It was some time last summer that the announcement was made that NBC’s syndicated trashy talk TV trio — Jerry Springer, Maury Povich and Steve Wilkos — would move their sets from Chicago to my current city of Stamford. It was my first foray back into journalism after being laid off and I was sent to go cover the welcome party NBC and the City of Stamford were throwing for the trio. All went well that evening; there were no obscenities, flying punches or exposed body parts. These three men seemed by all accounts, off-stage, normal.

Fast-forward a year to Monday evening. It was only then did I remember who these guys actually were and that they and their interviewees were anything but. My sister’s name was drawn out of a hat for tickets to a taping of the Steve Wilkos Show — the one she deems the “most intellectually stimulating” because it talks about “serious issues.” Only, we get to the taping and turns out it’s not Steve we’re seeing, it’s the king of trashy TV himself, Jerry Springer. Production assistants rush us on set and into our seats in the audience where we’re provided with a small list of ground rules:

1. Don’t flash anyone until the comments section.
   
2. If you plan on flashing, you must do a 360 so the whole audience can see.
3. Chant JERRY as loud as you can, but only on cue.
4. The more noise you make, the wilder the storylines usually turn.
5. Don’t curse on camera. Leave it for the show subjects.

Aside from those mind-baffling rules, the 20-somethings in the audience were given a pretty free reign of what they wanted to do and say. The show (and its subject) was a usual Jerry Springer theme. The three storylines included one-night stands, threesomes and a transgender surprise. It was crass, full of fighting, hair pulling, fist-pumping, exposed body parts and cursing. In between sets, Springer interacts with the audience and actually does some pretty funny stand-up.

I have to say, if you live in Stamford or are in the New York/Connecticut border, it’s something you should go see at least once. Not only is it a FREE way to spend an evening out, but it’s a live studio taping, which is actually pretty cool (despite the shows that are taping). The whole taping lasted a little over an hour; just in time to make a night of it and head out for some drinks if you’re in town afterwards. It’s mindless entertainment and while you may feel like you need to shower the dirtbag off of you after it’s over, it really is a different way to spend a fun evening out with friends.