Jury Duty (TV series)

infobox television
show_name = Jury Duty


format = Reality court show
runtime = 22 minutes approx. (excluding commercials)
creator =
starring = Bruce Cutler
country = USA
network = Syndicated
slogan = "Don't Even Try Getting Out Of It"
first_aired = September 17,2007
last_aired = present |

"Jury Duty" is an American syndicated reality-based court show that premiered on September 17, 2007. Initial market clearances, according to "Broadcasting & Cable", were at least 60 percent of the nation's television markets ^{[http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6419253.html]} .

The show is produced and distributed by Radar Entertainment.

"Jury Duty" is still airing in many markets in the United States and on the WGN America cable network, which airs the series late nights from Sunday to Thursday following "The Steve Wilkos Show".

Format

The concept of the show is similar to many of the court shows on American television, where two litigants in a civil case present their case before a "judge" (in this case, former defense attorney Bruce Cutler). However, what sets "Jury Duty" apart is a panel of three celebrities that serves as the show's titular "jury," and who are given their notices at the beginning of each episode.

The presentation of the case is divided into two segments. The first segment is conducted as normal court shows, with Cutler hearing the litigants' arguments. The second segment involves the three jurors cross-examining the litigants, after which Cutler gives the jury their instructions and reminds them what they must do to determine a verdict.

After the commercial break following the presentation of the case, the litigants are taken out of the courtroom and the home audience is shown the panel's deliberations. Whatever they've decided is revealed to the litigants in the next segment.

As in a regular criminal case, the three jurors must come to a unanimous verdict. If they can't do that, then Cutler renders his own verdict (just like in most small claims cases and TV court shows).

After the verdict is presented, the show closes with the jurors giving their reactions to the case.

External links

* [http://www.juryduty.tv "Jury Duty" official website]
*
* [http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6419253.html Initial article announcing "Jury Duty"]