During winter break, I was finally able to get a chance to watch a little daytime television and realized the slew of court programming that's on the air on a daily basis. These shows range from the wacky (Eye for an Eye) to the classics (The People's Court)
Over the next 11 weeks I will rank my favorite court shows starting with...
11. Cristina's Court
If you aren't familiar with 'Cristina's Court,' Judge Cristina's Perez previously had a television show on the Spanish language network Telemundo called 'Corte de Familia.'
Perez managed to cross over to the English networks with her show 'Cristina's Court.'
Someone has to be at the bottom of the list and unfortunately her show is for the simple fact that she's too nice.
Most judges like Judge Judy or Judge Mathis have no problem putting their foot down in the time of need.
Perez lacks that killer judge mentality which in result makes for a not-so entertaining show.
However, when I was watching this week, one of the plaintiffs in an episode had quite the unique name.
Schaunderion
Don't ask me how you would pronounce that name and if it weren't for the ability to pause live TV on the Tivo, I wouldn't have been able to spell it correctly.
I wonder how many takes it took the announcer to pronounce her name correctly...
Sadly, the name Schaunderion was the highlight of my 'Cristina's Court' viewing experience.
1 out of 5 Gavels
Comments: (30)
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By: Christina on 6/21/2008 10:23AM
I no longer watch any of the shows due to my work schedule, but when I was on maternity leave I did watch Cristina's court, and I think she is the best as far as judges on tv. She listens and makes her rulings based on facts and the law. She doesn't play favorites, and I like that at the end of the show she tells us her inside thoughts. Other judges interrupt, yell, and basically make their mind up b4 all the facts are displayed. Sometimes they don't even allow for all evidence to be heard. Especially Judge Joe Brown....he's the worst judge I've ever seen and interrupts b4 anyone can get a sentence out! Judge Cristina is a refreshing and positive role model for these types of shows...something that hasn't been there for a long time!
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By: Carol Moore on 11/03/2008 9:29PM
Judge Cristina's episode on Brian Kehoe/Janice Dickerson.........who was the Judge here! If Judge Cristina doesn't learn to control her court, like Judge Alex, Judge Pirro does, she will lose this viewer! I liked her at the beginning, but it's obvious she's "catering" to lower class cases............
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By: hipokets on 12/14/2008 12:12PM
McClendon vs Trent (11/24/08 & 11/25/08)
This case was heard in her court and we could not believe the comments made at the end of the show. She stated that the mother of the man that Christine Trent and her daughter, Paula set up for aggravated assault, was the driving force behind the persecution of Christine Trent. This is not true. Cristina knew the mother owned the website, and I won't go into why, but she did not know anything about what was put on the website unless she was told.
The fact is, the mother of the accused man was set up by Christine Trent and her daughter Paula on over 154 lies between a police report, protective order and trial. This mother supported Christine and her children by giving them money and other support. Christine Trent mislead the family, stating she was pregnant and accepted money from the monther of the accused man for prenatal care. She then spent the money on alcohol. Because of everything Christine Trent and Paula did, this mother had a stroke from the stress.
Christine and her mother, Barbara Schute, then stated that Robert McClendon violated the protective order. When it went to court, it was determined that they lied and it was dismissed, but it still cost this man $500, non refundable, which is a lot of money to a disabled man who gets $683 a month disability.
This man stands wrongfully convicted on perjured testimony, no other evidence, for aggravated assault. You can read the story at: www.americaswrongfullyconvicted.com. Make your own decision.
Thanks.
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By: satinee on 7/06/2009 11:52AM
I work every week day so I don't get to see this show much. I catch it occasionally when I am off from work. The times that I have seen the show, I disagreed with this judge. Yes, she has a calm demeanor, however I see a pattern of her finding the cases with Black people in it with shameful situations. It has become an attempt to use these people to get ratings similar to Jerry Springer. I am a Black women and it hurts me to see this. I also notice that this judge tends to side with Black men whom I can see as a viewer with common sense, lied their way through the hearing. She tries to project the Black women as desperate women who paid these men for their affection; which, on the contrary, Stevie Wonder can see that these men borrowed money from their former girlfriends and then did not want to pay back.
She reminds me of that ugly Rickie Lake, whom back in the days constantly tried to make Black women look bad. I am tired of this and I am just so embarrassed that judges like these are able to find Black women who don't mind being used like this.
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By: R. Anthony II on 2/03/2007 8:23PM
I find your comments odd in several respects.
First, I have not had the chance to watch Cristina's Court but based upon your blog I will be watching soon and likely frequently. Your ranking appears to be based upon a strange belief that since she is not loud and demeaning that she is no good. According to you, with 10 other judges constantly screaming and hollering to get themselves in the spotlight, I bet I'll find this show refreshing.
The forefather of this TV-court genre - Judge Wapner - carried himself in the exact same manner that you describe Judge Cristina - nice. He (and now she) decided to treat litigants with respect, compassion and honesty. Neither sensationalized or mocked the litigants. That is what court-TV seems to be about nowadays - negativity, ridicule, contempt - a charade.
Cristina's Court apparently may not be the 'freak show' you like but with the moral fiber of TV on the continued declined, she should be commended for acting nice and independently. There is plenty of common threaded court TV shows out there. Cristina's Court appears to be the only one that will be a needed and nice change of pace instead of all of the other ranting Judge Judy copycats. Those that I have watched lack such originality.
Second, it appears that you are completely out of touch with the reality of courtrooms in this country. I sit on the bench in one of the most overburdened courts in the nation. For the most part, America's jurists are not obnoxious, self-centered, Napoleon-complex, hyper-sensitive, egotistical and/or loud mouths. In fact, while these judges exist they are not the norm. Sure we have our moments – but not for every case, every day. The shows I have watched are definitely not reality - just more 'put-downs' shows for TV-sensationalism.
I urge you to take a step back before you write the next time to fully digest what is going on here. Our community continues to struggle to make marks in society and we have constantly been told to be different by not following in the footsteps of those 'fools' before us. In this case, this Latina is carving a way for herself which may be out the box for you to understand. I hope her show will be effective for others to understand that following the pack is not always the only or best way to succeed.
Thanks.
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By: Marcus on 2/03/2007 8:22PM
you are reading WAAAAAY too much into my posts, lol...
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By: Sandy on 2/19/2007 6:51AM
Here, Here R. Anthony! I too, am so sick and tired of these clowns for judges they have on television that I could scream. Judge Judy clearly has "little-man syndrome" (in her case, little-woman). She thinks she is the most intelligent person on the planet. Noone is that miserable and unhappy that they have to BUST off on every one that comes into her "so-called" court room. Then again, I don't know.... I've seen her husband! And if I hear that story about Judge Mathis' childhood one more time, I'm gonna knock my husband's 62" tv right off it's stand. So what, he survived the street life. So did a lot of folks (including myself). He is one of the nastiest, meanest persons on tv.
I like Judge Cristina Perez. She is a most needed refreshing change. You can talk to people with respect and still accomplish your mission. Keep up the good work Judge Cristina. And as for comment number 2, well put.
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By: de on 2/06/2007 10:24PM
I haven't seen her show due to the fact that I'm always busy. But, from what i hear, She has a great show. Unlike other court shows, She doesn't yell at the people in her courtroom. Vintage court show (aka, the old People's Court). Kudos to Judge Christina.
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By: Ikalean Wilkerson on 2/06/2007 10:22PM
I have been watching Christina's Court since it came on in my area and I watch it daily. I no longer watch Judge Judy or Judge Mathis. Both have become "mean" judges who think they are showing wisdom and toughness, but it has turned out to be rude and excessive sentences. Most times sentencing without hearing all the evidence. I don't even think of watching either of their shows any longer. I only look at Christina's Court and the other new female judge. I especially like Christina's comments after the judgement and she is always right on the money!
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By: Doris Perkins on 2/07/2007 5:06PM
I think that the powers that be should take all of the court cases off TV. The shows are just a step above Jerry
Springer and Maury Povich.
We need a news show that tells the truth. Information
about whats going on in South America, Mexico, Africa
Europe. We are so ignorant about the world.
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