Jerry Springer’s last interview: What he would tell God on ‘judgement day’

Jerry Springer hinted at his ailing health in his last ever Australian interview before dying from pancreatic cancer at age 79 on Thursday. 

The iconic talk show host, best known for his controversial program The Jerry Springer Show, last appeared on Australian television in February during an interview with Channel Seven’s The Morning Show. 

Following a discussion about his latest projects, host Kylie Gillies casually quizzed Springer on his plans for retirement. 

Springer, who never spoke publicly about his terminal cancer battle, hinted that his life may end before he has a chance to retire. 

‘I think God may [have plans for when I retire], and so I hope he’s OK with me,’ said Springer. 

‘I figured when my judgment day comes, my closing argument [to God] when he’s ready to decide where to send me [is]… ‘Oh, remember my final thought?’ I hope that my final thought is the one that can speak to character.’ 

When asked what his final thought would be, Springer solemnly responded: ‘Take care of yourself and each other’.

Co-host Larry Emdur lightened the mood by joking Springer’s message ‘wasn’t enough’ to get him into heaven, sending the American media personality into a fit of laughter. 

Speaking to Channel Seven’s The Morning Show in February, Springer hinted that his life may end before he has a chance to retire

‘I figured when my judgment day comes, my closing argument [to God] when he’s ready to decide where to send me [is]… ‘Oh, remember my final thought?’ I hope that my final thought is the one that can speak to character,’ he said 

‘No, that doesn’t even open the door!’ Springer conceded with bemusement.

Just two months after this exchange, Springer’s family announced he had died ‘peacefully’ at his home in Chicago following a recent decline in health

Springer had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer months before he died. 

Elsewhere in his interview with The Morning Show, Springer expressed his desire to produce a show in Australia inspired by his now-defunct TV program Judge Jerry – a courtroom reality show inspired by Judge Judy. 

Springer also spoke at length about The Jerry Springer Show, revealing almost everything shown on screen was real. (Pictured: Jerry Spring presenting a 1998 episode titled ‘I am Pregnant by my Half-Brother’) 

‘I think I should do a judge show in Australia and just apply Australian law to it, so give me a call,’ he mused, adding with a laugh: ‘How’s that for trying to get employment?’ 

Springer also spoke at length about The Jerry Springer Show, revealing almost everything shown on screen was real. 

‘I’d say it was 98% real. In fact, the lawyers were involved, [so] you’d get sued if you made it up,’ he explained. 

Springer said his guests were completely genuine, but often behaved in an over-the-top-way because of the program’s rowdy atmosphere. 

‘The situations were truthful. What was embellished… was the reactions. Because you had the audience screaming, ‘Jerry, Jerry!” he said. 

‘They’d seen the show 100 times before. And so you could have the same people on Oprah and they would have behaved perfectly. It’s just that when they came to our show, they kind of knew the drill and they just behaved like that,’ he shrugged.   

The raucous talk show – which ran for nearly 4,000 episodes – began airing in September 1991 and peaked in the late 90s. 

The show was so popular that in 1998 Springer starred in a feature film called Ringmaster, based off the shocking program. 

Reflecting on his success, Springer said: ‘It was a crazy show. For 30 years and… it was enjoyable. Obviously there was an audience that enjoyed it.’ 

‘[But] I never thought it had any redeeming social value. I mean, it wouldn’t it wouldn’t hurt you, but it wouldn’t, you know, make you a better person either,’ he shrugged. 

His audience would cheer his name, as his outrageous guests would get into crazy fights – with many expletive-filled rants being bleeped out 

Springer noted his show did have one unintended redeeming quality – that it highlighted members of American society that were previously ignored by mainstream American television. 

‘Up until our show came along, American television was basically all upper class white. And all of a sudden… you saw people who weren’t wealthy, who weren’t rich, who weren’t famous, they were just regular people who had their own issues,’ he said.   

‘And we saw another side of America, which is a very real part, frankly, it’s a real part of every country and that was shocking,’ Springer added. 

The Jerry Springer was cancelled in 2018 after a whopping 27 seasons. 

The Jerry Springer was cancelled in 2018 after a whopping 27 seasons