Studio:
Unknown.
Production Company:
The Kushner-Locke Co.
Project Phase: In The Can.
Who's In It:
Jerry Springer (Jerry Farrelly); Michael Jai White; Michael Dudikoff; John Capodice; Jaime Pressly.
Who's Making It:
Neil Ambramson (Director); John Bernstein (Screenwriter);
Steve Stabler, Gary Goldstein, Brad Jenkel, Jerry Springer (Producers);
Brent Baum, Gina Rugolo-Judd (Executive Producers).
Premise: On the talkshow The Jerry Farrelly Show strange things have been known to happen between the bizarre guests. During on particular episode two highly dysfunctional groups decide to have it out with their loved ones on national television. That's the norm on Jerry's show, but when the guests meet each other backstage they end up in more trouble than when they started. (The movie is told from the point of view of two groups of guests -- how they get on the show and their interaction with the host. It follows a bunch of trailer-trash folks through the shooting of a typical Springer show. There's Connie, a gas-station cashier from Dade City, Fla.; her husband, Rusty; and her pregnant 19-year-old daughter, Angel, who, of course, tries to seduce Springer/Farrelly.)
Release Date: Unknown.
Comments: After Springer's Too Hot for TV videotape success proved people can't get enough of Jerry, gambling that people will pay to see a movie based on his talkshow doesn't seem that far-fetched. Expect a lot of fights, unexpected revelations and maybe even a serious moment or two...OK, we doubt that'll happen.
Rumors: Unknown.
Scoop Feedback:
[Page draft submitted by one of Jerry's former guests, 'Deadpool'. You mean to tell us that you didn't know it was your sister all along?!]
March 23, 1998... Daily Variety reports that in a rare example of a television talkshow personality receiving a big sum to cross over to features, Jerry Springer has agreed to tell all for producer Steve Stabler (Dumb and Dumber, Gang Related, Kingpin) in a pay-or-play deal worth $2 million. Financing and distribution is not yet set, although sources said that Stabler has held talks with both Universal (a majority stakeholder in Barry DillerÆs USA Networks, which produces the TV show) and MGM. Ratings for the bawdy and rough-house The Jerry Springer Show, which plays in national syndication, have been going through the roof. Earlier this month it became the first talkshow in 10 years to achieve higher ratings than Oprah. [Scoop provided by 'Deadpool'; originall appeared in Daily Variety.]
July 22, 1998... Variety reports that writer-director Neil Abramson has been tapped to direct the feature comedy about the behind-the-scenes histrionics of the "Jerry Springer Show," starring the controversial talk show personality himself. In March, producers struck a $2 million pay-or-play deal with Springer to star in the pic. While financing and distribution are not yet set, the film is slated to begin production next month in Los Angeles. Abramson's feature directing debut was the indie Without Air which screened at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival and earned him the most promising newcomer kudos at the Mannheim Film Festival. Abramson, a native of South Africa, first made a name for himself directing music videos for such acts as Dire Straits, UB40, Ricki Lee Jones, Dwight Yoakum and Siouxsie and the Banshees. [Scoop provided by 'Deadpool'; originally appeared in Variety.]