Program Partners Called Into Family Court
Half-Hour Strip to Feature Georgia State Judge Penny Brown Reynolds
By Paige Albiniak -- Broadcasting & Cable, 11/4/2007 10:02:00 PM
Program Partners is selling half-hour strip Family Court, featuring Georgia State Judge Penny Brown Reynolds, to TV stations for fall 2008.
The distributor said it decided to pick up the show based on the strength of the judge: "When she walks into a room, everybody notices. She commands attention," said Josh Raphaelson, Program Partners' co-principal. "She deals with these life-and-death issues with great authenticity, and when we saw her on camera, we instantly knew she could carry a show on television."
The show will be produced by 44 Blue, which also produces Split Ends for Style and prison documentary series Lockup for MSNBC.
Although court is a crowded genre, syndicators are predicting that several of the lower-rated shows will go off the air after this season, making room for new entries. Stations also are hoping to improve their daytime performances by running more original, first-run programming and less double-runs, which also is opening up time periods.
"We are targeting vertical court rotations with this show," said Ritch Colbert, Program Partners' co-principal. "We are producing 200 episodes of the series to ensure more originals. Part of our game plan is to refresh and liven up these court rotations to have fewer repeats."
As the name suggests, Family Court will deal with relationship issues, struggles between parents and children, family fights and the like, although Reynolds' decisions will not be legally binding, Raphaelson said.
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Dear Judge Penny, Your programme has hit the tv screens of the UK and how wonderful it is to see such a caring lady like yourself help others with their problems, it's a shame that you are not here in the UK, because there are a few things that my family need help with. Your words are words of wisdom and I am sure that your words will not only help the wonderful people of the USA, but also the people of the UK.
Keep up your great work.
Suzie Sheehan - 1/19/2009 8:17:41 AM EST -
Although mildly interesting like \"cops\", this show is NOT a real court and there are no legally binding decisons. That is a REAL DRAWBACK
