I use to work a 4pm to 2am shift and the next morning after waking up I use to watch his show it was hilarious all the insane people fighting each other with the audience egging them on
I thought that was Morton Downey, Jr. (aka Mighty Mouth)!
I admit to occasionally watching his show. As you stated, it was hilarious.
One thing that could be said about Jerry: He never took himself or his show too seriously. He admitted that the show was silly. Unlike Maury Povich or Geraldo, who took themselves very seriously.