Despite open letters to Hopkins protesting Jerry Springer's appearance on Wednesday's bill for the 2011 MSE Symposium Lecture Series, the politician-turned-entertainer was a confident, firm and often witty presence on stage.
But beyond the stage and before his speech, Springer's intimacy with the subject matter shined through, an emotional extension of political beliefs he had relayed to the Shriver Hall crowd.
Springer knows that some people don't approve of The Jerry Springer Show – and he doesn't necessarily care.
"Well the show is ridiculous, so they're exactly right, exploitative no. They missed the boat there," Springer said.
"But clearly, it shows a side of life that a lot of people don't want to see . . . If they're asking me do I think the show is stupid, yeah, I mean I wouldn't watch it."
Springer explained that the process of applying for the show couldn't be further from the exploitative nature that the letters around campus claimed the show to exhibit.
"You have to call us, you can't be on the show unless you call us. You get to say whatever you want, you get to wear a disguise, you can change your name and after the show's been taped if there's something you didn't like, you can have it erased. You get full editorial control.
"Who are we to say that because you are, say, of a lower income or less education that you can't have your piece, when we can go on The Tonight Show and have some movie star talk about everyone they've slept with and we cheer and can't wait to see their next movie," Springer said.
Springer articulated that the stories he presents on his show, although presented ridiculously, are in fact true and confirmed by lawyers assigned to his show.
He specifically referenced the shows Keeping up with the Kardashians and Desperate Housewives when discussing what he considers the apparent social divide that spawns the presented criticism of his show.
"Those shows are very popular, but those shows don't get the protests because those people are better looking. There is kind of an elitism to say well as long as they're pretty, it doesn't matter . . . they can do whatever they want," Springer said.
"I don't think we're any better than the people on our show, we're just luckier. Maybe we did better in the gene pool of parents, maybe we had a better brain, maybe we had a break in life, but we're not better than they are. They want to be happy too, they get angry when they're not, they cry when they're sad, I mean we're all alike."
Springer reiterated this issue of elitism in his speech through his political belief that the wealthy should pay more in taxes as their form of contribution to society. He believes that with job loss being forced upon the middle and lower classes of America, the fact that some are unwilling to raise taxes for those making $1 million or more is simply unpatriotic.
"If you can ask them to take a hit, I can take a hit," Springer said.
As far as The Jerry Springer Show, it was not Springer's idea or choice to create it. He remains modest about his other successes in life, bringing his political beliefs and personal life full-circle.
He believes that most of success in life is pure luck, which he connects to his sympathy and support of lower economic classes than himself.
"I never had any thought growing up ‘I want to be in show business,' you know. I don't have any talent. I mean, I think I'm reasonably bright and I'm a nice guy, but I'm not talented. No one would pick me out of a crowd and say ‘boy this guy's gonna sing and dance,'" Springer said while snapping his fingers.
Despite his strong political beliefs and interest in politics from a young age (as sparked by the Civil Rights Movement and anti-Vietnam War protests), Springer offered no interest in returning to his political career, one that included working with Bobby Kennedy before his assassination, serving on the Cincinatti City Council and also a term as Cincinatti's mayor.
"I never want politics to be my occupation, because then you compromise, you sell out. I want to make a living so that I can support my family, etc, but my politics is like religion: something that I believe in, something that I work at," Springer said.
"If you have to get re-elected to put food on the table you better compromise your positions because you have to get re-elected. That's where we start to get intellectual dishonesty in politics."
Springer does not expect this passion for politics to diminish with time, and even when speaking of his future, he took the subject on lightheartedly and modestly.
"I don't have much of a future, I'm 67," Springer said. "I hope it's not real short. I mean, I'll keep active politically as I am and as long as I'm healthy I'll go to work. I enjoy working.
"I'm so lucky and I realize that. I just get to do these real cool things and do political stuff. How did I get so lucky? Nothing I did deserves this great life."
While mostly serious in demeanor when explaining his political and social beliefs, spark and levity were not absent from the colorful character of Jerry Springer from either his speech or interview.
Above all, one wonders about the question on everyone's mind, the pressing issue we all cannot ignore for one moment longer: boxers or briefs?
"Uh, commando," Springer said, laughing. "No, boxers. You know, when you're 67, don't wear briefs." He paused for a moment. "No, wait, it's a speedo.
"It's not a pretty picture."
