How much do you think Maury and Springer use actors?

And why and I watching this nonsense?

I read that the people are real, or at least pass themselves off as real, but that they are definitely coached on how to behave (“if person X reveals ____, you’re going to really angry right?”). This was years ago, I don’t know how the show has degenerated since the 90’s. (hard to imagine it being worse than it was 10 years ago)

@FutureMemory ; Okay, so the people are taught how to act (and probably what to say) so the ratings will stay high… or whatever they are.

The shows are obviously staged. If they are actors, they are terrible actors.

Sometimes I think people want it to be staged because they want to think people couldn’t be that stupid, but I think they can. Either way, I have no idea. I don’t know anyone who works on the show and I have no personal experience with the show. Anything I would say would be pure guesswork.

I remember a Jerry Springer ‘MTV spring break marathon’ thing with a love triangle scenario that was extremely convincing. Later It was revealed the people involved were just friends trying to pull one over on the show.

I had no idea they were still on! Wow.

They’re not actors, sadly enough. The way these shows work is very carefully orchestrated to maximize the explosive anger, both by careful selection of the “guests” and by some careful stage management backstage.

Essentially, when you’re backstage as the “evil angry person” what you see and hear (and get to eat/where you sit, etc.) is very carefully controlled so that you are as angry (or whatever they need) as possible.

some are indeed fringe actors. Justin Roberts who does alot of pro wrestling announcing and is a current WWE ring announcer used to appear as a “guest” on Springer.