guest also murdered his ex-wife on the day their episode was broadcast.
The series eventually came to an end in 2018 but is now the focus of a two-part Netflix series – Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action – which was released this month.
The controversial talk show aired from 1991 until 2018 and regularly saw guests attack each other (Picture: Getty Images)
It ‘goes behind the scenes of America’s most controversial talk show to expose its biggest scandals, both on- and off-camera’.
Viewers have rushed to tune in, seeing the documentary fly into the Top 10, where it’s currently the third most-watched programme in the UK.
Sharing their opinions online, many have labelled it a ‘wild 10/10 watch’.
‘Spending my evening watching the Jerry Springer docu-series on Netflix 10/10,’ Natasha posted on X.
‘I thought I’ve seen all that needs to be seen as far as Jerry Springer & the history/BTS… Netflix proved me wrong! That two-part documentary was WIIIILD!!!! GO WATCH! 10/10. no notes,’ Melissa shared.
‘The Jerry Springer doc on Netflix is actually heartbreaking & crazy af,’ Kristie added.
Others said the documentary had them hooked and they ‘couldn’t look away’.
Meanwhile, others expressed regret at being fans of The Jerry Springer Show when it aired.
‘I just started watching Jerry Springer. Fights, Camera, Action last night on Netflix. And just finished episode 1. I have to say, the first episode alone had me feeling so gobsmacked. I can’t believe I was so naive watching his shows years ago, thinking that their new “shock” approach was all scripted and staged for wannabe new on the scene actors. I actually feel ashamed now knowing these were actually real people and real-life situations,’ Debunk Queen admitted.
During the height of its popularity, The Jerry Springer show attracted around eight million viewers an episode however by 2018 that had dropped to around 1.7 million.
Springer died aged 79 in 2023. The same year he apologised for ‘ruining the culture’ with his talk show.
However, speaking on David Yontef’s Behind The Velvet Rope podcast he joked: ‘I just hope hell isn’t that hot because I burn real easy. I’m very light-complexioned, and that kind of worries me.’
Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action is streaming on Netflix.
This article was first published on January 8, 2025.
Netflix viewers gobsmacked watching ‘shocking’ series about The Jerry Springer Show