Reality legal programming

Reality legal programming (also known as reality legal program, reality legal show, legal reality show) is a television programming subgenre of reality television, focusing on reality-based subjects having to do with law, such as police, crime, litigation, etc. Subgenres of reality legal programming consist of a strict focus and come in all shapes and sizes from legal news programming and reality court shows to law enforcement documentaries and true crime shows. Prime examples of reality legal programs include Cops, Dateline NBC, Cold Case Files, etc. Many reality legal programs use elements from other television genres, such as documentaries, talk shows, news shows, caught-on-tape shows, etc.

TruTV, originally known as Court TV from its inception in 1991 until 2008, is a network that is practically dedicated to reality legal programs. While its focus has expanded in recent years since its renaming, the network is still largely concentrated in reality-based legal programming. A vast majority of reality legal shows are legal news programs, providing clips and details of highly publicized crimes with commentary from news anchors, political figures, law experts, and other guests to help viewers understand the nature of the crime and any legal proceedings involved. Some of the clips take viewers into the courtrooms as well.

Genre categories and TV show examples

Below is a list of the different categories of reality legal programs, along with a listing of TV programming examples that have been developed in each category.

Documentaries

All Worked Up (TruTV, October 19, 2009–present)
Big Brian The Fortune Seller (TruTV, March 11, 2011–present)
Caught Red Handed (TruTV, November 5, 2012–present)
Hardcore Pawn (TruTV, August 16, 2010–present)
Inside American Jail (TruTV, August 3, 2007–present)
Las Vegas Jailhouse (TruTV, January 31, 2010–present)
Lizard Lick Towing (TruTV, February 7, 2011–present)
Ocean Force (TruTV, August 27, 2007–present)
Operation Repo (TruTV, April 1, 2008–present)
Party Heat (TruTV, December 31, 2007 – November 23, 2010, first-run; November 24, 2010–present, reruns)
Police POV (TruTV, April 17, 2011–present)
South Beach Tow (TruTV, July 20, 2011–present)
Southern Fried Stings (TruTV, April 12, 2010–present)
Speeders (TruTV, June 7, 2007 – September 3, 2009, first-run; September 4, 2009–present, reruns)

Caught-on-tape/hidden camera series

Disorder in the Court (TruTV, September 29, 2006–present)
Impractical Jokers (TruTV, December 15, 2011–present)
It Only Hurts When I Laugh! (TruTV, October 22, 2009–present)
Most Daring (TruTV, September 12, 2007 – July 14, 2010, first-run; July 15, 2010–present, reruns)
Most Shocking (TruTV, October 4, 2006 – November 10, 2010, first-run; November 11, 2010–present, reruns)
Top 20 Countdown: Most Shocking (TruTV, October 3, 2009–present)
truTV Presents: World's Dumbest... (TruTV, March 13, 2008–present)
Clipaholics (TruTV, May 3, 2012 – present)
World's Wildest Police Videos (TruTV, 2007–present)
Video Justice (TruTV, April 26, 2006 – March 23, 2007)

True crime series

Main article: True crime

Forensic Files (TruTV, September 1, 2000–present)
The Investigators (TruTV, July 9, 2004 – March 17, 2008, first-run; March 24, 2008–present, reruns)
North Mission Road (TruTV, February 24, 2003 – August 10, 2007)
Dominick Dunne's Power, Privilege, and Justice (TruTV, June 6, 2002 – September 25, 2009)
Hot Pursuit (TruTV, July 9, 2002- November 20, 2009)
Masterminds (TruTV, 2003–2011)

Police force television series

Over the Limit (TruTV, April 21–October 24, 2010)
Cops (Fox, Spike, March 11, 1989–present): Also a documentary
Bait Car (TruTV, August 6, 2007–October 23, 2012)
Police Women (TV Series) (August 6, 2009 – April 13, 2013)

Other reality legal shows

Comedy legal

Snap Judgment (TruTV, April 1, 1999 – 2000)

talk show

Star Jones (TruTV, August 20, 2007 – February 1, 2008)
Justice with Judge Jeanine (Fox News Channel, January 2011–present)

Investigative

Haunting Evidence (TruTV, December 21, 2005 – October 25, 2008)
City Confidential (A&E, August 17, 1999 – March 1, 2006)
Suburban Secrets (TruTV, January 29, 2007 – September 20, 2008)
Tiger Team (TruTV, special: December 25, 2007)

Reality court shows

Main article: Court show § Modern court show genre

Another subgenre of reality legal shows are "reality court shows", which is a category of court shows that were next to nonexistent in the genre's first four decades. Originally, court shows were all dramatized, staged programs with actors playing the litigants, witnesses, lawyers, and sometimes the judges. Cases were either reenactments of actual real-life cases or altogether made up cases. Among examples of dramatized court shows include Famous Jury Trials, Your Witness, the first 2 runs of Divorce Court, etc. These types of court shows fall under legal dramas. The People's Court, however, revolutionized the court show genre by introdocing a reality show format, known as arbitration-based "reality", in 1981. This was later adopted by the vast majority of court shows. Not all court shows have used the arbitration-based reality format however. Some are unaffected realities that draw on footage from real-life trials in real-life courtrooms. Below is a list of the reality court shows that have been produced:

Parole (First-run syndication, Telestar, 1959)
The People's Court (Syndicated, Ralph Edwards/Stu Billett Productions, 1981–1993, 1997–present)
On Trial (Syndicated, 1987–1988)
Jones and Jury (Syndicated, 1994-1995)
Judge Judy (Syndicated, 1996–present)
Judge Joe Brown (Syndicated, 1998–present)
Judge Mills Lane (Syndicated, 1998–2001)
Judge Wapner's Animal Court (Animal Planet, 1998–2000)
Judge and Jury (MSNBC, 1998–1999)
Divorce Court (Syndicated, 1957–1969 [dramatized], 1985–1992 [dramatized], 1999–present [reality])
Judge Mathis (Syndicated, 1999–present)
Judge Hatchett (Syndicated, 2000–2008)
Power of Attorney (Syndicated, 2000–2002)
Curtis Court (Syndicated, 2000–2001)
Texas Justice (Syndicated, 2001–2005)
State v. (ABC, 2002)
Crime & Punishment (NBC, 2002–2004)
Judge Alex (Syndicated, 2005–present)
The Law Firm (NBC, 2005)
Cristina's Court (Syndicated, 2006–2010)
Judge Maria Lopez (Syndicated, 2006–2008)
Judge David Young (Syndication, 2007–2009)
Jury Duty (Syndicated, 2007–2009)
Judge Jeanine Pirro (CW Network, 2008–2011)
Family Court with Judge Penny (Syndicated, 2008–2009)
Judge Karen (Syndicated, 2008–2009)
Street Court (Syndicated, 2009–2010)
Swift Justice with Jackie Glass (Syndicated, 2010–2012)
Judge Karen's Court (Syndicated, 2010–2011)
L'Arbitre (V television network, 2011–present)
Last Shot with Judge Gunn (Syndicated, Trifecta Entertainment & Media, 2011–present)

Legal reality networks

TruTV (1991–present) was originally known as Court TV until 2008. Traditionally, the network was dedicated solely to court and legal based shows, capturing live footage from actual homicidal trials, criminal justice programming, and reruns of such shows as NYPD Blue and Cops. However, since its "TruTV" revamping, the network has branched out into more "caught on video" reality programs.

References

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