good evening, lovers. i'm bill weir. if you are tucked in at this hour, on this night, chances are you've either found the one, or are cursing cupid. whether you're spooning the proof or not, no denying we live in the golden age of human connection. there are 96 million singles in this country, and the internet provides both access to them and raw data about them, all the better to unlock the mystery of romance, right? well, here's sharyn alfonsi. ♪ >> reporter: this is the story of when cindy -- >> i think i fall in love easily, but then i can fall right out of it. >> reporter: -- met todd. >> i think physical attraction is important. does that make me shallow? >> reporter: the two spotted each online on match.com, the largest dating service on the web, and have decided to go on a

date. two weeks before valentine's day, no pressure, no expectations, but, boy, wouldn't it be nice if it worked? both say they're looking for love, but when we catch up with todd on date night, he's looking for cindy. >> it is 8:20. still a smile on my face, but she's on her way. i'm confident. i'm confident she won't stand me up. if she does, she's bold. >> reporter: she's late. >> oh, my god. i can't believe i'm late. right now my strategy is to go in and apologize profusely. because i am so late. >> no, no it's cool. >> i'm so sorry. how are you? >> good. >> i was hailing a cab, and the heel broke off my shoe. >> reporter: that excuse is either the beginning of a nightmare first date or a charming story that could be told to their grandchildren, but how does a couple know if they'll click? is it in that very first moment right here? >> do i believe in love at first sight? i do because i'm a hopeless romantic. yes. >> i believe in attraction at first sight, but i don't believe in love at first sight.

>> reporter: we asked a random sampling of new york city singles whether they believe in love at first sight. >> i definitely do not believe in love at first sight. >> haven't seen him yet myself but i do believe in love at first sight. >> i believe in lust at first sight. >> reporter: this month match.com released the results of an online survey and got a surprising result. more men than women said they believe in love at first sight. okay, so maybe it's only the hopeless romantics that volunteer to take the surveys but there were over 5,000 of them. dr. helen fisher, a biological anthropologist, helped create the survey and thinks she has an explanation. >> 54% of men experienced love at first sight. >> because men are more visual? >> yes, they make up their mind more rapidly about a woman than women do about a man. for good evolutionary reasons. i mean, that woman has to carry their baby for nine months. >> reporter: the survey found those among those who don't dr. children, 24% of men versus 15% of women are ready for kids.

really? >> yes, this is the first survey i know of that indicates men are even more interested, more interested in having children in every single age cohort, from 21 to 65. men want children more than women do. >> reporter: could that really be? >> i don't have a strong desire to have kids. >> i think it's easy for them to make that -- easier for them to make that decision. >> i want some mini mes coming around. i want a junior and i want a little princess that i can spoil and make me broke, i need that in life. >> men want to reproduce. >> so they're looking for breeders? >> they're looking for companions. men and women are both looking for companions. >> reporter: back to todd and cindy. since it's the first date they aren't talking about who wants kids. >> i go to the gym seven days a week. like twice a day. it's a big thing for me. just like everything. >> the gym twice a day? >> yes. >> reporter: at some points they can't figure out what to talk about. then the check arrives. always a defining moment. >> i would absolutely pick up

the check but not on the first date. >> i'm more than happy paying. i think it is a nice gesture if they offer to pay. apparently if they insist on paying it's not a good sign. from what i hear. >> reporter: todd gets the check. >> thank you. >> reporter: the match survey found 87% of women would pick up the check on a date. but we're still old-fashioned in other ways. because 89% of women, according to match, will not and have not asked a man out. >> they're shy. they don't ask a man out. they want the man to make the first moves at sex. i don't know if the day will come. that may be part of the human brain that doesn't change a lot. >> reporter: unless you watch "the jersey shore." those girls are all attacking people. and speaking of one-night stands, turns out the so-called walk of shame could actually lead to a walk down the aisle. 35% of those surveyed by match say a one-night stand turned into a long-term partnership. >> i've long had the hypothesis that a lot of these people who go into a one-night stand are

hoping to trigger a longer relationship. they don't know the chemistry of it but good sex with somebody can trigger feelings of romantic love and/or attachment. >> thank you for dinner. it was lovely. >> it was my pleasure. >> reporter: todd and cindy's date comes to a close. so was it love at first sight? >> break it down. that first moment when you looked at her and she walked in the door were you like not the girl for me? was it that instant? >> i don't know if it was that instant per se. but i think as the night went on i think we realized or at least i realized we had some differences -- not negative but just, you know, i didn't really see it going anywhere. >> reporter: where are you going to be on valentine's day? >> i'll be home watching this but i will be out with my single friends celebrating loneliness. >> reporter: and this morning we caught up with cindy. so it's valentine's day. will you be be spending valentine's night with todd? >> probably not. >> reporter: todd wasn't for you? >> no, no, definitely not my type.

>> reporter: because? what was it? was there a particular thing he said or something about him? >> going to the gym three times a day i find very strange. i mean, once a day, maybe. >> reporter: so is that it? should you just run for the door if there are no sparks right off the top? well, the survey found 35% of singles ended up falling in love with someone they were not initially attracted to. so you shouldn't leave after the main course. >> absolutely. >> you should wait for dessert and then decide. >> keep on talking to them. keep on getting to know them and when i asked what made them fall in love with somebody after initially not being attracted to them, they said it was great conversations and shared interests. >> reporter: and alcohol. no? >> they didn't say alcohol but of course we didn't check that box either. >> reporter: that doesn't mean there won't be a happy ending for cindy and todd, just won't be with each other. for "nightline," i'm sharyn alfonsi in new york. >> a champagne toast to our singles and sharyn alfonsi for that.

well coming up he is one of the most controversial characters on tv. but when we return jerry springer defends his contribution to society. [ male announcer ] investing for yourself isn't some optional pursuit. a privilege for the ultra-wealthy. it's a necessity. find investments with e-trade's top 5 lists. quickly. easily. use pre-defined screeners and insightful trading ideas to dig deeper. work smarter. not harder. depend on yourself the one person you should trust to take charge of your financial future. e-trade. investing unleashed. at purina one, we want your cat to be as healthy as possible. so we set out to discover the nutritional science in some of nature's best ingredients. that's how we created purina one with smartblend. nutritionally optimized with real salmon, wholesome grains, and essential antioxidants for strong

muscles, vital energy a healthy immune system, and a real difference in your cat. purina one with smartblend. discover what one can do. depression is a serious medical condition that can take so much out of you. i feel like i have to wind myself up just to get out of bed. then, well, i have to keep winding myself up to deal with the sadness the loss of interest trouble concentrating, the lack of energy. [ male announcer ] if depression is taking so much out of you ask your doctor about pristiq. pristiq is a prescription medicine proven to treat depression. pristiq is thought to work by affecting the levels of two chemicals in the brain -- serotonin and norepinephrine. tell your doctor right away if your depression worsens or you have unusual changes in mood, behavior, or thoughts of suicide. anti-depressants can increase suicidal thoughts and behaviors in children, teens, and young adults. pristiq is not approved for children under 18. do not take pristiq with maois. taking pristiq with nset

pain relievers, aspirin, or blood thinners may increase bleeding risk. tell your doctor about all your medications including those for migraine to avoid a potentially life threatening condition. pristiq may cause or worsen high blood pressure high cholesterol, or glaucoma. tell your doctor if you have heart disease, or before you reduce or stop taking pristiq. side-effects may include nausea, dizziness and sweating. for me, pristiq is a key in helping me treat my depression. ask your doctor about pristiq. [music playing] confidence available in color. depend® colors for women. looks and fits like underwear. protects like nothing else. depend®. good morning. great day. n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n

n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n n well much is being made about oprah's final season as a daytime host but tonight, a look at one of the very few people to ever beat her in the ratings, "the jerry springer show" is now in its 20th season much to the dismay that consider it a sign of the apocalypse and jerry springer is a study in contradictions. an intellectual hosting what he calls the dumbest show on tv. i learned why in the "nightline" interview.

in front of these stamford, connecticut, arena, the crowd is pumped. >> all: jerry, jerry. >> reporter: behind that arena the man whose name they chant arrives carrying a richard nixon biography and no clue about how today's audience will be entertained. what's your pregame ritual? i imagine you could do it in your sleep. >> well, i don't do anything. i'm not supposed to know what the show is about. this is it. >> reporter: he says he simply a hired gun with no creative control and doesn't know the topic until producers hand him an index card but regardless of what's on that card he knows and they know why they are here. >> you shut your face right now. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: but believe it or not, "the jerry springer show" wasn't always about angry little people and big surprises. >> you can't be a girl. i slept with you. >> reporter: yes, before the smoke and the pole many years

and several food fights ago. this was a kinder gentler broadcast. >> you are going to meet your daughter cindy whom you have not seen in 35 years. cindy. >> reporter: a show devoted in part to complex national issues like gun control or the iran-contra affair. >> we had people like oliver north and jesse jackson and david duke you know. so we had interesting guests. >> reporter: how did the show evolve from there. >> we were drinking. no, the show evolved actually by accident. >> reporter: we'll get to the accident that gave the world's skinhead slap fights and stripper love triangles. >> that's teeny and i'm toney. >> reporter: to understand why jerry springer thinks this is the american dream we have to start at the beginning in nazi germany. most of his family was killed in the camps of world war ii but his parents escaped. came over on "the queen mary"

and settled in queens and since politics was nightly dinner table fodder he went to law school and worked for bobby kennedy's campaign. >> to this day except for my dad, just he and his life have more influence on my political views than anybody else. he still is my idol. >> reporter: after the assassination the young and naive liberal launched his own political career winning a city on the city council. >> literal my first motion was to prohibit residents from serving in the vietnam war. well well, the city exploded. the newspapers just ripped me you know and it was interesting because my motives were so pure it didn't bother me. >> reporter: but that career seemed over when a massage parlor raid turned up a personal check springer had written to a prostitute. >> i held a press conference one day and said i'm leaving city

council because i was with a prostitute and that's just inconsistency tent with everything i'm trying to preach here and, you know i should get my life together before i re-enter politics. which i did. >> reporter: he won re-election in a landslide, became mayor of cincinnati and even ran for governor with a bracingly honest campaign. >> so nine years ago i spent time with a woman i shouldn't have and i paid her with a check. >> reporter: but he lost that race found a job anchoring news and in the '80s earned respect a shell full of emmys then the offer to try daytime talk as the heir apparent to phil donahue and after a few earnest seasons came an accident. it was his suggestion that the show should book younger guests. >> young people are wilder crazier. they're much more open about their lifestyles. that's what the show started going crazy. not because we wanted to. it just became crazy. soon after that universal said you're only allowed to do crazy

so now it's part of the contracts. >> reporter: but how much of this is real? and does any of it offend him? i'll ask when we come back. ♪ [ male announcer ] here they come. all the new tech products you need. and they're all looking for the same thing. ♪ ♪ the one place that makes technology easy. staples. with highly-trained tech experts and expanded tech centers, staples makes finding the right technology just the way you want it. easy. easy to buy. easy to fix. easy to save. staples. that was easy. host: could switching to geico really save you 15% or more on car insurance? host: does it take two to tango? ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ anncr: geico. 15 minutes could

save you 15% or more on car insurance.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.x.ur

weigh left foot. take the right leg up, holding the inner arch of the foot... introducing instant action alerts, only from chase. left arm up... manage your account and help avoid overdrafts with a click of a button. just reply to the alert with how much you want to transfer. inhale all the way up... so you always stay in balance. ...to crescent pose. chase what matters. just four more times. ♪ ♪

[ male announcer ] hands free driving. cars that park themselves. an unmanned car driven by a search engine company. we've seen that movie. it ends with robots harvesting our bodies for energy. [ engine revs ] this is the all new 2011 dodge charger. leader of the human resistance.

and more now with jerry springer, the man who'd rather be in the u.s. senate than in the middle of a stripper slap fight defends his choices as the "nightline" interview continue. >> we'll tear down a wall get you to a hospital. >> reporter: it was the mid '90s when jerry springer stopped trying to be the next phil donahue and let his show go crazy. the train wreck hit daytime tv with a jolt and before long he was beating oprah in some markets hosting mtv's spring breaks and reveling in his

new-found celebrity. >> does she demand a prenup? >> reporter: his master of the bizarre gave him a role in the production of "chicago," hosted "america's got talent" and competed on "dancing with the stars" but his bread and butter is still here and this constant parade of dysfunction. how would you characterize the authenticity of the people on the show? >> i, they are real. they're certainly as real as the people that own the show and all of us who wear suits to work. oh they're absolutely authentic people and thas aet's. >> you've never looked for arcs to enhance story lines? >> a am sure -- no i am sure early on there were people that faked their stories. we know it. but we're so good now at catching them. >> has there ever been a show that violated even your sensibilities?

>> lots of them. if my mom had still been alive, she'd be 104 today. if my mom was alive i never would do this show. >> reporter: are you serious about it. >> i'm dead serious because my mom was very proper and this -- i know i just wouldn't have done it. >> you slap slept with him how many times. >> reporter: he fiercely defends the jerry springer show" as a champion of misunderstood folks who can't get air time anywhere else. >> some of us just dress better had better luck in the gene pool of parents and kwepts to better schools but we're not morally superior. superior. you know, i can go into any neighborhood in america, any neighborhood in america and spiend the exact same stories. i can almost go into any family in america and find the same stories. >> reporter: you know, jerry you got to admit there is a difference between trying to understand psychological illness or poverty or bestiality or sexual gender confusion.

>> this show is entertainment. >> reporter: that's what i mean. there is a difference between understanding and exploiting it. >> you used the word exploiting. why is it okay for celebrity to come on the late night shows on oprah and any other show and talk about their private lives, whether or not they were abused who they slept with on even "nightline"? i promise you you will show video of my show because you know sitting at the producers' meeting they will sit down that's great. that will grab people's attention. >> reporter: the only reason they're going to do that only reason we do this story they were led by a man who worked for bobby kennedy, the mayor of cincinnati. you cite bobby kennedy as one of your heroes. he based his american on the downtrodden america whereas you now do shows with titles like "pregnant by my brother too" or i married a horse."

are you really comfortable with that being your legacy? >> the equestrian community is upset because the horse left him and we did a follow-up show. i'll say this to you, in a society with a free media, all elements of the society should be reflected. this legacy i don't know what -- there is no legacy. i'm a schlub who got lucky. some are loved. some are disliked. irrelevant, be good for your kids so you can set an example for them so they have a good life and a good people. treat people well. that's what the memory should be. everything else is vanity. >> and he agrees you've known you are a good parent if your kid never ends up on that stage. a note on the drastic flip-flop, february 2nd groundhog day. punxsutawney phil failed to see

his shadow. no one believes him and phil is as accurate as a coin flip. he might have been right. record highs forecast across much of the country. thanks phil. that's it for us tonight. good night everybody. >> next on an all-new "jimmy kimmel live." >>. >> jimmy: what are you doing to her? i'm talking to you mom and dad. >> dicky: martin lawrence. >> this is for you. since i had to spend my valentine's with you. >> dicky: dianna agron. >> jimmy: i bought you flowers and chocolate. >> i thought martin lawrence -- >> i give you a flowerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr