All these media websites chasing engagement metrics, chasing TV ratings is the 90s equivalent, and the Jerry Springer show is what you get.

Talks shows and COPS largely preyed on the post-industrial American working class, bereft of opportunity, and gave the mass of socially conservative, a band that crosses party lines, an anchor for their anxiety of the growing plurality of identity.

> Ivy League, wealthy throne

Jerry Springer was born during WWII in London subway station that had been converted to a bomb shelter, to Jewish refugees fleeing Nazis in Poland. He claimed 27 members of his family were killed by Nazis.

Your opinion of his show and his contributions to the culture are yours, and are valid. But to group him into some ivory tower, privileged, "insider" class is disingenuous. His start was about as difficult as any -- fleeing the real, 6-million-Jews-killed Nazis (not today's tv-news "these people we don't like are Nazis"), no wealth or connections, immigrating to a new country. His success (and downfall) in politics was purely his own. Further success in news and then his TV show were again, his own making. He attended good colleges, indeed, but not any Ivy League schools, and certainly not because he had alumni connections or big donations.

You're allowed to not like him, even despise him if you wish. But don't lie about his circumstances.