Geraldo (talk show)

Summary

Geraldo is an American first-run syndicated talk show hosted by journalist Geraldo Rivera. Taped in New York City, the show ran for eleven seasons from September 7, 1987 to June 12, 1998. The show's final two seasons aired under the title The Geraldo Rivera Show.

Geraldo
Also known as
  • Geraldo (1987–1996)
  • The Geraldo Rivera Show (1996–1998)
GenreTabloid talk show
Created byGeraldo Rivera[1]
Presented byGeraldo Rivera
Theme music composerAllan Schwartzberg
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons11
Production
Production locations
Camera setupMultiple
Running time40 minutes
Production companiesInvestigative News Group
Tribune Entertainment
Original release
NetworkSyndicated
ReleaseSeptember 7, 1987 (1987-09-07) –
June 12, 1998 (1998-06-12)

The series was a production of Investigative News Group and distributed by Tribune Entertainment. For its first three seasons, Paramount Domestic Television served as co-distributor. For its final two seasons, King World Productions assisted Tribune as co-distributor.

Controversy edit

On November 3, 1988, an episode involving white supremacists, Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice, black activists, and Jewish activists was aired. A confrontation between John Metzger (the son of Tom Metzger) and Roy Innis (in which Metzger goaded Innis by referring to him as "Uncle Tom") led to Innis walking over showing signs of aggression and forcefully grabbing Metzger by the neck after Metzger stood up, and subsequently, a full-scale brawl broke out. Audience members, several stage hands, and Rivera himself got involved. In the process, Rivera was struck in the face by a chair and wound up with a nasal fracture. He did not press charges, saying he did not wish to be "tied up with the roaches", and also claiming "if there ever was a case of deserved violence, this was it".[2] The ratings for this show increased as news of the fight attracted attention to the episode even before it aired.

In August 1992, Rivera scuffled with KKK members again at a Klan rally in Janesville, Wisconsin. Rivera suffered cuts and a bite to his left thumb.[3][4][5]

References edit

  1. ^ Rosenberg, Howard (December 1, 1993). "Doc Hollywood Takes a Scalpel to the Viewers Again Television: The 'first-ever televised sex-change operation in talk-show history as far as we know' on 'Geraldo' is oversold, overblown and overcooked". The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved November 3, 2010.
  2. ^ "Geraldo Rivera's Nose Broken In Scuffle on His Talk Show". The New York Times. November 4, 1988.
  3. ^ "TV Host Geraldo Rivera Fights With Klansman, Both Arrested - Los Angeles Times". Articles.latimes.com. May 7, 2001. Retrieved October 12, 2013.
  4. ^ When Geraldo comes to town: KKK fight put Janesville in national spotlight
  5. ^ Charges against Geraldo Rivera dropped

External links edit

  • Episodes publicly available at Geraldo's website
  • Geraldo at IMDb