Violence Isn't Staged, Jerry Springer Tells Chicago City Council

CHICAGO - Talk-show host Jerry Springer appeared today at a Chicago City Council hearing, telling aldermen he knew little about the business arrangements behind his show and declining to disclose his salary. He said the "roughhousing" wasn't staged but should not be equated with a common street fight.

Alderman Edward Burke, a former policeman, called the hearing of the Police and Fire Committee. He said that if the fistfights, chair throwing and hair pulling on the controversial show are genuine, Chicago police should enforce the law, handcuff the guests and haul them off to jail.

If it's staged, Burke suggested, "The Jerry Springer Show" should be required to obtain a city entertainment license. The nationally syndicated show is taped in Chicago.

As the hearing got under way, some in the audience applauded Springer, a former mayor of Cincinnati, when he objected to some questioning, such as that about his salary.

"Why would you get into that? That's none of your business," Springer told Burke. "If you want some money, I'll loan you some.

"I don't work for you, sir," Springer said.

Burke had threatened to issue a subpoena, but Springer appeared voluntarily. He said he was polite enough to show up when he heard about the hearing, even though the alderman hadn't called him to invite him.

Asked if the violence on his show was staged or real, Springer responded, "It looks real to me." He said there may have been some staged incidents throughout the years, but "overwhelmingly, the show is real." He said the show attempted to portray any violence in a negative light.

Security on the show is provided by off-duty Chicago police officers. Burke says those officers are required by state statute to make arrests if they see violations of the law.

Springer said it would be up to the officer as to what might merit arrest, adding, "When people are roughhousing, most of the time we don't take them to jail."

The public gallery was filled with dozens of Springer supporters who applauded frequently. Alderwoman Dorothy Tillman told the gallery that they would be ejected from the meeting if the applause continued. However, it did little to quiet observers.

Springer agreed to eliminate the fighting on his show after numerous protests last year, but the scuffles returned when the show's ratings suffered.