Anyone know? It's been rumored for years to be fake with their crazy guests. And, it seems the show over the last few years barely takes itself seriously which sinks it even lower into the unbelievable category.

Anyone know for sure or is it just pure speculation regardless?

It was not when I worked there. We even sued guests who we later learned made their story up.

Company had different owners then though, don't know if same rule apply with current owner/syndicator.

--GuessWho, "The Jerry Springer Show" staff member, 1995

Umm, yes and FWIW wrestling is fake too

I know personally of one couple who were invited on because they run a pr0n (nude) site (the wife is the featured attraction, and the husband does the web stuff). When they got to the set, the Springer people gave them a whole scenario for them to act out, basically that the husband was to pretend that he didn't want his wife in this kind of work, and she wasn't going to quit, etc. So, yes, the whole drama was scripted, but the players were "real" (at least in this case).

I'll consent to that point. The people and situations are real, though we did cheerlead them backstage to make them more lively....

at least wwe is still real

I'd say it is real because down here in Sarasota, some woman killed her husband after he took her on there.

Less rednecks in wrestling though.

Are you sure about that?

Jerry Springer is scripted. A good friend of mine wen there and said the people just sat calmly throughout commercials...

For what it's worth, a theater friend of mine was on the show three years ago. He came up with his story by the help of a few friends - they were invited to the show and they acted it out. Before the show, Jerry Springer actually gave them a few plot twists that he thought would be fun to add to their story. He knew it was fake just as much as they did, so I'd say it's at least fake - if not scripted.

I swear to God, when I was an employee 7 years ago (again, different company produced the show), the situations were all real even if the way they were acted out was staged.

I'll explain.

We had this couple on and the husband was cheating on the wife with a neighbor woman. The guy is sitting in the middle with one woman on each side of him.

The wife pulled a handful of condoms out of her purse and yelled "Next time you *beep" behind my back, use these!!" and she threw the condom's in hubby's face.

The husband was real
The wife was real
The neighbor was real
The husband was really cheating on his wife with the neighbor

Throwing condoms at the guy was..... a producer's idea.

I do believe that often they are real, and that they always used to be very real. I'm not sure if now they let ideas turn to part fantasy or if it is just because people want to be on the show. The guy I spoke of, Michael, wanted to have a free trip to Chicago, and he wanted to be on Springer. He developed his story to achieve that end and was told some theatrics he could put on. The show probably took his word that he wasn't lying. I think the guests on the show were required to sign forms saying it is a true story.