Subs run from gentler era

By Rebecca Finkel

    America’s couch potatoes are watching a tamer Jerry Springer today.
    Under mounting criticism over the show’s brawling, Studios USA, distributor of ‘’The Jerry Springer Show,’’ yanked this week’s segments and replaced them with reruns from an era when the daytime talk show host offered less crowd-provoking fare. And this during the last days of May sweeps.
     Shows not to be seen: ''Sizzling lesbian sex scandals,'' ''My daughter wants to be an adult film star,’’ and ''Guess what, I'm bisexual.''
     ‘’The episodes were pulled for content,’’ says a spokesman for the show. Neither the show nor USA Networks will say how long reruns will be substituted.
     What’s a talkshow host to do? Brawling guests drive up ratings, which pleases the suits. Then Congress comes acalling and the suits turn anxious.
     This latest incident  appears to have arisen from a congressional investigation into allegations that the entertainment industry markets violence to children. But not far in the background is the horror and violence of the teen shootings at Colorado’s Columbine High School and more recently in Georgia.
     But of course the controversy over Springer’s show antics go back much further. About this time last year, Barry Diller, chairman of USA Networks, promised violence would be cut from the show. Springer complained publicly, airing his disappointment on shock jock Howard Stern's radio show. The toning down lasted only briefly. When ratings fell the chair smashing and hair pulling were back in full swing.
     Rev. Michael Pfleger, a minister in Chicago, where the show is produced, led the anti-Springer campaign in 1998, and he's at the forefront of the most recent effort. Pfleger has written to Chicago police demanding that police arrest guests who turn violent on the Springer show.
      ''Springer says these are real circumstances, so there should be real life consequences,’’ Pfleger told a Media Life reporter. ‘’If you hit someone on the streets of Chicago, then you get arrested. That is why we set up a hearing with legal experts, law professors and other people. The result was that Jerry Springer has to appear before the police and fire department committee next month. If it's real like he says, then arrests should be made. If not, then he needs to file for an entertainment permit and admit he's lied and it's fake.''
      Springer has insisted the show teaches the futility of fighting. No one has ever quite believed him. Says Pfleger: ‘’We've always contended you can't legitimize and confirm violent behavior and not share in the responsibility of teaching violence as normal behavior.''    
      In the past, Springer spokespeople responded to such criticism by stating that viewers could change the channel. The show's TV-14 content rating and voluntary disclaimer got them out of trouble.
     The tide seems to be turning, though, and not in the show’s favor. Whether it will turn back is anyone’s guess. Ultimately, it seems, USA Networks executives will have to choose whether they’d rather appease Washington or fight the good fight to stay up with Oprah.