History Series / ThePeoplesCourt

* CatchPhrase: From the first episodes from the original series (in the fall of 1981) onward, it has always been, "Don't take the law into your own hands. Take them to court.

->''"What you are about to witness is real. The participants are not actors. They are the actual people who have already either filed suit or been served a summons to appear in a California (or New York Metropolitan) Municipal Court. Both parties in the suit have agreed to dismiss their court cases and have their disputes settled here, in our forum — '''The People's Court'''." [Current version: "...They are actual litigants with a case pending in civil court. Both parties have agreed to drop their claims, and have their cases settled here, before Judge Marilyn Milian..."]''

* CatchPhrase: From the first episodes from the original series (in the fall of 1981) onward, it has always been, "Don't take the law into your own hands. Take them to court."

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In addition to the judge-bailiff turnover, Levin originally had a co-host, Carol Martin, who previously was an anchor at New York City TV station WCBS.

* DudeNotFunny: At least once in the original Wapner version – the case involved some sensitive issues – a small number of observers were chuckling at one of the litigant's answers. Wapner paused and (sternly) told the observers to knock it off or he'd have them escorted out.

** In the original series, the first couple of seasons saw most of the cases being simple arbitrations, with rather bland, dull cases being heard. At least one episode – likely from the fall of 1981 – uploaded to video sharing websites was a simple dry cleaning dispute. In most of these cases, the litigants simply answered the judge's questions and did not try to interrupt (intentionally anyway) or call the other litigant names, etc. When the judge delivered his decision, the litigants – except to answer a direct question – simply listened respectfully, and while some of the litigants were understandably disappointed with the outcome, they generally accepted Wapner's decision in good stride or chalked it up as a lesson learned.

* CatchPhrase: Like ''JudgeJudy'', Marilyn Milian has her own set of catch phrases:
** "Did I breathe and give you the impression I was done speaking?"
** "You redefine chutzpah!"
** "As my grandmother used to say, ''Un clavo saca el otro clavo'' - One nail drives out the other." (And various other "dichos," or short sayings/proverbs in [[GratuitousSpanish Spanish]]. The judge is very proud of her Cuban-American heritage.)
** "Who am I gonna believe, you or my lying eyes?"
** "I wouldn't believe you if your tongue came notarized."
** "NOT here! NOT today! And NOT in my courtroom!"
** "If everyone can stop playing 'quien es mas macho' we wouldn't be here"
*** As far as the overall catch phrase, from the first episodes from the original series (in the fall of 1981) onward, it has always been, "Don't take the law into your own hands. Take them to court."

** In the original series, the first couple of seasons saw most of the cases being simple arbitrations, with rather bland, dull cases being heard. At least one episode – likely from the fall of 1981 – uploaded to video sharing websites was a simple dry cleaning dispute. In most of these cases, the litigants simply answered the judge's questions and did not try to interrupt (intentionally anyway) or call the other litigant names, etc. When the judge delivered his decision, the litigants – except to answer a direct question – simply listened respectfully, and while some of the litigants were understandably disappointed with the outcome, they accepted it in good stride or chalked it up as a lesson learned.

** In the original series, the first couple of seasons saw most of the cases being simple arbitrations, with rather bland, dull cases being heard. At least one episode – likely from the fall of 1981 – uploaded to video sharing websites was a simple dry cleaning dispute. In most of these cases, the litigants simply answered the judge's questions and did not try to interrupt (intentionally anyway) or call the other litigant names, etc. When the judge delivered his decision, the litigants – except to answer a direct question – simply listened respectfully, and while some of the litigants were understandably disappointed with the outcome, they accepted it in good stride or accepted it as a lesson learned.

The UrExample of the judge talk show, ''The People's Court'' had its pilot episode taped in October of 1980 and premiered on September 14, 1981 when Judge Joseph Wapner took the court to the TV. The premise is that two parties, a plaintiff and a defendant, that would otherwise take their cases to small claims court would instead agree to have their case settled on television by Judge Wapner. After the verdict was given, each side would be interviewed by host and court reporter Doug Llewelyn, who would often end the show with the CatchPhrase "Don't take the law into your own hands: you take 'em to court."[[note]]However, if a case ended with a verdict for the defendant,Llewelyn would instead end the episode by saying, "If someone files a lawsuit against you and yet you're convinced you've done nothing wrong, don't be intimidated. Just be sure to stand up for your rights: go to court."[[/note]] The show's other two regulars were bailiff Rusty Burrell and announcer Jack Harrell. The show was created by John Masterson, who previously created and produced ''QueenForADay''. It was executive produced by Ralph Edwards, who previously created and/or produced ''Series/TheCrossWits'', ''TruthOrConsequences'', and ''Series/NameThatTune'', and his production partner, Stu Billett. Both men packaged the show under their own separate companies until 1987, when the companies merged. The show was originally distributed by Telepictures until 1986, when that company merged with Creator/{{Lorimar}}, creating Lorimar-Telepictures. Lorimar-Telepictures continued to distribute until 1989, when it was purchased by Creator/WarnerBros, who continued to distribute until the show's cancellation in 1993.

->''"What you are about to witness is real. The participants are not actors. They are the actual people who have already either filed suit or been served a summons to appear in a California (or New York Metropolitan) Municipal Court. Both parties in the suit have agreed to dismiss their court cases and have their disputes settled here, in our forum — '''The People's Court'''." [Current version: "...They are actual litigants with a case pending in civil court. Both parties have agreed to drop their claims, and have their cases settled here..."]''

The UrExample of the judge talk show, ''The People's Court'' had its pilot episode taped in October of 1980 and premiered on September 14, 1981 when Judge Joseph Wapner took the court to the TV. The premise is that two parties, a plaintiff and a defendant, that would otherwise take their cases to small claims court would instead agree to have their case settled on television by Judge Wapner. After the verdict was given, each side would be interviewed by host and court reporter Doug Llewelyn, who would often end the show with the CatchPhrase "Don't take the law into your own hands: you take 'em to court."[[hottip:*:(If a case ended with a verdict for the defendant, however, Llewelyn would instead end the episode by saying, "If someone files a lawsuit against you and yet you're convinced you've done nothing wrong, don't be intimidated. Just be sure to stand up for your rights: go to court.")]] The show's other two regulars were bailiff Rusty Burrell and announcer Jack Harrell. The show was created by John Masterson, who previously created and produced ''QueenForADay''. It was executive produced by Ralph Edwards, who previously created and/or produced ''Series/TheCrossWits'', ''TruthOrConsequences'', and ''Series/NameThatTune'', and his production partner, Stu Billett. Both men packaged the show under their own separate companies until 1987, when the companies merged. The show was originally distributed by Telepictures until 1986, when that company merged with Creator/{{Lorimar}}, creating Lorimar-Telepictures. Lorimar-Telepictures continued to distribute until 1989, when it was purchased by Creator/WarnerBros, who continued to distribute until the show's cancellation in 1993.

The UrExample of the judge talk show, ''The People's Court'' had its pilot episode taped in October of 1980 and premiered on September 14, 1981 when Judge Joseph Wapner took the court to the TV. The premise is that two parties, a plaintiff and a defendant, that would otherwise take their cases to small claims court would instead agree to have their case settled on television by Judge Wapner. After the verdict was given, each side would be interviewed by host and court reporter Doug Llewelyn, who would often end the show with the CatchPhrase "Don't take the law into your own hands: you take 'em to court."[[hottip:*:(If a case ended with a verdict for the defendant, however, Llewelyn would instead end the episode by saying, "If someone files a lawsuit against you and yet you're convinced you've done nothing wrong, don't be intimidated. Just be sure to stand up for your rights: go to court.")]] The show's other two regulars were bailiff Rusty Burrell and announcer Jack Harrell. The show was created by John Masterson, who previously created and produced ''QueenForADay''. It was executive produced by Ralph Edwards, who previously created and/or produced ''Series/TheCrossWits'', ''TruthOrConsequences'', and ''Series/NameThatTune'', and his production partner, Stu Billett. Both men packaged the show under their own separate companies until 1987, when the companies merged. The show was originally distributed by Telepictures until 1986, when that company merged with {{Lorimar}}, creating Lorimar-Telepictures. Lorimar-Telepictures continued to distribute until 1989, when it was purchased by Creator/WarnerBros, who continued to distribute until the show's cancellation in 1993.

* EveryEpisodeOpening: "This is the plaintiff..." "This is the defendant...he's accused of (insert horrible pun here)." "(Insert page quote here)". Bailiff: "All rise, the honorable judge (current judge here) presiding." Judge: "You may be seated."

''"Don't take the law into your own hands; take 'em to court."''

The UrExample of the judge talk show, ''The People's Court'' had its pilot episode taped in October of 1980 and premiered on September 14, 1981 when Judge Joseph Wapner took the court to the TV. The premise is that two parties, a plaintiff and a defendant, that would otherwise take their cases to small claims court would instead agree to have their case settled on television by Judge Wapner. After the verdict was given, each side would be interviewed by host and court reporter Doug Llewelyn, who would often end the show with the CatchPhrase "Don't take the law into your own hands: you take 'em to court."[[hottip:*:(If a case ended with a verdict for the defendant, however, Llewelyn would instead end the episode by saying, "If someone files a lawsuit against you and yet you're convinced you've done nothing wrong, don't be intimidated. Just be sure to stand up for your rights: go to court.")]] The show's other two regulars were bailiff Rusty Burrell and announcer Jack Harrell. The show was created by John Masterson, who previously created and produced ''QueenForADay''. It was executive produced by Ralph Edwards, who previously created and/or produced ''Series/TheCrossWits'', ''TruthOrConsequences'', and ''Series/NameThatTune'', and his production partner, Stu Billett. Both men packaged the show under their own separate companies until 1987, when the companies merged. The show was originally distributed by Telepictures until 1986, when that company merged with {{Lorimar}}, creating Lorimar-Telepictures. Lorimar-Telepictures continued to distribute until 1989, when it was purchased by WarnerBros, who continued to distribute until the show's cancellation in 1993.

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** "As my grandmother used to say, ''Un clavo saca el otro clavo'' - One nail drives out the other." (And various other "dichos," or short sayings/proverbs in Spanish. The judge is very proud of her Cuban-American heritage.)

->''"What you are about to witness is real. The participants are not actors. They are the actual people who have already either filed suit or been served a summons to appear in a California (or New York Metropolitan) Municipal Court. Both parties in the suit have agreed to dismiss their court cases and have their disputes settled here, in our forum — '''The People's Court'''." [Current version: "...They are actual parties with a case pending in civil court. Both parties have agreed to drop their claims, and have their disputes settled here..."]''

The UrExample of the judge talk show, ''The People's Court'' began in 1981 when Judge Joseph Wapner took the court to the TV. The premise is that two parties, a plaintiff and a defendant, that would otherwise take their cases to small claims court would instead agree to have their case settled on television by Judge Wapner. After the verdict was given, each side would be interviewed by host and court reporter Doug Llewelyn, who would often end the show with the CatchPhrase "Don't take the law into your own hands: you take 'em to court."[[hottip:*:(If a case ended with a verdict for the defendant, however, Llewelyn would instead end the episode by saying, "If someone files a lawsuit against you and yet you're convinced you've done nothing wrong, don't be intimidated. Just be sure to stand up for your rights: go to court.")]] The show's other two regulars were bailiff Rusty Burrell and announcer Jack Harrell. The show was created by John Masterson, who previously created and produced ''QueenForADay''. It was executive produced by Ralph Edwards, who previously created and/or produced ''Series/TheCrossWits'', ''TruthOrConsequences'', and ''Series/NameThatTune'', and his production partner, Stu Billett. Both men packaged the show under their own separate companies until 1987, when the companies merged. The show was originally distributed by Telepictures until 1986, when that company merged with {{Lorimar}}, creating Lorimar-Telepictures. Lorimar-Telepictures continued to distribute until 1989, when it was purchased by WarnerBros, who continued to distribute until the show's cancellation in 1993.

The UrExample of the judge talk show, ''The People's Court'' began in 1981 when Judge Joseph Wapner took the court to the TV. The premise is that two parties, a plaintiff and a defendant, that would otherwise take their cases to small claims court would instead agree to have their case settled on television by Judge Wapner. After the verdict was given, each side would be interviewed by host and court reporter Doug Llewelyn, who would often end the show with the CatchPhrase "Don't take the law into your own hands: you take 'em to court."[[hottip:*:(If a case ended with a verdict for the defendant, however, Llewelyn would instead end the episode by saying, "If someone files a lawsuit against you and yet you're convinced you've done nothing wrong, don't be intimidated. Just be sure to stand up for your rights: go to court.")]] The show's other two regulars were bailiff Rusty Burrell and announcer Jack Harrell. The show was created by John Masterson, who previously created and produced ''QueenForADay''. It was executive produced by Ralph Edwards, who previously created and/or produced ''[=~The Cross-Wits~=]'', ''TruthOrConsequences'', and ''Series/NameThatTune'', and his production partner, Stu Billett. Both men packaged the show under their own separate companies until 1987, when the companies merged. The show was originally distributed by Telepictures until 1986, when that company merged with {{Lorimar}}, creating Lorimar-Telepictures. Lorimar-Telepictures continued to distribute until 1989, when it was purchased by WarnerBros, who continued to distribute until the show's cancellation in 1993.

After ''JudgeJudy'' started the judge show revival in the mid-1990s, one of the first shows on the block was a {{revival}} of ''The People's Court''. Former New York City mayor Ed Koch initially took the bench for the first two years, then was replaced by Jerry Sheindlin (husband of Judge Judy). He was replaced by Marilyn Milian in 2001, who presides over the court today. The bailiff during the Koch-Sheindlin years was Josephine Ann Longobardi. After Milian took the bench, she was replaced by Davy Jones and, later, Douglas [=MacIntosh=]. Curt Chaplin took over the interview duties and became the new announcer, while host Harvey Levin, who worked on the Wapner version as the show's legal consultant, explains the legalese behind the judges' decisions while polling fans gathered outdoors.

** "As my grandmother used to say, ''Un clavo saca el otro clavo'' - One nail drives out the other."

->''"What you are about to witness is real. The participants are not actors. They are the actual people who have already either filed suit or been served a summons to appear in a California (or New York Metropolitan) Municipal Court. Both parties in the suit have agreed to dismiss their court cases and have their disputes settled here, in our forum — '''The People's Court'''."''

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: So many instances with Judge Milian, all a MomentOfAwesome for her.