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Jerry Springer has been lying low since the latest episodes of his show were yanked from syndication by a nervous Studios USA. Now it looks like he may jump ship to British television, where they aren't afraid to handle risque topics, such as marrying your horse, and the whole bare-knuckle, down and dirty, gossip talk show format.

In Chicago, where the Jerry Springer show is produced, they are practically running the talk show host out of town. The city council dragged him in last Friday, and demanded to know whether the violence that occurs on his show on a regular basis is real. If the guests are really beating each other up, the council wants them hauled off to jail. On the other hand, if the violence is fake, they want to compel the show to obtain a city entertainment license. Under intense grilling, Springer refused to answer harassing questions about his salary and his studio. "You're not my boss," he told a city council member. The public audience applauded when he objected to questioning.

Meanwhile, in England, hardcore Jerry Springer episodes continue to air. In May, the British Independent Television Commission (ITC), which censors British television, dismissed all complaints about the show.

Back in December of last year, we reported that a Jerry Springer show entitled, "I Married a Horse" was canceled in the US., because it was considered too racy by the network, and British television snatched the topic away, running their own breakthrough special about bestiality, featuring the exact same guests -- a guy from Missouri, and his 22-year-old mare named Pixel (see: "UK Takes Lead In Bestiality" below). Considering that the English government is so accommodating to Springer, and the topics of his show, is it any wonder that he has been spending considerable time across the pond this year?

In March he addressed the Oxford Union at Oxford University. "My show is a crazy, crazy show...." he told students. He also passionately defended his guests. "Just because they do not talk properly, have not been to Oxford and do not have qualifications, it doesn't mean they are trash."

In April, he was the guest host on "This Morning," a British morning show, where he dropped hints about doing a project for British television. "I love it here.," he told the BBC, "I'm going to do something if I can and it fits in with my show in the States."

Related Links

BBC: Springer grilled over fist fights
B BC: Springer presents UK TV show
BBC: Springer defends 'TV's silliest show'
Pigdog: UK Takes Lead in Bestiality
The Jerry Springer Show Web site

sadist@pigdog.org