Maury Povich says he and Jerry Springer weren't 'nice buddies' however 'understood one another': 'He by no means pretended to be anything however what he was'

• Maury Povich and Jerry Springer had a friendship regardless of being speak present rivals.
• Povich informed the “Immediately” present Friday that he and Springer “understood one another.”
• Springer died at 79 on Thursday from pancreatic most cancers. 

Regardless of being speak present rivals within the Nineties, Maury Povich and Jerry Springer had a friendship.

“I am not saying that we have been nice buddies away from the enterprise, however I feel we understood one another,” Povich informed the “Immediately” present Friday. “He at all times mentioned, ‘The distinction between my present and your present, Maury, is that you are the actual deal, and I am the deal.’ And I mentioned, ‘No, Jerry, you are your personal deal.’ In order that’s the best way we had it.”

Springer, who died at 79 from pancreatic most cancers on Thursday, was finest identified for his present’s outrageous antics and did not deny his fame, based on Povich. 

“He was very sincere about his present,” Povich mentioned. “I mentioned, Jerry, your present is like wrestling.’ He says, ‘Yup, it is like WWE.’ He was there; he by no means pretended to be anything however what he was.”

“The Jerry Springer Present” premiered in 1991 and ran for 27 seasons earlier than ending in 2018. It usually highlighted real-life relationship drama that led to bodily altercations between the present’s company. 

The present was usually criticized for its content material; even Springer wasn’t a fan. 

“I might by no means watch my present. I am not thinking about it. It isn’t aimed in the direction of me. That is only a foolish present,” Springer informed Reuters in 2000. 

5 months earlier than his loss of life, Springer joked about his destiny, given his present’s fame. 

“I simply hope hell is not that sizzling as a result of I burn actual straightforward. I am very light-complected, and that type of worries me,” Springer mentioned on the “Behind the Velvet Rope” podcast in November 2022.

Povich’s present, “Maury,” of an analogous format, additionally debuted in 1991 and resulted in September 2022 after 31 seasons. 

Povich known as Springer a “sweetheart” through the “Immediately” interview and acknowledged his affect on widespread tradition.

“Everyone had a sense about Jerry,” Povich mentioned. “There was an opera after Jerry Springer. He penetrated loads in our tradition. It’s a must to perceive within the Nineties, it was the golden age of daytime speak reveals,” Povich added. 

Povich then named a few of their friends within the “golden age” of daytime speak, like Sally Jesse Raphael, Geraldo Rivera, and Jenny Jones.

Povich paid tribute to Springer on Instagram Thursday with an image of himself, Springer, and Steve Wilkos, one other speak present host. Wilkos was beforehand a bodyguard on Springer’s present.

“I am going to miss you, my buddy,” Povich captioned the publish.