Jerry Springer is inviting people to come on down when he hosts “The Price Is Right LIVE!” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the F.M. Kirby Center in Wilkes-Barre. The stage show will give randomly-selected audience members a chance to win prizes — if the price is right.
We caught up with Springer before the show hits NEPA to find out what prizes will be up for grabs, how the touring show compares to the television show, and why he’s not allowed to run for president.
You already have a good gig going with “The Jerry Springer Show.” What excited you about “The Price Is Right LIVE!” to make you want to be involved with the show? I love being in front of an audience. I’m from the old school. That’s why I enjoyed doing “America’s Got Talent” and why I love my own show. I’m not part of the Hollywood scene. I’m most comfortable being around normal, regular people, and this gave me the chance to do that.
Your talk show audience can get pretty animated. So can the audience on “The Price Is Right.” How would you compare audiences? Well, when people are on my show, they’re usually angry about something. Maybe they were cheated on or something. When they come to “The Price Is Right LIVE!” they’re happy. They’re ready to be entertained and win prizes.
What prizes can contestants win? Are they watered-down prizes because it’s not seen on television? You can win the same prizes you can win on the TV show. You can win cars, refrigerators, trips to Hawaii or Vegas. Everything will be like the TV show, except there’s no commercials, so there’s time for me to be more interactive with the audience.
The TV show has been running since 1972. Why do you think it still appeals to audiences? Normally, in a quiz show, there’s going to be a subject matter that contestants won’t feel they’re qualified for, like science, maybe. When it comes to “The Price Is Right,” everybody is an expert. Everybody shops. They see an item up there, and they’re like, ‘I know what that costs.’ Everybody feels they belong.
Before you were a well-known host, you were the mayor of Cincinnati. Let’s talk about politics for a moment. In your political opinion, would Donald Trump make a good president? No. I have nothing against him personally. I worked for him, actually, when I hosted Miss Universe. I just don’t think his slogan, “Make America Great Again,” makes any sense with his stand on immigration. Virtually 99.9 percent of America has another country in their blood. We shouldn’t build a wall. Communist countries used to have walls. If you want to be president, you have to understand the symbol of America is the Statue of Liberty, not a wall.
You should run for president. Could we ever expect to see Springer campaigning to be commander in chief? I can’t. I was born in England. I left when I was five because I found out I couldn’t be king. Then I come here and find out I can’t be president. But if I could run for president, you’d have Springer against Trump. You’d have to put a wall up, because people would want to leave.
