Jerry Springer to visit area ice cream shop

TV host Jerry Springer made a very public promise to a young Franklin County bluegrass act last year.

During a broadcast of the hit NBC show "America's Got Talent," host Springer told The Wright Kids that he was going to come see them play at Pop's Ice Cream & Soda Bar.

True to his word, the man they called "Uncle Jerry" will be at the Grandin Village shop on Friday evening. The Wright Kids are scheduled to go on at 6 p.m.

Linda Shafran, publicist for "The Jerry Springer Show," said Springer has been very busy lately. But his pop-culture circus of a daytime talk show is taking the week off.

"He finally got a chance to come through on his promise," Shafran said by phone Tuesday.

The preteen performers -- sister Sage and brothers Baruch and Levi -- made the top 10 on "America's Got Talent" last year. They were voted off in late September, but Springer, who had taken a shine to them, told them he was sure they'd be back on the show next year, then made his promise: "I'm going to come and see you at your ice cream parlor."

The parlor on Memorial Avenue actually belongs to Brandon Davis and Anna Robertson. After the show, Anna Robertson said she was skeptical that Springer would make it to the shop.

Now, the owners might be in for a circus.

Springer will not be around the NBC set if the Wrights go back on. Nick Cannon will host this season.

Springer is taking on the role of Billy Flynn in a U.K. stage production of "Chicago," the publicist said.

-- Tad Dickens