This is, unbelievably, true. The guests volunteer and are not paid. They call an 800 number advertised during the broadcast--"Are you a sex worker whose family hates what you do? Call (800) 96-JERRY." About 3,000 people call every day. On at least two occasions, ringers have faked their way onto Springer, and critics say the incidence of fraud may be much higher. Still, it's a tribute to the power of television that so many people are willing to shame themselves--I have rarely seen a Springer where all the guests weren't humiliated in one way or another--for the sake of TV time. Sort of like Love Boat.