In 1980 we got THE GONG SHOW MOVIE, and 18 years later RINGMASTER arrived. Just as the former film tried to dramatize THE GONG SHOW for the big screen, RINGMASTER attempted to make a movie about THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW (with a title that ties in with Springer’s similarly named 1998 memoir) and, unlike the former film, was almost good.
RINGMASTER (1998) Trailer
For those who don’t know, Jerry Springer (1944-2023) was a former Cincinnatti councilman and news anchor who in 1991 debuted THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW, a politically-oriented daytime talk show. In 1994 the program, faced with declining ratings, was revamped to focus on a younger, less politically savvy demographic; topics included “Your Sister Is Having My Baby,” “The Man Who Married A Horse” and “My Boyfriend Turned Out to Be A Girl,” with white trash guests who brawled and screamed, and often had to be restrained by security guards (one of whom, ex-cop Steve Wilkos, went on to get his own spin-off show). The JERRY SPRINGER SHOW continued in that vein until its 2007 cancellation, giving rise to what is now known as Trash TV, and making Springer the hands-down winner in American TV’s race to the bottom.
Beginning and ending with lengthy disclaimers stating that the proceedings are not directly affiliated with THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW (the program here is called, simply, JERRY!), the film commences with the Florida based trailer park resident Connie (Molly Hagan) contending with her daughter Angel (Jaime Pressly) schtupping Connie’s Hubbie Rusty (Michael Dudikoff). After getting revenge by seducing Angel’s fiancée Willie (Ashley Holbrook), Connie contacts the JERRY! show and is invited to be a participant.
Elsewhere, the black trash Starletta (Wendy Raquel Robinson) is dealing with the fact that her boyfriend Demond (Michael Jai White) is sleeping with her two best friends. All four get called to appear on JERRY!, joining Connie, Angel, Rusty and Willie in the studio for a taping scheduled the following day.
This group proves difficult to control, with Demond coming onto Angel in the studio and she reciprocating. This greatly upsets Starletta, who physically attacks Angel in a hallway, only to be restrained by Jerry himself, who urges her to “save it for the show!”
Later that night Rusty elects to decamp, leaving the “I Slept with My Stepfather” segment without one of its major players. This isn’t a problem, as during the taping Willie reveals to Starletta, who’s part of the studio audience, that Angel slept with Demond, setting off the type of drama for which JERRY! is known. At one point an audience member confronts Jerry about his show’s content, and he responds with a highly sanctimonious justification, claiming “This is a slice of American life, and if you don’t like it, bite something else!”
The evident model for RINGMASTER was the previous year’s PRIVATE PARTS, which dramatized the life of Howard Stern in a far more prestigious than expected manner. RINGMASTER’s producers made an attempt at respectability in their selection of Neil Abramson, whose indie drama WITHOUT AIR won him the “Most Promising Newcomer” award at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, as director.
Abramson graced RINGMASTER with an appropriately seedy air, bequeathed by handheld camerawork and a muted color scheme. That doesn’t excuse the bummer of a script, which is never as shocking or outrageous as it should be, especially since the film appeared at the inception of the late 90s-early 00s gross out comedy renaissance (with the much raunchier, and funnier, THERE’S SOMETHING ABOUT MARY beating it to release by several months).
Surprisingly, the acting on the whole is fairly strong. The fact that the characters look and feel like actual JERRY SPRINGER SHOW participants is a testament to the acting prowess of Jaime Pressly, who was largely unknown in 1998, and the more seasoned likes of Michael Jai White (THE DARK KNIGHT), Molly Hagan (ELECTION), Wendy Raquel Robinson (MISS CONGENIALITY) and former Cannon regular Michael Dudikoff.
One performance that fails to impress is that of Springer, who comes off as distant and unsympathetic. It appears we’re meant to emphasize with his having to deal with all the madness of his show, but it’s a madness he created; no wonder his climactic anti-elitism soliloquy is delivered with such a lack of conviction. Also featured is the one and only Jerry Springer movie sex scene, which Abramson (rightly) opposed but Springer insisted on including—and, unfortunately for the viewer, he won out.
Vital Statistics
RINGMASTER
Artisan Entertainment
Director: Neil Abramson
Producers: Gary W. Goldstein, Brad Jenkel, Gina Rugolo-Judd, Jerry Springer, Steve Stabler
Screenplay: Jon Bernstein
Cinematography: Russ Lyster
Editing: Suzanne Hines
Cast: Jerry Springer, Jaime Pressly, William McNamara, Molly Hagan, John Capodice, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Ashley Holbrook, Tangie Ambrose, Nickie Micheaux, Michael Jai White, Krista Tesreau, Dawn Maxey, Maximilliana, Michael Dudikoff