Jerry Springer wants to be an average Joe

He’s in his 21st season filming “The Jerry Springer Show” and has become an icon for hosting the talk show that features fist fights and cheating husbands. On top of filming 300 shows a year, he hosts a GSN game show called “Baggage,” “America’s Got Talent LIVE” at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and “The Price is Right Live” in Las Vegas. Needless to say, when he comes to the area, Bird Key resident Jerry Springer does not want to hear people yell his name every time he sits down for dinner, especially because he frequents local restaurants.

Springer just wants to relax; he says the area has a calming effect on his hectic schedule. We talked to Springer to find out the local scoop.

How did you end up in Sarasota?

We decided we wanted to live some place on the water because we were living in Cincinnati at the time. Truthfully, at first, we were looking in California, but since I was taping a show in Chicago, there was no way I could fly out every weekend to California and get back to the show or else I’d spend my weekends in the air.

Then we looked at Hilton Head Island, S.C., but it wasn’t warm in the winter, so we looked in Florida. Micki called me after spending half of a day down there looking along the coast from Naples up to Sarasota. “Oh my God! It’s beautiful,” she said. We got a Realtor to look at a bunch of homes. I told her to pick out her 10 favorites and then flew down for a day to look at them. And, as Realtors always do, the last one they show you is the one that grabs your heart. And we’ve been here for 15 years, and we just love it.

What’s your filming schedule like?

I spend every Monday and Tuesday in Stamford, Conn. We film three (“The Jerry Springer Show”) shows on Monday and two shows on Tuesday, which amounts to 300 shows a year. In Vegas, I do “The Price is Right” for five weeks with one show a night. Then, the “America’s Got Talent” tour, which I do in Las Vegas. Then “Baggage” in L.A., which we do over a three-month period Wednesday through Friday.

What do you fly?

My own plane. There’d be no other way. It’d be impossible — I land at Dolphin (Aviation) in Sarasota.

How do people react when they realize you are a television celebrity? Do people typically recognize you?

Well, yeah, but they are very nice. They will take pictures and all of that kind of stuff, but generally there’s a respect for privacy. That’s what I like. I’m a public figure everywhere else, and (I can live normally here).

Where are some of your favorite places to eat in Sarasota?

Mediterraneo, Tommy Bahama, Columbia Restaurant; we have breakfast at The Blue Dolphin, Crab and Fin. … Honestly, I think you could go around and talk to restaurant owners, because we have to be the best contributors to the restaurant industry here. We laugh about how much we contribute.

What’s the best-kept secret in terms of food?

Saturday we went to The Table — that was excellent.

Where do you eat the most?

The place we are most, because it’s a quick lunch and so consistent, is Tommy Bahama’s. I get the chicken (teriyaki and) tonkatsu.

Do you ever catch any spring training games?

I have not this year, but every other year I have been to a bunch of games. Having spent 30 years in Cincinnati where the Reds were, we were at Ed Smith Stadium for (spring training) all the time (when the Reds played here).

What do you love about Sarasota?

Where do you start? First of all, it’s beautiful … It is totally comfortable, and the people are friendly as can be. We love the opera. And Friday night (March 23) we saw “Lucia di Lammermoor.” We love getting to see the plays, obviously enjoying the water and St. Armands Circle — it is kind of where we live. And the wonderful restaurants! It really is a perfect community.