Dan Gross: Jerry Springer's not a TV fan

IT HAPPENS everywhere he goes.

"Jer-ry! Jer-ry! Jer-ry!"

Jerry Springer was greeted with that cheer, heard daily on his self-described "circus" of a talk show, as he strolled into XIX at the Bellevue yesterday. We chatted with Springer as he enjoyed a cheeseburger and fries hours before he lectured at West Chester University about the effects of TV on pop culture.

Springer says he's "a regular schlub who got lucky" and "wouldn't watch" his own show.

"I get it. I get why it's entertaining. But I'm 64 years old. If I were in college, I would probably like it," he says.

A former mayor of Cincinnati, Springer is about to host another season of NBC's "America's Got Talent," but says he's not a big television fan.

Mostly, he says, he watches sports and cable news, professing his addiction to the MSNBC shows of Nicetown native Chris Matthews and Keith Olbermann.

Springer says the only rule on his show is that the topic has to be outrageous. "We can't do an uplifting story," he says. "If somebody calls with a sweet story about grandparents raising their grandkids, we have to refer them to another show." Springer says his show, with "no redeeming social value," is not where to go "if you have a problem and need help . . . People come on our show to get attention they don't have in their regular lives."

We asked Springer, who spent the night at the Bellevue's Park Hyatt hotel, if any topics in the show's 17-year history stuck in his mind as shocking.

"You can't be a grown-up in today's world and be shocked by anything anymore," he says. "In my lifetime we've had a Holocaust, a presidential assassination, 9/11, outrageous violence on a daily basis."

Springer, who is a longtime Hillary Clinton supporter and contributor, hasn't ruled out running for office again someday. He'd do it in Ohio. "That's where my base is."

Husbands off-limits at NBC 10

NBC 10 reporter Monique Braxton just returned from a weeklong off-air suspension.

Braxton, sources say, had been suspended for making calls and inquiries about the criminal case of Steve DiDonato, of Lower Salford Township, who happens to be the husband of NBC 10 Managing Editor Lisa Spinosa.

Last month a judge sentenced DiDonato, 47, to a probation-like program over charges that DiDonato set a fire in January 2006, outside a Lehigh Valley bar. The fire was set to distract police from the fact that he was about to get in his car and drive under the influence, Debbie Garlicki of the Allentown Morning Call reported. DiDonato was not arrested until seven months after the blaze, which he allegedly drove through.

We're told Braxton was paid during her suspension, and also made personal appearances, but was not reporting for NBC 10. She did not return calls from us about the suspension. Our call to Spinosa was referred to an NBC 10 spokeswoman who offered no comment.

CBS 3 adds two local faces

Ambler native Elizabeth Hur started yesterday at CBS3 as a general-assignment reporter. The Upper Dublin High and New York University grad previously worked in New York, Salt Lake City and Albany. Hur is fluent in Korean and once interned at Channel 3.

Ben Simmoneau, of Lancaster's WGAL, will be coming to CBS3, reports Scott Jones at FTVLive.com. A station spokeswoman confirms he'll start at the station in mid-April. Simmoneau's agent Dave Frankel, formerly of CBS3 himself, says Simmoneau was raised in Spring City, Chester County, and graduated from Spring-Ford High.

WIP staff to yell at one another

In the spirit of election season, most of 610 WIP's roster will hold the "Great Debate '08" from noon to 1:30 p.m. Saturday at Chickie's & Pete's (1526 Packer).

The free public gathering, moderated by WIP's Glen Macnow, will be about the Eagles.

WIP hosts including Angelo Cataldi, Howard Eskin, Rhea Hughes, Anthony Gargano, Steve Martorano, and former Iggles Ike Reese and Hugh Douglas will participate. Representing the Eagles is Dave Spadaro, who runs the team's Web site. *

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