Page "Edward M. Burke" Paragraph 30

In April 1999 activist Roman Catholic priest Michael Pfleger, pastor of St. Sabina parish in Chicago's Auburn Gresham neighborhood, wrote a letter to Chicago Police Superintendent Terry Hilliard complaining of the glorification of violence on The Jerry Springer Show, the nation's most popular television show, which was produced in Chicago.

Burke showed about ten minutes of clips from show at the April 28, 1999 meeting of the City Council's Police and Fire Committee and convinced aldermen to invite, under threat of subpeona, show host Jerry Springer to testify under oath as to whether the violence on the show was genuine or scripted.

If scripted, Burke proposed to force the show to obtain a city entertainment license, and, if genuine, Burke proposed that the off-duty Chicago policemen providing security at the show arrest fighting guests on the set.

The hearing attracted more than 21 television news crews from around the country, including Court TV, MSNBC, Fox News, a film crew from The Jerry Springer Show, dozens of print reporters, and about 75 of Springer's cheering fans.

It was more than an hour into the three-hour hearing before any of the aldermen actually asked Springer if the violence was staged.

Burke was Springer's chief questioner.

Springer spent most of his time sparring with Burke.

Springer easily handled the inquiry.