or


[01/23/14 - 10:01 AM]
New Syndicated Court Show Created by Judge Judy Sheindlin Is a Go for Fall 2014
"Hot Bench" adds a new dimension to the court genre, with a panel of three judges hearing court cases, arguing the merits of the case amongst themselves and rendering a verdict.

[via press release from CBS Television Distribution]

NEW SYNDICATED COURT SHOW CREATED BY JUDGE JUDY SHEINDLIN IS A GO FOR FALL 2014

"Hot Bench" Sold to Stations in 75% of the Country Including Stations in the CBS Television Stations, Tribune Broadcasting Company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Cox Media Group, Meredith Corp., LIN Television Corp., Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Journal Broadcast Group, Gray Television and Cowles Publishing Company

LOS ANGELES - January 23, 2014 - CBS Television Distribution (CTD) has sold the new syndicated court strip HOT BENCH in 75% of the country for a Fall 2014 launch, it was announced today by Armando Nuñez, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CBS Global Distribution Group.

Created by Judge Judy Sheindlin, who headlines the #1 show in syndication JUDGE JUDY, HOT BENCH was sold to stations in the following station groups: CBS Television Stations, Tribune Broadcasting Company, Sinclair Broadcast Group, Cox Media Group, Meredith Corp., LIN Television Corp., Nexstar Broadcasting Group, Journal Broadcast Group, Gray Television and Cowles Publishing Company. The strip will air mostly in afternoon and early-fringe time periods.

"Judy Sheindlin has been a very important part of the CBS family for many years, and everyone at our company is excited to launch this new show and bring Judy's creative vision to the air," Nuñez said. "Court has traditionally been a strong performer for stations, and we're sure this unique take on the genre will be a great addition to the lineups of our station partners."

HOT BENCH adds a new dimension to the court genre, with a panel of three judges hearing court cases, arguing the merits of the case amongst themselves and rendering a verdict.

"When my husband Jerry and I were in Ireland recently, we visited the courts and watched a three judge bench, which I found both fascinating and compelling," Sheindlin said. "I immediately thought what a terrific and unique idea for a television program that brings the court genre to the next level. We have assembled three individuals with extremely varied backgrounds to serve as the judges. They are smart and talented, with terrific instincts and great chemistry, and are sure to create a 'hot bench.' "

'Hot Bench' is a term used to describe a court where the judge or judges frequently interrupt lawyers' presentations with questions, often leading to lively exchanges.

HOT BENCH's trio of judges are Judge Patricia DiMango and attorneys Tanya Acker and Larry Bakman.

DiMango is a New York State Supreme Court Judge in Brooklyn. According to a recent New York Times front page story, she is known for her "brash style and forceful personality," as well as her efficiency in closing old cases. She was appointed to the bench by Mayor Rudolph W. Guiliani in 1995. She graduated from St. John's University School of Law and received her master's degree in developmental psychology from Teacher's College at Columbia University while teaching third grade at Public School 164 in Brooklyn.

Acker is a Los Angeles-based practicing attorney and political, social and legal commentator. She is a graduate of Yale Law School and earned her undergraduate degree at Howard University in Washington DC. Her television appearances include "Good Morning America," "The O'Reilly Factor," "Anderson Cooper 360," "CNBC Reports," "Larry King Live" and "Issues With Jane Velez Mitchell." She has also appeared on Sky News in Great Britain and has been a contributor to the "Huffington Post."

Bakman, a member of the State Bar in California and New York, has had a private legal practice in Los Angeles since 1983. His practice focuses on defending clients charged with complex federal and state criminal violations, such as conspiracy, fraud, assaults and narcotic possession and distribution. Bakman is a graduate of Southwestern Law School and earned his undergraduate degree at UCLA.

HOT BENCH is created by Judge Judy Sheindlin and executive produced by Randy Douthit, who currently serves as Executive Producer and Director of JUDGE JUDY. The half-hour strip will be produced and distributed by CBS Television Distribution.

CBS Television Distribution is the preeminent company in television syndication. CTD produces or distributes 11 first-run series and holds the largest distributed television library at 70,000 hours strong. Among CTD's critically-acclaimed programs are the #1 syndicated series Judge Judy; talk leader Dr. Phil; the #1 and #2 rated game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!; the Emmy Award-winning talk shows Rachael Ray and The Doctors; the #1 and #2 newsmagazines Entertainment Tonight and Inside Edition, along with The Insider; the late-night talk show The Arsenio Hall Show; the freshman talk show The Test; and popular off-network product, including the CSI and Star Trek franchises, Everybody Loves Raymond, Frasier, NCIS, Criminal Minds, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, Hawaii Five-0, Hot in Cleveland and Undercover Boss. In addition, CTD handles the domestic television distribution of CBS News, CBS Films and Showtime. CTD is a unit of CBS Corp.





  [january 2014]  
S
M
T
W
T
F
S
   


· HOT BENCH (SYNDICATION)
· JUDGE JUDY (SYNDICATION)





[09/03/25 - 11:04 AM]
Peacock Announces November 24 Premiere Date for "Bel-Air's" Fourth and Final Season
In season four of Peacock's "Bel-Air," Will tries to balance the fun and excitement of senior year with the expectations that have brought him to this moment.

[09/03/25 - 11:02 AM]
New Episode of HBO Original Documentary Series "The Case Against Adnan Syed" Debuts September 18
This all-new episode chronicles Adnan's personal journey from incarceration to freedom, and his eventual reunion with family after 23 years behind bars.

[09/03/25 - 11:01 AM]
"The Kelly Clarkson Show" Returns with All New Episodes on Monday, Sept. 29
New season guests include Emily Blunt, Marion Cotillard, Colin Farrell, Scarlett Johansson, Dwayne Johnson, Matthew McConaughey, Lionel Richie, Julia Roberts, Shonda Rhimes, Margot Robbie, Sylvester Stallone, Channing Tatum, Reese Witherspoon and others.

[09/03/25 - 10:35 AM]
FOX Sports Wraps Inaugural NTT IndyCar Series Season with Largest Viewership Growth of Any Sport
The 17-race 2025 season scored in a big way, averaging 1,362,000 viewers according to Nielsen Media Research, a +27% year-to-year increase from 2024 and the most-watched season in 17 years.

[09/03/25 - 10:25 AM]
Sophie Turner Confirmed as Lara Croft in Upcoming Prime Video New Series "Tomb Raider"
Jonathan Van Tulleken will serve as director and executive producer and Chad Hodge joins as co-showrunner and executive producer.

[09/03/25 - 09:31 AM]
"Jake Makes It Easy" Returns with All-New Episodes 9/29 at 10pm ET/PT on FYI Network
With his impressive culinary background and love of hosting and bringing people together through food, each half-hour episode showcases how Jake pulls from Jewish and Middle Eastern influences, family, and friends to create stress-free delicious dishes that always feel like a celebration.

[09/03/25 - 09:30 AM]
HBO Max to Stream Live All Elite Wrestling Pay-Per-View Events, Starting with "AEW All Out" on Saturday, September 20 at 3 P.M. ET
Also, earlier in the week on Wednesday, September 17, TBS and HBO Max will be live from London, Ontario for a special three-hour show - September to Remember - starting at 8 p.m. ET, featuring AEW's biggest names in non-stop high-flying action as they set the stage for the signature pay-per-view event that weekend.

[09/03/25 - 09:04 AM]
Video: Prime Video Releases a Killer Official Trailer for Seasons One and Two of "Helluva Boss"
The trailer celebrates the greatest moments from the first two seasons and teases new footage from the original episode.

[09/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Warner Bros. Pictures Partners Exclusively with AMC Theatres and Dolby to Return New Line Cinema and Andy Muschietti's Blockbuster "IT" to Select Big Screens Worldwide, Ahead of the Upcoming Debut of the HBO Original "IT: Welcome to Derry" on HBO Max
At the screenings, audiences will also be treated to an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the making of the upcoming series "IT: Welcome to Derry," set in 1962.

[09/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Video: "The Happy Mess Method" - Official Trailer - The Roku Channel
Organizational expert Sabrina Soto and New York Times bestselling author Jennifer McCartney help celebrity and non-celebrity clients find realistic and sustainable methods for keeping their homes tidy.

[09/03/25 - 09:01 AM]
Winter Is Here! The History Channel's "Ice Road Truckers" Returns for Season 12 on October 1
From its original series premiere in 2007 to a several years long hiatus, the fearless truckers return like never before to the treacherous terrain of icy roads and frozen lakes in Northern Canada delivering crucial supplies and necessities to isolated communities.

[09/03/25 - 09:00 AM]
HBO Original Comedy Special "Caleb Hearon: Model Comedian" Debuts September 19
In his debut stand-up special, filmed in front of a sold-out crowd at Constellation in Chicago, the presentation showcases Hearon's ability to unpack life's most absurd contradictions with his signature charm and razor-sharp wit.

[09/03/25 - 07:35 AM]
Food Network's "Harry Potter: Wizards of Baking" Kicks Off the Holidays with a New Chapter of Magical Dessert Artistry
Chapter Two will feature even more spellbinding creations, enchanted elements and baking wizardry as a new field of competitors embark on the experience of a lifetime.

[09/03/25 - 07:31 AM]
Video: "Rebel Royals: An Unlikely Love Story" - Official Trailer - Netflix
The film offers viewers an intimate look at the controversial love story between Norwegian king's eldest child, Märtha Louise, and Hollywood's self-proclaimed spiritual guru, Durek Verrett.

[09/03/25 - 07:16 AM]
Andscape Announces Powerful New Three-Part Documentary Series "Memphis to the Mountain"
The series will premiere on Hulu and Disney+ on September 5.