Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | Run Jerry Run | 8
30/04/2026 | 43 mins.
While Springer plays the ringmaster on his show, deep down he dreams of returning to political life. By the early 2000s, he seems ready to make a comeback. While some seem eager to welcome his brand of progressive politics, it’s unclear if voters can reconcile Springer’s serious side with the man they know from the show. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | Dog and Pony Show | 7
30/04/2026 | 46 mins.
Springer’s willingness to push the boundaries of what’s allowed on television – and the increasing amount of fighting on screen – put the show under a microscope. Springer and the show’s staff stand firm as accusations of violence, moral debasement, and fakery abound. In the process, Springer becomes a world-famous superstar – but what has he lost along the way? See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | Plausible Deniability | 6
23/04/2026 | 56 mins.
By the mid-1990s, The Jerry Springer Show had made a name for itself by embracing the messy and unbelievable aspects of people’s personal lives. As ratings soar, producers scramble to make shocking episodes that will live up studio executives’ highest expectations – and Springer’s guests are caught in the crossfire. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer | The Straight Man | 5
23/04/2026 | 38 mins.
As his success on the nightly news in Cincinnati lands him his very own show, Springer struggles to stand out from the crowded field of daytime talk… until one strong-willed producer encourages him to take the show in a new direction. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Final Thoughts | Camera Ready | 4
16/04/2026 | 32 mins.
Springer makes his most ambitious political move yet. And while his work on the campaign trail may not deliver him to the governor’s office, he finds his stride in another arena: television. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Leon Neyfakh is a journalist and podcaster best known as the co-creator and host of Slow Burn, Fiasco, and Backfired. He has been a reporter for Slate, The Boston Globe, and The New York Observer and is the author of the book The Next Next Level. Listen to his newest podcasts here. Season 2: Final Thoughts: Jerry SpringerJerry Springer wasn’t supposed to become the host of The Jerry Springer Show. Before the chairs started flying and the fights became a daytime TV staple, the man then known as Gerald Springer was an idealistic rising star in Democratic politics, with ambitions to one day be elected governor of Ohio. From Leon Neyfakh and Prologue Projects — the team behind Slow Burn, Fiasco, Backfired, and Think Twice: Michael Jackson — comes Final Thoughts: Jerry Springer.You may think you know Springer, the notorious ringmaster of what TV Guide once called “the worst show in television history.” But long before Springer’s name became synonymous with outrageous guests, taboo confessions, and vicious on-stage brawls, he was the mayor of Cincinnati — a serious and popular politician who many believed was the future of the Democratic Party. So, what happened?This series traces Springer’s unlikely transformation — from the son of Jewish refugees who fled Nazi Germany, to a respected public servant, to the face of a show many called a symptom of cultural decline. Through intimate interviews with the people who knew him best — family, political insiders, and the producers who helped shape his show — Final Thoughts will bring you closer than ever to the man behind the spectacle, and maybe even cause you to rethink some of your own life choices.Final Thoughts isn’t just a story about one man’s improbable career path. It’s about how far someone can go for success and what they’re willing to trade to stay on top. Was Springer pulled into the gutter, or did he just understand it better than anyone else? Season 1: Think Twice: Michael JacksonMore than a decade since Michael Jackson’s death, his legacy remains complicated and unresolved. Think Twice: Michael Jackson is an exploration of the King of Pop’s life and impact — and an investigation into why his global influence continues to endure, despite the disturbing allegations against him. In this ten-part series, journalists Leon Neyfakh and Jay Smooth bring you a new perspective on the Michael Jackson story, based on dozens of original interviews with people who watched it unfold from up close.
UK