Jerry Springer

It has been so much fun telling my Jerry Springer story. Yes, I am talking about the man who has become an American icon as the host of the pop culture “Jerry Springer Show", and as of yesterday has made his Broadway debut as the lead in the long running play "Chicago".

It all started a few years back from an interview with Jerry Springer that was in the New Orleans newspaper, The Times Picayune. My husband and I have lived in Atlanta for the past twenty years: about ten years ago, my sister Sandra called me from New Orleans, my hometown to say that my name, my maiden name, was in the Times Picayune that day. The article was on Jerry Springer who was in New Orleans being interviewed about his college days at Tulane. Among the questions asked him were, “Do you remember any girls you dated during your days at Tulane?” Lo and behold, he named two girls and one of them was me!

Currently, he was the emcee of “America’s Got Talent” and he and the judges of the show were coming to Atlanta to audition talent for the next season. When I heard he was coming, I decided to email him thru the “fan” email address for the Jerry Springer Show, knowing full well this was a shot in the dark. I wrote that if he had remembered my name after forty years that possibly he might like to join my husband and I for dinner during his visit to Atlanta.

He actually called! My husband Steve and I took him to the restaurant, Hal’s on Old Ivy. Hal, not only is a New Orleans native but, is my ex husband. We all are friends and I knew Jerry would be comfortable there. (This night could have been a real “Jerry Springer Show”!) Of course it wasn’t: it was great fun and Hal graciously picked up the bill.

Jerry told me he had had a crush on me, but never really asked me out….but always remembered my name.

I must say our dinner together was very special. He was amazingly kind and charming and totally a down to earth real human being. Well.... he is coming back in a couple of weeks. "Chicago" will be playing in Atlanta and he called and we will get together. Gosh where will I take him this time?