Ambulance Chasers! Quiz | TV Mixture

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. One of the first judge shows in the U.S. to achieve widespread popularity was "The People's Court." Which of the following judges was the first to serve on that show when it premiered in 1981?

Answer: Judge Joseph Wapner

Judge Wapner presided over "The People's Court" for its first twelve years. Each of the other three possible answers have been judges on the show since that time. Judge Ed Koch was the Mayor of New York before he hosted the show. Judge Jerry Sheindlin was the third judge on "The People's Court," and he is the husband of another even more famous TV judge, Judge Judy. Judge Marilyn Milian has presided over "The People's Court" since 2001.

In 2009, Judge Wapner came back to guest-host the show in honor of his 90th birthday. Judge Wapner also starred in perhaps the strangest of all judge shows, "Judge Wapner's Animal Court," which dealt with cases involving pets or other animals and aired on Animal Planet in 2008 and 2009.

2. The first court show on U.S. television was "Divorce Court," which started airing from 1957 to 1969, then aired again from 1985 to 1992, and has currently been on the air for a third run since 1999. Which of the following Judges has NEVER presided over "Divorce Court"?

Answer: Judge Judith Sheindlin

Judge Judith Sheindlin has her own successful judge show, "Judge Judy" and has never presided over "Divorce Court." The other three judges mentioned have all starred on the show. The current version of "Divorce Court" is different from its predecessors, it is less sensationalistic and features real couples trying to reach real agreements.

They agree to accept the court's decisions as legally binding as well. Judge Lynn Toler began her tenure as the judge on "Divorce Court" in 2006.

3. The first Judge Show featuring an openly gay judge on US TV was the short-lived "Judge David Young".

Answer: True

"Judge David Young" was on the air for two years from 2007-2009. His style was personable and engaging, and he often had humorous exchanges with litigants, while always keeping things under control. The show was cancelled in 2009 due to low ratings, though it was still aired on other channels as repeats after cancellation for a couple of years. Judge David Young said his goal in appearing on his show was to be a role model and a source of hope for lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans-gender youth.

4. Most judge shows in the U.S. are 30 minutes long and settle one or two cases. There is one Chicago-based judge show that is an hour long and normally settles four cases. This popular show aired its 2000th episode in 2008 and celebrated it's 10th anniversary in 2009. Which of the following shows is it?

Answer: Judge Mathis

"Judge Mathis" has been on the air since 1999 and airs daily in markets all over the U.S. Judge Mathis has seen all sides of the justice system, beginning as a youth on the wrong side of the law who was sentenced in juvenile court and went to jail, but who later went on to study law and become a judge, turning his life around after his dying mother begged him to do so.

5. One judge show that is different from the others deals solely with offenders who have had problems with alcohol and/or other drugs. In this show, the litigants don't come forward to sue each other over civil matters, they agree to join a program to help them give up their addictions and avoid going back to jail. Which of the following shows is it?

Answer: Last Shot with Judge Gunn

The series stars Judge Mary Ann Gunn, who gives small-time drug offenders an alternative to prison, which is the "Last Shot" referred to in the title of the show to turn their lives around. The concept is similar to real-life Drug Court, and has been criticized for misrepresenting itself and casting troubled people while in substance-abuse programs. Fans say that the show is making the concept of Drug Court more widely known to a broader audience.

6. There is a Cuban-American TV Judge whose hair has gotten darker and darker each season since it first aired in 2006. The show is now filmed in LA, but it used to be based in Houston. The show always opens with the bailiff saying, "All rise. This court is now in session. The Honorable Judge __________ Ferrer presiding."

Answer: Alex

"Judge Alex" is a hugely popular judge show, and one that I hope does not get cancelled soon. Judge Alex is the only television judge who is a former policeman, attorney and judge. His experience shows as he settles all types of cases with a no-nonsense attitude and well-reasoned rulings. Judge Alex has been named one of People Magazine's "Sexiest Men Alive."

7. Which female judge used to use the slogan "Justice isn't always black and white" to open her show?

Answer: Judge Karen Mills-Francis

Judge Karen has been on the air twice (once from 2008-2009 with a show called "Judge Karen" and again from 2010-2011 with one called "Judge Karen's Court"). Both times ratings were lower than expected, though Judge Karen has many loyal fans. She is a feisty blonde African-American judge who wears bright burgundy robes instead of the more traditional black ones.

The latest version of the show was cancelled in 2011, but it can still be seen as repeats. The other judges mentioned are or have been TV judges.

8. There is one judge show that is more popular than the rest, perhaps because of the fiery and combative manner of its presiding judge. This judge summarizes each case, does not allow litigants to ramble on, and often yells at them for folding their arms or not making eye contact. Which of the following judge shows is it?

Answer: Judge Judy

"Judge Judy" premiered in 1996 and has led in the ratings from the start in this type of show. The show has been confirmed through 2015, which will be the 19th season. People either love or hate Judge Judy, and as she is fond of saying, they don't keep her on the show because she is pretty, they keep her there because she's smart.

9. Judge Jeanine Pirro's show was cancelled after three seasons, and she went on to host a show analyzing current events and issues from a legal perspective called "_____________ with Judge Jeanine".

Answer: Justice

Judge Jeanine Pirro was a prosecutor in Westchester, NY, before becoming a TV Judge. On her show, litigants came forward and would be paid up to $5000 when the Judge decided their cases. After the original reality show was cancelled in 2011, Judge Jeanine Pirro went on to host the news recap and analysis show on Fox News.

10. On judge shows in the US, it is possible for one or both of the litigants to be sent to jail, if the TV Judge so orders.

Answer: False

Most judge shows in the U.S. operate on the level of civil small-claims courts, and the TV judges are not authorized to decide criminal matters. In fact, the financial decisions made on Judge shows never come out of the litigants' own pockets. The shows themselves award funds to the litigants, depending on the amounts they are suing for, up to a limit of $5000.

Source: Author shuehorn

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor kyleisalive before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Ambulance Chasers! Trivia Quiz

Judge shows! Good, bad or indifferent, all dispense justice to civil plaintiffs/defendants who have decided to represent themselves, though they'd probably be better off with real lawyers, even ambulance chasers! See how many you know.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>