I want the show to demonstrate outrageousness,” Jerry Springer, the late host of the eponymous talk show, once said.

Luke Sewell spoke about the complex legacy of the notorious talk show, which both coarsened American culture and affirmed the values of free speech.

Fights, Camera, Action, out Jan. 7 on Netflix, former producers reveal what went into creating the show and how they primed guests for those fights. Springer died in 2023, and none of them have a bad word to say about him.

Springer appears in the documentary through old footage, but former producers detail the "circus" of "The Jerry Springer Show." Start the day smarter. Get all the news you need in your inbox each morning.