Tribune Developing Weekend Hour Starring Springer, Cunningham

Hosts would face off from across political spectrum

By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 1/21/2010 4:14:36 PM

With an eye toward getting back into producing original programming, Tribune is developing a syndicated one-hour weekend program that would feature two talk-show hosts on either side of the political spectrum: Jerry Springer on the left and Bill Cunningham on the right. 

Tribune produced the pilot, which has aired a few times on select Tribune stations over the past two weeks. Cunningham wasted no time in getting controversial, declaring that "there are no dirt poor people in America," immediately grabbing the attention of various political bloggers.

Springer and Cunningham are a natural fit for Tribune. Sean Compton, Tribune's senior VP of programming and entertainment, formerly headed Clear Channel's programming efforts, and his boss both at Clear Channel and at Tribune is Randy Michaels, Tribune's CEO. One of Cunningham's radio programs, Live on Sunday Night, It's Bill Cunningham, is syndicated through Clear Channel's wholly-owned Premiere Radio Networks. Cunningham also hosts The Big Show with Bill Cunningham, a local program on WLW-AM Cincinnati, and frequently guests on Fox News' Hannity.

Springer has been the host of NBCU's The Jerry Springer Show since 1991. Tribune, which represents the show's key station group, renewed the program in November through 2012. While The Jerry Springer Show has often veered into tabloid territory, Springer himself has long been interested in politics, running for Congress in 1970 and serving on the Cincinnati City Council in the early 70s. He also served one year as the city's mayor in 1977. In 1982, he made a failed bid to be the Democratic nominee in the Ohio gubernatorial race. He considered a Senate run in 2003, but determined that his long run as host of the often controversial Springer show would prevent him from winning.

Tribune Broadcasting President Ed Wilson, was the president of NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution from 2000-04 and knows Springer well.

Should the show go forward for fall 2010, sources expect NBCU to be the distributor due to its existing TV contracts with Springer. NBCU did not confirm. "We do not comment on development," said a spokesperson.