Order in the court! We're settling the score between daytime TV's most iconic judicial shows. From their memorable theme songs to their distinctive judicial styles, we're examining everything that makes these shows unique. Which show will come out on top in this courtroom showdown?
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00:00Okay, so from the beginning...
00:02SHOW ME PROOF THAT YOU PAID HIM RENT!
00:05Welcome to Ms. Mojo, and in this installment of Versus,
00:08we're rendering our verdict on whether Judge Judy Scheinlin
00:12or Judge Marilyn Millian has the better long-running court show.
00:15Why would you say that?
00:17Why would I say that?
00:18Yes.
00:19Because I can.
00:21Round 1. Theme music.
00:24Judge Judy has had a few theme songs throughout the years.
00:27When the show premiered in the mid-90s,
00:30it sounded a lot different.
00:32But as times changed,
00:33the show settled on a mash-up of Beethoven's Symphony No. 5
00:37with some added percussion and bass.
00:39You are about to enter the courtroom of Judge Judith Scheinlin.
00:44This is Judge Judy.
00:47That piece is already known for its severe, stately sound.
00:51That's why it's such a perfect theme for Judge Judy.
00:54Sure, a TV judge is pretty modern,
00:56but Judge Scheinlin is very old-fashioned in her methods.
01:00Using a seminal piece of classical music
01:02matches Judge Judy's strictness and insistence
01:06on a respectful, straight-laced courtroom.
01:08Meanwhile, the People's Court has used the same theme
01:11since the very first incarnation of the show,
01:14and it shows its age.
01:15Both parties have agreed to dismiss their court cases
01:19and have their disputes settled here,
01:21in our forum,
01:23the People's Court.
01:25Composed by Alan Stanley II
01:26for the British series The Hanged Man,
01:29this theme is dramatic
01:30and very much echoes the show's theme of justice,
01:33law, and order.
01:34Both parties have agreed to drop their claims
01:37and have their disputes settled here,
01:39in our forum,
01:40It's got a driving, percussive beat
01:46and a bit of funk to it
01:48that makes it simultaneously fun
01:49and a little ridiculous.
01:52But that's exactly what's so great about it.
01:54As the litigants walk down the aisle
01:56with the narrator's over-the-top introduction
01:58to their case and the theme playing,
02:00there's always a sense of camp and fun to it.
02:02This is the defendant, Natalie Jean.
02:06She says she rented a two-family house from the owner
02:09and rented the first floor to the plaintiffs.
02:12Then, out of the blue,
02:13the owner was foreclosed on
02:14and tried kicking everyone out of the house quickly.
02:17Both themes perfectly sum up
02:19the different tones of the show they belong to,
02:21but in terms of iconic music,
02:23we have to go with Judge Judy on this one.
02:26The rulings are final.
02:27This is her courtroom.
02:29This is Judge Judy.
02:32Winner, Judge Judy.
02:34Judge Judy 1, The People's Court 0.
02:37Round 2, Laying Down the Law.
02:40Let's get to the judges themselves.
02:42Judge Shineland made her name
02:44with her tough, no-nonsense attitude.
02:46I can control it with this little finger.
02:51Put the water down.
02:54See what I mean?
02:55She makes it clear from the jump
02:57that if you're in her courtroom,
02:59you're expected to behave in a way she sees fit.
03:02If you speak out of turn, speak over her,
03:04or don't maintain professional decorum,
03:06she might just throw your case out.
03:08Shut up.
03:09I'm sorry.
03:10You keep saying you're sorry.
03:11You can't control yourself.
03:12Are you on some kind of medication
03:13that you can't control yourself?
03:15No, I'm asking you a serious question.
03:16That's a serious question.
03:17No.
03:18Then you keep saying I'm sorry.
03:19I didn't understand when I could interject.
03:22When you could interject?
03:23Never.
03:24Not unless I ask you a question.
03:25Okay.
03:26Furthermore, if you come to court
03:29on a case involving a car
03:30and you don't have insurance,
03:32you're toast.
03:33It doesn't matter.
03:34You don't drive a car without insurance.
03:37That's irrelevant.
03:39Not to me it isn't.
03:40Maybe to you.
03:41Judge Judy doesn't play about car insurance,
03:44negligent dog owners,
03:46or people who want help
03:47enforcing unlawful contracts.
03:49In her courtroom,
03:50the law is black and white.
03:52I'm going to get the dog.
03:53Oh, if I excuse you,
03:54I may step out.
03:55What did he just say?
03:56Wait here.
03:56Excuse me?
03:57I didn't say nothing, Your Honor.
03:58I want to know what he just said.
03:59I didn't say nothing.
04:00Where do you come from?
04:01I come from here.
04:02From here?
04:02Yes, Los Angeles.
04:03He's getting no money.
04:05Got it?
04:06Neither is she.
04:07Got it?
04:08You got it?
04:09The atmosphere on the people's court
04:11is not so rigid.
04:12Judge Melian demands
04:13a certain level of respect,
04:15but she's not policing
04:16what people do with their hands
04:18or whether or not
04:19they can get a drink of water.
04:21In fact,
04:21some litigants have won a case
04:23even after admitting
04:24to certain unlawful behaviors.
04:27That would never fly on Judge Judy.
04:29However,
04:30that doesn't mean Melian is lenient.
04:32All of these other numbers
04:33that she arrives at
04:34are just silly.
04:36May I?
04:36No, you may not talk ever again
04:38in my court.
04:40You have to earn her contempt,
04:42but once you have it,
04:44it's hard to shake.
04:45And when she finds your conduct
04:47truly offensive,
04:48hell hath no fury quite like hers.
04:50You have no idea.
04:52Do you know what you put
04:52these parents through?
04:54Do you know the suffering
04:55they went through?
04:56Do you know the tax dollars
04:57that you spent
04:58by having this massive manhunt
05:01with helicopters going on
05:03while you kept your little mouth
05:05shut about her whereabouts?
05:06Commanding respect in the courtroom
05:08is something these TV judges
05:10have in common.
05:11But Judge Judy has grown men
05:13scared of taking sips of water.
05:15So, she wins out here.
05:17Winner, Judge Judy.
05:19Judge Judy 2,
05:20The People's Court 0.
05:22Round 3.
05:23Listening to Litigants
05:24Some daytime hosts
05:26are interested in your problems.
05:28Judge Judy is not.
05:30That's not his fault.
05:31That's not his fault.
05:32But you know what?
05:33As a mother,
05:34I did what I had to do.
05:35You did what you had to do.
05:36You have to pay him $4,700.
05:38As she often reminds her guests
05:40when they get a little too long-winded
05:42or a little too sorry for themselves,
05:44she's not Dr. Phil.
05:46Listen to me.
05:47You want to talk about
05:48your mother and your stepfather's
05:49odd relationship,
05:50go on Dr. Phil.
05:52Your sob stories
05:52do not interest her.
05:54Much of her time on the show
05:56is spent telling litigants
05:57she doesn't care
05:58what they have to say.
05:59I don't care.
06:00Mr. Ramirez,
06:01I gotta tell you something.
06:02You're irritating.
06:05You're irritating.
06:06Now, at the same time,
06:07Your Honor...
06:07Don't talk to me
06:08while I'm moving.
06:09Oh, I'm sorry.
06:10I can't walk and chew gum
06:11at the same time.
06:12She wants her cases cut and dry
06:14without editorializing
06:16or nuance.
06:17Stray too far from the point
06:18and she will let you know it.
06:21And God help you
06:22if you get between her
06:24and her lunch.
06:25Do you understand
06:26what I just said to you?
06:27I said between now
06:28and the time we come back
06:29from a much-needed lunch,
06:31I want you to bring up
06:33during that same time period
06:35cards that you posted for sale.
06:37Do you understand?
06:38Yes, ma'am.
06:39Perfect.
06:40Judge Millian's approach to law
06:41allows her to connect
06:43with her litigants.
06:44She generally allows them
06:45to tell her their vision
06:47of events in their own words.
06:49More than that, though,
06:50she genuinely seems affected
06:51by cases that are
06:52emotionally challenging.
06:54This case breaks my heart.
06:56It really does.
06:57All right?
06:58Fix it.
06:59Just fix it.
07:00Fix it.
07:01Forgive each other
07:02and fix it.
07:03Okay?
07:03Fix it.
07:05Okay?
07:05Life is too short
07:06and then you're going to
07:06end up regretting it later.
07:08Fix it.
07:08Honor Tiffany by fixing it.
07:10You!
07:11Carry your weight around here
07:12and make them fix it.
07:13The People's Court
07:14doesn't shy away
07:15from the details
07:16of cases that deal
07:17with broken families,
07:18loss,
07:19and women with low self-esteem
07:20being taken advantage of.
07:22And you've got to fix you
07:24because you're too young
07:26to have no confidence.
07:28Too young and too pretty
07:29to have no confidence like this.
07:31It's clear to see
07:32that Millian's entire practice
07:34is based in compassion
07:35for the people
07:36who come through her courtroom.
07:37But even she has her limits.
07:39If she feels like
07:40you're avoiding questions
07:41and wasting her time
07:42to try to lie,
07:43she'll get you right together.
07:45It itches me here
07:46and you're scratching me here.
07:47You're not answering my questions.
07:48These judges take different approaches
07:50to gathering information,
07:52but the People's Court
07:53gets the win here
07:54for Judge Millian's empathy
07:56for the people in her courtroom.
07:58Winner, the People's Court.
08:00Judge Judy 2,
08:02the People's Court 1.
08:04Round 4.
08:05Humor.
08:06Judge Judy clearly loves a good laugh.
08:08The only problem
08:09is she's usually laughing
08:11at her litigants,
08:12not with them.
08:14I called her and I told her
08:14I wanted to work things out
08:15with Rocio.
08:16Did he ever tell you that?
08:17No.
08:18Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
08:21She's lying.
08:23No.
08:23Actually,
08:24it's only one liar
08:25standing there.
08:26That would be you.
08:27It's not that she doesn't like jokes,
08:29but in her courtroom,
08:31she better be the only one
08:32cracking them.
08:33While some of her insults
08:35can be a little unfair,
08:37there's a wicked joy
08:38in seeing her skewer
08:39someone who really deserves it.
08:41I don't believe.
08:42You don't believe what?
08:43Where did I say
08:44that I paid her?
08:45Uh,
08:45I told her
08:46I was going to pay for it.
08:46In fact, fans of the show might argue that she's at her best when she's cutting down
08:57airing litigants. But even when she's eviscerating somebody in front of millions of people,
09:02she can still have a little fun. It's just usually at someone else's expense.
09:16Now, that's a ridiculous lawsuit. It's a ridiculous waste of judicial time.
09:23On the other hand, Judge Marilyn Millian of the People's Court is pretty good humored.
09:29Even when her litigants say something truly unhinged, and maybe even illegal,
09:34she can find a way to laugh about it.
09:36How long have you been driving?
09:37For a long time. I drove for about 20 years without a driver's license.
09:42Did you get... She said that so proudly.
09:46There's a camaraderie between Millian and the people who come through her courtroom
09:50that Shailen would never tolerate. But that's what makes Millian lovable.
09:54She's definitely interested in connecting with and understanding the people who come to her for help.
10:00Millian achieves that through humor.
10:02You gambled and you didn't win the gamble.
10:06That's not what happened.
10:07That's exactly what happened.
10:08And until you see that that's what happened, it's gonna happen to you again.
10:13She's a natural performer, and she gets extra points for letting her audience laugh along with her.
10:19Because that's not necessarily a given.
10:22Out, out, out, out.
10:23This is because I fell yesterday off the bench.
10:26Okay, I was walking down.
10:28I took a hitter.
10:29I thought I busted my kneecap.
10:31Being funny and having a sense of humor aren't necessarily the same thing.
10:38And while Judge Judy is often funny, we have to give this one to Judge Millian and the People's Court.
10:45Winner, the People's Court.
10:47Judge Judy 2, the People's Court 2.
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11:05Round 5.
11:07The Supporting Cast
11:08Every judge has to have a bailiff.
11:10Officer Petri Hawkins Byrd, or Officer Byrd for short, was Judge Scheindlin's trusted court officer for the show's entire run.
11:19Stoic, crossword-playing Byrd had as much contempt for the litigants on Judge Judy as the woman herself did.
11:25Do you know what subsequent means?
11:27No.
11:28Okay, so then don't say no.
11:29Because it did happen subsequently, by the way.
11:32Happy birthday.
11:33Thank you very much.
11:34Whenever he had to walk that five or so feet to run evidence back and forth,
11:38you could always count on Byrd to look completely annoyed.
11:42But he and Scheindlin could be hilarious together as well.
11:45I don't make this thing up.
11:47How could you make this up?
11:48He's suing her for slander and assault because she knocked his head off.
11:52Often, Scheindlin would ask him to translate modern slang for her.
11:56Fans adore these two because though they share a gruff exterior, their affection for each other is real.
12:03I'll holler at you later.
12:05Could you translate that for me?
12:07Um, he said, I'll call you later.
12:11Is that what you said?
12:12Yeah, I'll talk to you later.
12:14On the People's Court, there are generally three other people on hand to help Judge Millian out.
12:19Bailiff Douglas McIntosh doesn't say much, but as far as court officers go, he's pretty chill.
12:25There have even been a few brief, flirty exchanges between him and Millian.
12:30Do you have what I need?
12:33Well.
12:33Well.
12:34I don't know.
12:35He got yelled at, too.
12:38While it is completely harmless, since the judge is most definitely married, the banter makes for a playful court environment.
12:49What sets the show apart, though, is the interviewer outside the courtroom to twist the knife in a losing party.
12:55You just had the book thrown at you by the judge, and everybody in the country is going to see this.
12:59How do you feel about this?
13:00Hello, everybody in the country.
13:01It's over.
13:02It's over?
13:03Yeah.
13:03You think you're coming off good in this?
13:06I guess.
13:07It's over.
13:09Are you stupid as I think you are?
13:11Doug Llewellyn was especially good at adding insult to injury in a satisfying and shady way.
13:17Presenter Harvey Levin usually gets some color commentary from the crowd outside, but admittedly, it's usually pretty awkward.
13:25Yeah, probably about 72 hours to at least.
13:27Do you think you have 72 hours?
13:28I think so, as long as it's within a week or so, yeah.
13:31I'm supposed to believe you because you're wearing a three-piece suit.
13:34Not at all.
13:35I just think it's realistically kind of common sense.
13:39I'm just kidding you.
13:40Sometimes less is more.
13:42The relationship between Judge Judy and Officer Bird is too good not to take the win here.
13:48Winner, Judge Judy.
13:49Judge Judy 3, The People's Court 2.
13:53With a final score 3-2, Judge Judy reigns supreme over the kingdom of court shows.
13:58And frankly, we'd be scared not to give her the win.
14:02This is what I needed to bring to say.
14:03No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
14:06I don't care what anybody told you.
14:08I want the title.
14:10Which court show is your favorite?
14:12Let us know in the comments.
14:14Forget about, I'm forgetting, I'm leaving you alone.
14:17I'm leaving you alone with the Jeep.
14:18Do you agree with our picks?
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