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Behind the Scenes: The Shocking Truth About Jerry Springer’s Wild Off-Camera Life

BBG News

For many years, it ruled supreme on U.S. daytime television, unfazed by the stormy trail of debate and disapproval that accompanied it.

Exploring complex and uncomfortable topics such as incest, rape, white supremacy, and adultery, the Jerry Springer Show transformed gory television accidents into a form of art over the course of its remarkable 26-year span.

Approximately seven years since its finale, the Netflix documentary titled “Fights, Camera, Action” shines a light on the struggling ex-producers of the show, who were constantly trying to elevate their work, bring down the quality, and ultimately increase viewership.

However, an old workplace from the series, which was predominantly shot at NBC Tower in Chicago before moving to the Stamford Media Center in Connecticut, maintains that the revealing three-part expose merely scrapes the surface of the actual truth.

In an interview with The Sun, former producer Norm Lubow allegedly admitted that he often arranged for performers from the adult entertainment industry, including strippers, sex workers, and adult film actresses, to pose as guests on the show. Additionally, he suggested that these individuals might have provided special services backstage for the show’s main host.

As an over-the-moon devotee recounting my tale, let me share that upon our arrival in LA, none other than Jerry himself greeted us in a sleek limousine. With a casual yet intriguing tone, he broke the ice by posing this query: “Where can I find some company? I’m looking to unwind – any suggestions on where the friendly companions might be?” This was the version of events, as he claimed.

Initially, we exclaimed in surprise, yet quickly understood that inviting him onto the program wasn’t merely to secure guests; it was to help facilitate romantic encounters. Needless to say, our intentions were successful.

In essence, we took on additional responsibilities which contributed significantly to our success and advancement. We managed to secure women who were willing to perform dual roles – appearing on the show and caring for Jerry post-filming.

It became clear immediately that the primary concern wasn’t about locating guests, but rather identifying suitable women for Jerry.

Fortunately, having spent time in a band in LA, I was acquainted with numerous attractive women, including strippers, which allowed me to swiftly transition from being a freelance matchmaker to a permanent producer for the television show.

Lubow alleges that certain female visitors were expected to perform a dual role, as they were believed to fulfill Springer’s private romantic demands behind the scenes.

As an ardent admirer, I’d find myself stepping up to them, saying something along the lines of, “Hey, I’m a fresh face in this production world, and it could mean the world to me if you could spend the evening with Jerry tonight – he thinks highly of you.” And amazingly, they would oblige. In that moment, I felt like a matchmaker, or perhaps even a… well, let’s just say I was quite instrumental in making things happen!

‘It didn’t take much persuading, the girls were happy to go off with him.’ 

In 1998, Springer found himself needing to provide an explanation following the public emergence of photographs showing him involved in a threesome with his guest, Kendra Jade (an adult film actress), and her stepmother.

Even though it had been reported that they were separated about four years prior, Springer was still legally wedded to his wife Micki Velton at that time.

In their new documentary series, Netflix mentions the scandal as an isolated event, but Lubow suggests that it was actually just the beginning of a much larger problem.

He stated: ‘Being his broker in the sex trade was simply a routine aspect of my role, but on the Netflix series it seems as if he had a single sexual scandal. That’s not accurate; I was merely unlucky enough to be the one who caught him that time.’

Remarkably, Lubow, who used to be a singer for the heavy metal group Just Say Yes, eventually landed a paid position on the show following his sixth appearance as a guest performer.

In a previous recording, made several months prior to his recruitment as a producer, he enacted a humorous ‘presidential candidacy’ for the fictitious, pot-smoking Reverend Bud Green character.

With his trusted companion Al Bowman, along with two ladies in swimwear, ‘Bud’ made a promise: If elected, he would work towards the legalization of cannabis and provide every voter with a complimentary limousine ride.

Previously, I had the opportunity to portray myself as a contemporary Robin Hood figure, leveraging the chaotic aftermath of the Los Angeles riots to redistribute wealth – taking from the affluent and providing for those in need.

Interestingly enough, Lubow shared that following my initial appearance as a guest, I was extended an offer for a production role as well.

‘We were guests-turned-producers which nobody has ever done in the history of TV,’ he said. 

In September 1996, I was a guest along with Al on the show. Within just a month, our roles shifted to finding guests for the program, and by the third month, we had become producers.

Instead of directly saying “pimp” or “drug user,” the producers would ask for people who claim to be in such roles. In other words, they were looking for individuals who self-identified as such. The term ‘fake’ was not explicitly used.

From my perspective, they desired the indulgence of a succulent steak, yet they weren’t interested in understanding the process behind obtaining it from a cow. However, it was common knowledge among many that not all these individuals were genuine in their claims – instead, they found pleasure and convenience in the fictional portrayals of the butchering process, which were more entertaining and less demanding compared to reality.

Springer died aged 79 in 2023, shortly after being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

Prior to his passing, the long-time host denied allegations that his popular program was fabricated, emphasizing that many of its episodes were genuine.

He stated on Australia’s The Morning Show that it was almost certainly true, as lawyers were involved and one could face legal consequences for fabricating it.

Springer explained that his visitors were sincere, yet they frequently acted excessively due to the program’s boisterous environment.

In this scenario, what was genuine were the circumstances. However, the responses or emotions displayed were amplified or exaggerated. This is because the crowd was shouting, “Jerry, Jerry!”, as he pointed out.

As a lifestyle expert, I can tell you that I’ve watched that particular show a hundred times over. Yet, it’s intriguing to ponder if the same individuals appearing on Oprah might have exhibited flawless behavior each time, just as predictable as the rising and setting of the sun.

When they attended our performance, it seemed as if they were already familiar with the routine and conducted themselves accordingly.

The long-running, boisterous talk show first aired in September 1991 and reached its height during the late 90s. It continued for almost 4,000 episodes before it ended.

1998 saw Ringmaster become a hit, with Springer playing the lead role in a movie of the same name, inspired by a sensational TV show.

Looking back at his achievements, Springer commented: “That performance was wildly entertaining for three decades! It’s clear that many people found it enjoyable too.

To be honest, I didn’t initially perceive it as having much positive societal impact. It doesn’t pose any direct harm, but it’s not exactly the path to personal growth and enlightenment, if you catch my drift.

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2025-01-23 15:36

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