The graduates at Northwestern Law School have their panties all in a bunch because Jerry Springer is going to speak at their commencement. He has been invited because he's an alum (1968) and because of his past in politics, not his present persona.I recently heard a story on This American Life about Jerry Springer that changed my mind about him (Episode #258: Leaving the Fold). As you all probably know, he was a on the city council in Cincinnati until he resigned for getting busted with prostitutes across the river in Kentucky. Stupid Jerry wrote a check for his romp. But, after that disgrace? He made a major comeback. He won another term on city council and then he was elected mayor of Cincinnati. Then he spent ten years anchoring the local news. Before he became the King of Trash TV, he was an inspirational politician and respected news anchor.
After they get past their chants of "Jerry! Jerry! Jerry!" and their booing, the graduates at Northwestern Law School will probably be treated to one hell of a memorable speech.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
4-27-2008 @ 11:02AM
mj said...
Jerry is one smart guy. I grew up listening to him on the radio. He was awesome. Talk radio WAS Jerry, back home. Jerry on TV is nothing like the real guy. You'd like him.
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4-27-2008 @ 11:12AM
Cincinnati Mike said...
"He won another term on city council and then he was elected mayor of Cincinnati."
You hear this a lot. But in those days, being "elected"
mayor simply meant being the top vote-getter out of the
15 or so people running for 9 council seats. Meaning you got to bang the gavel--it placed you slightly above the other 8. Certainly, it's an achievement, but hardly a sign of overwhelming support.
But yes, people of all stripes had a certain respect for Jerry. He didn't try to pull any victim bullshit about the prostitute...he took his lumps. And he was truly THE face of Cincinnati news. But that was a MILLION years ago.
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4-27-2008 @ 12:58PM
Dave said...
Any academic citadel, especially a law school, who invites Jerry Springer to address its students, should have its license to operate revoked. I am an attorney and longtime resident of Cincinnati, and I want to tell you, Springer's stint as mayor of this great city undermined its good reputation and was, in essence, a disgrace. Springer, due to his inane antics---one in particular vigorously protesting the visit of then President Gerald Ford---cost the city of Cincinnati millions and millions of dollars in revenue because offended, outraged corporations refused to hold conventions and other events here. His shameful conduct also have a dramatic effect on tourism. He then tried to charade as a legitimate journalist in Chicago, which led to the resignation of true journalists in protest of the farce.
Jerry Springer is the epitome of bad taste and everything that is wrong with America.
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