Three Judges Join ‘Judy’ in Courting Daytime Viewers

The court’s in session. Here comes the judge.

And another judge.

And another judge.

Marching into the court of TV viewer opinion in the fall are the new boys on the bench--three judges hoping to capitalize on the revival of the courtroom TV genre sparked by the surprise success of the acerbic “Judge Judy.”

The first of the new judges to arrive is Mills Lane, the boxing ref and former Reno District Court judge best known for putting the bite on Mike Tyson’s boxing career last year when Lane disqualified him for chomping on Evander Holyfield’s ear. His “Judge Mills Lane” show premieres today.

Joe Brown, an acting Memphis Superior Court judge who flavors his no-nonsense demeanor with a dash of smoothness and charm, will take up the gavel in “Judge Joe Brown,” starting Sept. 14.

And two weeks later, Joseph A. Wapner, who in 1981 with “The People’s Court” helped revive interest in the courtroom show after years of obscurity, comes out of retirement with “Judge Wapner’s Animal Court,” which will air on the Animal Planet cable network beginning Sept. 28.

Wapner and the two newcomers will be joining a daytime lineup already presided over by “Judge Judy” Sheindlin, who is returning for a fourth season, and the revived, Wapner-less “The People’s Court,” with former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, which is beginning its second season.

The profusion of courtroom shows marks the second renaissance for the genre in two decades. Propelled by the popularity of “The People’s Court” in the 1980s, several syndicated programs, including “Divorce Court” and “The Judge,” in which most cases were reenacted, earned slots on daytime schedules. But the format fell victim to a rash of topical talk shows with people discussing their troubles with sympathetic hosts.

There are similarities in the two genres, says Larry Lyttle, president of Big Ticket Television, which is producing and distributing “Judge Judy” and the new “Judge Joe Brown.”

“You have people in conflict in both talk shows and courtroom shows,” he said. “Hosts like Oprah [Winfrey] or Montel [Williams] act as referees.” The difference, however, is that “the hosts were not ready to rule who was right and who was wrong. In today’s world, resolutions and completion are incredibly important components with people.”

Stu Billett, executive producer of the past and present “People’s Court,” agreed. “Talk shows have had their cycle. Courtroom shows have a beginning, a middle and an end,” he said. “Talk shows just go on and on.”

No One’s Out to Imitate Sheindlin

Bill Carroll, vice president of Katz Television Group, which sells advertising time on behalf of stations, predicts that the new “rainbow coalition” of judges will be looking to “Judge Judy” for guidance in terms of how to grab ratings and be “the ultimate authority figures.”

But the three new judges say they will try cases on their own terms, and will stay away from mirroring the in-your-face, acerbic demeanor of Sheindlin, who often chastises plaintiffs and defendants.

“I’ve watched ‘Judge Judy,’ and I can definitely say that she is a lot prettier than I am,” Brown said with a sly smile. “But I’m quite a bit different. It’s a free market. There’s lots of NBA players with different styles, and there can be more than one judge on TV.”

Despite the limitations of the genre--each show will basically be set in a courtroom, with actual cases that have been referred largely through small claims courts--the judges say they will each bring unique elements to their shows. Lane said his show will be framed by reenactments of cases and voice-overs. Brown plans to do some of his work outside the courtroom, talking to troubled youths and others. Wapner’s show will focus exclusively on cases involving animals and their owners.

Some involved with the programs are wondering, however, whether there might be too much justice on TV.

Andrew Solt, one of the executive producers on “Judge Wapner’s Animal Court,” said, “As far as the syndicated shows, I don’t know if there’s room for four judges. On our show, we serve the audience of Animal Planet, so we’re not really in competition with them. But I would be surprised if four judges survive into September ’99.”

Said Carroll: “There’s always a danger of saturation with any kind of program. Only time will tell in this case. In the different markets around the country, rarely will these judges go head-to-head. They’ll be in different time periods. But the judges will still have to meet [ratings] expectations. The courts may be in session, but there may be no one in the galleries.”

In the meantime, TV’s current chief justice is not concerned about her new competition.

“I’m much better looking than these guys,” quipped Sheindlin. “I’m not concerned. I think if these gentlemen have a style that is unique, if they bring to the screen an excitement about the law, it can be like having two medical shows, like ‘Chicago Hope’ and ‘ER.’

“And if one is more interesting than I am, and knocks me off my perch, so be it,” she added. “I have a life. I have a husband that’s cute, I have five kids and four grandchildren. This show is extra.”

When asked if she would tweak her style in light of her new rivals, Sheindlin was silent for a few ominously tense moments.

“No one has the guts to suggest that I change my style,” she said. “They would have to take a lot of medication if they even thought about it.”

* “Judge Mills Lane” airs weekdays at 11 and 11:30 a.m. on KTLA-TV Channel 5, beginning today. “Judge Joe Brown” will air weekdays at 10 a.m. on KCOP-TV Channel 13, beginning Sept. 14; “Judge Wapner’s Animal Planet” will air weekdays at 1:30 and 4 p.m., and Saturdays at 4 p.m. on Animal Planet, beginning Sept. 28. “Judge Judy” airs weekdays at 3 and 6 p.m. on KCAL-TV Channel 9; “The People’s Court” airs weekdays at 1 p.m. on KCAL-TV Channel 9.