New Netflix documentary to look behind the scenes at The Jerry Springer Show

A new Netflix documentary is to give a behind-the-scenes look at The Jerry Springer Show.

The two-part series, Jerry Springer: Fights, Camera, Action, will look at the talk show’s rise, which saw it become the first to knock Oprah Winfrey off the top of the ratings chart, and behind-the-scenes controversies over its authenticity and on-stage fights.

In the trailer for the documentary, Springer, who died after a brief illness in April 2023, can be heard saying: “I’d like to take this opportunity to apologise for everything I’ve ever done, I have ruined the culture.”

A voiceover adds: “The bigger that show got, it raised questions about what really went on backstage.”

During the trailer, former guests say producers were “coaching us on what to say and how to act” and claim they “weren’t interested in what kind of impact it was going to have on you”.

Other insiders can be heard saying: “Teeth were knocked out. It really was the modern version of the Roman Colosseum.”

Reminiscent of the UK’s The Jeremy Kyle Show and described as the “anti-Oprah”, the tabloid-style programme courted controversy for its outrageous personal drama, which included swearing and nudity.

Its most memorable episodes tackled issues including infidelity and incest and featured titles such as I Married a Horse and I’m Happy I Cut Off My Legs.

What began as a relatively traditional format in the early-1990s, dealing with political issues including homelessness and gun ownership, transformed in early 1994 when Springer and his new producer, Richard Dominick, revamped the format in a bid to boost ratings.

The documentary will be released on Netflix on Tuesday January 7 2025.