I watched this show as a young kid and I want to know where I can get epsiodes. I would love it to be released on DVD. Every day at 4 PM, I was watching Superior Court and then The Judge at 5. I remember one episode of superior court that upset me as a kid and it was a 16 year old girl convicted of murder getting sent to the gas chamber and her mother pleaded with them not to kill her daughter but they did anyway. I remember one episiode of the judge where a young boy who I think had been beaten severely by his father or stepfather testified from his hospital bed via satellite. Those shows were part of my childhood and if anyone knows where I can get my hands on them, let me know.
12 Reviews
Wonderful for Camp value
glennh6924 April 2008
Despite of the success of Ralph Edwards' "People's Court" with Joe Wapner, there was a brief, golden era during the mid-to-late 80s when scripted courtroom dramas like "The Judge" and a revival of the old daytime staple of the 60s/70s "Divorce Court" made a comeback.
To this day, when I see local Los Angeles news correspondent Toni Guinyard file a report, I can't help but wax nostalgic about her brief stint as host of the 80's incarnation of "Divorce Court".
The perverse charm & hilarity of these shows lies in the fact that they were so unintentionally cheesy in every respect: the lousy scripts, the amateurish acting, the cheap sets, the two-bit camera work, and the feeble attempts at pontificating some "relevant social message".
Like him or not, Wapner was nevertheless a savvy, camera-friendly judge with real experience and an astute knowledge of civil law.
"Judge Franklin", on the other hand, was obviously a community theatre bumpkin plucked from the plains of Ohio---dispensing his own special brand of folksy grandfatherly "wisdom". Hence, the whole camp appeal of the show.
There doesn't seem to be any mention in the notes about the show moving production to Canada toward the end of its run. However, it is obvious that it did, as all of the actors involved in the show (save the "Judge") possessed a distinctly Canadian dialect.
The only "crime" surrounding these courtroom dramas is that they are not available to the small, yet devoted fan base like myself who find a (granted, somewhat twisted) appeal in reliving this tiny slice of Reagan-era banality.
To this day, when I see local Los Angeles news correspondent Toni Guinyard file a report, I can't help but wax nostalgic about her brief stint as host of the 80's incarnation of "Divorce Court".
The perverse charm & hilarity of these shows lies in the fact that they were so unintentionally cheesy in every respect: the lousy scripts, the amateurish acting, the cheap sets, the two-bit camera work, and the feeble attempts at pontificating some "relevant social message".
Like him or not, Wapner was nevertheless a savvy, camera-friendly judge with real experience and an astute knowledge of civil law.
"Judge Franklin", on the other hand, was obviously a community theatre bumpkin plucked from the plains of Ohio---dispensing his own special brand of folksy grandfatherly "wisdom". Hence, the whole camp appeal of the show.
There doesn't seem to be any mention in the notes about the show moving production to Canada toward the end of its run. However, it is obvious that it did, as all of the actors involved in the show (save the "Judge") possessed a distinctly Canadian dialect.
The only "crime" surrounding these courtroom dramas is that they are not available to the small, yet devoted fan base like myself who find a (granted, somewhat twisted) appeal in reliving this tiny slice of Reagan-era banality.
Great Courtroom show in good taste.
Are-Jay6 November 2001
I used to watch this show as a kid and I really enjoyed it. The judge, Robert J Franklin isn't your typical powertripping judge. He is a man that tries to enforce justice with mercy. This show didn't have the sleeze that other shows would have, it was just good stories handled in a very diligent manner. It showed what society should be like; descent, truthful, honest, and courageous. True, they are all fake, but it provided plenty of enjoyment while I was growing up. I truly miss this show and hope that reruns will come back.
My favorite court tv series
montestony26 November 2020
As a child I found it entertaining.
LurkingFigure24 April 2007
Warning: Spoilers
I used to watch this show at my grandma and grandpa's house when I was a child. I used to believe it was "real" but when I was older I realized it was not. It tackled some controversial topics, however, and I would like to view some of these episodes again. Here are the episodes I can remember.
* An episode that dealt with two boys who had played blood brothers and one had HIV/AIDS.
* An episode where a young man took the courtroom hostage and the judge talked him down explaining that he knew what it felt like to be shot, in a war I believe. If memory serves, the young man turned the gun on himself, but never went through with the act.
* An episode involving a child supposedly bearing the mark of the beast.
I am sorry I can not remember more.
If you happen to come across this small gem, check it out. It's not top notch by any standards, but the topics discussed were pretty deep, especially for 1980's daytime TV. Peace.
* An episode that dealt with two boys who had played blood brothers and one had HIV/AIDS.
* An episode where a young man took the courtroom hostage and the judge talked him down explaining that he knew what it felt like to be shot, in a war I believe. If memory serves, the young man turned the gun on himself, but never went through with the act.
* An episode involving a child supposedly bearing the mark of the beast.
I am sorry I can not remember more.
If you happen to come across this small gem, check it out. It's not top notch by any standards, but the topics discussed were pretty deep, especially for 1980's daytime TV. Peace.
Part of small wave of simulated courtroom drama I used watch as a kid
shennysheu24 June 2005
I almost forgot about this show until I heard clips of Ralph Garman on the Kevin & Bean show on KROQ! I used to watch this show almost religiously after school on Channel 9 Los Angeles (back when it was KHJ-TV) along with the other court dramatization shows like Divorce Court and Superior Court. For a while, I thought these were actual court cases (hey, I was really young!). But soon came to realize they were only actors, and many times not very good ones. Some of the episodes I sorta recall was the one about an interracial couple. I think the Korean wife's parents shunned the couple and their kid, but in the end they accept her and her African-America husband. Another involved a defendant taking the courtroom hostage. I would love to see some of these shows released on DVD just for old time sakes!
terrible acting worth a good laugh
asn-1423 May 2006
My sister and I used to see this show on late at night. I guess it was late-night time filler but even though it was not meant to be a "comedy", the acting alone made this show one of the funniest things I ever saw! One show even had a story line about a fat boy who ate too much and his mom was taking him to court to force him to have surgery! Bob Shield was "the judge" in a courtroom that very much replicated the ever popular "divorce court", all the way down to the acting. The judge would give practical advice before and after his ruling. It was actually good advice, better than I've heard in most REAL courtrooms. The judge himself was not a bad actor but the "guests" on each show were obviously reading Q cards as they spoke and the acting was so bad my sides hurt from laughter.
A great show (mostly)...
laurah-123 March 2003
I used to watch this show in my early teens and really liked it. True, it was all a dramatization, but I think that the show also portrayed some good moral values (Respect, honesty, caring...etc.). Also, I kind of liked Judge Franklin. He managed to get his points across without doing anything really outrageous. He seemed like a nice, upstanding, well-respected guy. He seemed to enjoy serving his community. Also, I think he was very compassionate and gentle, especially with children. Some of the cases portrayed on the show were interesting, at least what I remember of them.
The only criticism that I would have is that there were moments when the show became so unrealistic and so...I don't know, sentimental, that it got on my nerves.:( It didn't really have anything to do with Judge Franklin or any character in particular. Just the show in general. Sometimes I would watch an episode, and as I followed the story line, I would be thinking, "Get real." (Feeling some annoyance). But other than that, it was a show that I liked even better than I like some of the court shows that are on now.
I wouldn't mind seeing a few reruns of or chatting with others about this show.:) I have fond memories of watching it, among other childhood memories.:)
The only criticism that I would have is that there were moments when the show became so unrealistic and so...I don't know, sentimental, that it got on my nerves.:( It didn't really have anything to do with Judge Franklin or any character in particular. Just the show in general. Sometimes I would watch an episode, and as I followed the story line, I would be thinking, "Get real." (Feeling some annoyance). But other than that, it was a show that I liked even better than I like some of the court shows that are on now.
I wouldn't mind seeing a few reruns of or chatting with others about this show.:) I have fond memories of watching it, among other childhood memories.:)
Very Hokey....
jmworacle-9902527 November 2023
You had family court cases that were unbelieveable. There was one case in which an elderly man is caught in a undercover vice sting with
an explaination he was there for a legitimate massage while another defendant a district attorney has an lame excuse. The attorney was played by the actor who played Elizabeth Shue's father in the Karate Kid. Well the parlor was bugged and you hear the elderly man complaing about his condition while the attorney brags why he's there. Another case had a pizza delivery person accuse an African Amercan youth of robbing him. It turns out he was playing pool and was hustled. He remarks to the Judge: "Well I won the first game I thought I had a chance to win my money back."
Of course the cherry on the top was a child custody case where the father filed suit for custody of his daughter because his ex-spouse and her husband is taking her to Elvis conventions claiming she has the ability to "channel" the "King". If you looked up the definiton of "Trailor Park People" you'd see their picture. As for the "channeler" it was sooo fake. My father really enjoyed it though.
Of course the cherry on the top was a child custody case where the father filed suit for custody of his daughter because his ex-spouse and her husband is taking her to Elvis conventions claiming she has the ability to "channel" the "King". If you looked up the definiton of "Trailor Park People" you'd see their picture. As for the "channeler" it was sooo fake. My father really enjoyed it though.
pretty good show
m_hebner29 January 2002
I saw this show a lot when I was 7 years old and thought that it was very entertaining. I remember one episode it was about this boy I think his name was Wally I think he was suppose retarted or something like that, no offence and when he got called to the stand I thought it was funny when he was threating to beat up everyone in the court room including the judge if anybody knows where I can find that episode click on my email address above to let me know. if you like court shows than this is the show for you even though it is fake but very entertaining.
Cheap? You don't even know....
Nick Zbu23 January 2001
I used to watch this gaudy show when I was younger and even then I could tell how fake it was. It tried to play itself off as 'real' but the absence of the fourth wall on the set was so obvious. Bob Shield was apparently some goofy 'actor' who 'played' a heartfelt weenie of a judge who tried to help people with their problems.
Of course, this was time filler during the midday and it wasn't even good on a bad level. In fact, I think all the master tapes of this series are now gone, a testament to time-wasters of time past. Not even worth mentioning about, really.
Of course, this was time filler during the midday and it wasn't even good on a bad level. In fact, I think all the master tapes of this series are now gone, a testament to time-wasters of time past. Not even worth mentioning about, really.
fun to watch
dtucker862 March 2002
This show was corny and cliched. You watched it and had a good laugh because you realized that real life court isn't at all like they portrayed. Actually I thought Judge Franklin was a cliche-spouted, pompous windbag! I liked Sergeant Fox better then I liked him. At least he was more down to earth (he sort of reminded me of that character that Gene Hackman played in The French Connection, a tough, cynical but honest cop). There were two episodes that I saw that really turned me off and sort of made me hate Judge Franklin. One episode was where there was this teenager who slashed two people to death and Judge Franklin gave him life in prison instead of the death penalty. The other episode was about this woman named Susan Farrell and her young son Bobby. A rich snotty doctor had let his assistant tend to her sick husband and he killed him. I thought it was terrible the way Franklin treated this poor woman. It just shows how our justice system pities the poisonous spider and ignores the innocent fly.
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