Sex, Lies and TV Talk

Tempe pranksters crash seven talk shows--and live to gab again

Comments (0) By Dewey Webb Thursday, May 2 1996

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When it was later revealed that the cheating quartet was actually a Canadian comedy troupe called the Blockheads, an outraged Springer announced that he was filing a $200,000 suit against the performers, claiming they'd lied when signing documents testifying to the truth of their story. The action was later dropped when one of the actors promised reporters that what would come out in court would be a better "circus" than anything Springer had ever put on the air.

Timmy and Roberto, meanwhile, will continue signing their names to anything a producer might toss in front of them.

"Those statements don't mean crap," insists Roberto. "What are the producers going to get from people like us? If they try to sue me, I can guarantee they wouldn't get so much as an 'I'm sorry.'"

"If they're putting these ridiculous stories on and they're trashing people's lives, they should expect to get a few people like us on there," argues Timmy.

Having outlived half the shows they've scammed--both Carnie Wilson and Charles Perez were canceled earlier this year--Timmy and Roberto would appear to have reached the end of the talk-show road. Still, neither is ready to bite his tongue just yet.

"I want to write a book," says Timmy, who hopes to crash a few more shows, including Ricki Lake, before sitting down at the keyboard. "I've still got a few chapters to go."

Roberto, meanwhile, would love another crack at Jerry Springer.
"I wish they'd do another show on liars," he says. "I mean, come on--who better?" Roberto says, smiling slyly. "Besides, I've got a lot of unresolved talk-show issues that need closure.