". . . we took them down because we want to run a family-oriented Web site," said a spokesman for the producers of the shows. Ahem, excuse me, please? Since when were those talk shows "family-oriented"? They were certainly not oriented towards my family or any other family I know well. What did they expect? More to the point--where will those trolls go?

PageSix.com

Last updated: Wednesday, April 18, 2001

WEB SMUT SHUTS SPRINGER SITE

By DON KAPLAN

THE producers of "The Jerry Springer Show" pulled the plug on its online bulletin boards to crack-down on Web surfers who used words to emulate the bawdy bashing typically seen on their favorite talk shows.

The official online bulletin boards for "Maury" and "Sally Jessy Raphael" were also switched off.

The sites, in which talk show fans from around the world have engaged in colorful discourse, were shut down Monday at midnight. A Studios USA spokesman said the company yanked the boards because many of the posts on the Web site were too raunchy.

"There was vulgar language on the forums and we took them down because we want to run a family-oriented Web site," the spokesman said.

The studio first alerted users that the boards were getting the ax last week. At least one user said the decision probably stemmed from months of profanity-laced arguments that had been taking place among the board's regulars.

"I wish to warn others about other Studio USA message board writers who are nasty reactionary individuals who engage in personal and other forms of . . . attacks since they are incapable of refuting opposing point of views," wrote a user named Fred95018 on a popular, free-for-all Web site called TV talkshows.com.

The Web site has watched its traffic increased by about 13,000 page views since Studios USA pulled the plug, said Trevor Rieger, the Oakland, Calif.-based Web master who oversees the site.

-- Anonymous, April 18, 2001