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CNN Live At Daybreak

Shock Opera

Aired November 11, 2003 - 05:57   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The TV show that spawned a million groans is now drawing rave reviews in a new format.
CNN's Robyn Curnow has the Jerry Springer Shock Opera story from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA")

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my Jerry Springer promise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A chorus of dancing Ku Klux Klanners and diaper wearing divas. And that's just the first act of "Jerry Springer The Opera." As for the Springer character, well, in true operatic style, he meets a messy end.

JERRY SPRINGER, TALK SHOW HOST: I understand I go to hell so.

CURNOW: To haul him back on stage, a musical interpretation of Springer's brash TV talk show.

SPRINGER: The opera really is our show put to music, because our show has all the traditional themes of opera, of classic opera. It has the chaos, the mock tragedy, the farce, gender misidentification.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at little piggy, see how she squeals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: A so-called shock opera that's been billed as triumph, tragedy and trailer trash.

SPRINGER: My mother would have been so proud. Jerrold, you've got culture. You're in opera.

CURNOW: Critics say it's high culture meets low culture, an odd theatrical mix that's been great for the box office. More than $3 million in tickets already sold for this run against all expectations.

STEWART LEE, DIRECTOR, "JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA": It was developed in a little fringe venue, like a lot of work that we do, and we didn't expect it would have much of a life beyond the small realm of the little fringe venue.

CURNOW: If the reviews mean anything, "Jerry Springer The Opera" should have a long run. Next stop: Broadway.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Chantelle (ph).

CURNOW: Robyn Curnow, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired November 11, 2003 - 05:57   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: The TV show that spawned a million groans is now drawing rave reviews in a new format.
CNN's Robyn Curnow has the Jerry Springer Shock Opera story from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA")

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is my Jerry Springer promise.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBYN CURNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A chorus of dancing Ku Klux Klanners and diaper wearing divas. And that's just the first act of "Jerry Springer The Opera." As for the Springer character, well, in true operatic style, he meets a messy end.

JERRY SPRINGER, TALK SHOW HOST: I understand I go to hell so.

CURNOW: To haul him back on stage, a musical interpretation of Springer's brash TV talk show.

SPRINGER: The opera really is our show put to music, because our show has all the traditional themes of opera, of classic opera. It has the chaos, the mock tragedy, the farce, gender misidentification.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look at little piggy, see how she squeals.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CURNOW: A so-called shock opera that's been billed as triumph, tragedy and trailer trash.

SPRINGER: My mother would have been so proud. Jerrold, you've got culture. You're in opera.

CURNOW: Critics say it's high culture meets low culture, an odd theatrical mix that's been great for the box office. More than $3 million in tickets already sold for this run against all expectations.

STEWART LEE, DIRECTOR, "JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA": It was developed in a little fringe venue, like a lot of work that we do, and we didn't expect it would have much of a life beyond the small realm of the little fringe venue.

CURNOW: If the reviews mean anything, "Jerry Springer The Opera" should have a long run. Next stop: Broadway.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP FROM "JERRY SPRINGER THE OPERA")

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thank you, Chantelle (ph).

CURNOW: Robyn Curnow, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com