The People’s Court has been cancelled, for the second time. The current incarnation of the daytime courtroom series will end with its current 26th season.
Debuting in first-run syndication in 1981, The People’s Court was the first court show to use binding arbitration. It was presided over by former Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Joseph Wapner. With the help of Rusty Burrell as his bailiff, Wapner’s show ran for 12 seasons and 2,484 half-hour episodes.
The series was revived four years later, in 1997, with former lawyer and Mayor of New York Ed Koch as arbiter. After two years, he was succeeded by former New York State Supreme Court Judge Jerry Sheindlin (husband of Judge Judy).
Sheindlin lasted less than two seasons before being replaced by retired Florida Circuit Court Judge Marilyn Milian in 2001. Milian has been leading the series ever since and is the longest-serving judge in the show’s long history. She was the first Latina judge to host a nationally syndicated television court show.
The news of The People’s Court series cancellation comes as the result of changing and challenging conditions in the daytime syndication market. Last month, it was announced that Dr. Phil is ending after a 21-year run. Many other syndicated informational series ended in 2022, including Dr. Oz, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, The Good Dish, Maury, The Real, and The Wendy Williams Show.
The People’s Court is a Ralph Edwards/Stu Billett Production and Warner Bros. Unscripted Television in association with Telepictures. It is distributed by Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution.
Judge Mathis, which is also distributed by Warner Bros., has also been cancelled, after 24 seasons.
What do you think? Have you enjoyed watching The People’s Court series over the years? Will you miss seeing this program on the schedule?
Oh my this is a great loss. I seriously look forward to the Peoples Court every day. Judge Mulian is the absolute best.
Lol. I believe that this crappy judge should be canceled. I made the mistake of trusting her and her producers to treat me and my case fairly and they lied. After flying across country and being picked up in Newark, NJ only to be driven to a crappy hotel in CT near the studio where the show is shot to spend the night. I was driven to the show the next morning where I was asked to sign a prepared statement completely mischaracterizing my case. I insisted on making changes to correct the errors. When I was led into the… Read more »
LOL!! That’s what all the people who lose say!!
People’s Court is the best court tv show available. I hate to see it end. I have enjoyed it for years.
“Changing and challenging conditions in the daytime syndication market” to which they’re unable to adjust. I don’t trust the reasoning behind either of these cancellations.
I’m so unhappy about this. Judge Marilyn Milian is my favorite judge. Did Judge Judy have anything to do with this? I wouldn’t be surprised. She is so full of herself. Not unhappy about Judge Mathis. He’s not very professional. But will really miss The People’s Court.
Agreed 100%
Neither “Judge Judy” (the TV show syndicated in reruns only by CBS) nor Judith Scheindlin (who now presides “Judy Justice” on Amazon Prime Video & FreeVee networks), control the universe. The People’s Court is syndicated by Warner Bros TV, and you can put the blame on Warner Bros Discovery for the decision.
If anything, you might see Marilyn Milian – and hopefully John Schlesinger, too – also soon turn up on a streaming platform like Amazon / FreeVee.
She already has a new show coming in the fall “Justice for the People with Judge Millian” with Allen Media
Mathis also has a new show in the hopper.
This is so distressing. I have recorded her show every day for years and even watch the reruns. I really enjoy her. I also like how her and John talk at the end of the show. Losing the show was almost like losing a family member
I cannot believe my favorite court show is ending. Some things should be preserved on principal, not just dollars. Judge Milian is the best. I also hope another network sees the value of her and the show.
Can’t believe it. I watch her everyday! This is a mistake. I hope she comes back with her own show and shows them up! Thank You Marilyn for many wonderful years of learning and entertaining us.
Will miss the show!
I will miss this show. I love true court shows as you learn more than, the average person. I had thought of being a lawyer but my dad said no, could only afford college for my brother, I would be a secretary. Plus we had over 20 lawyers and judges in the family already. My brother joined the Marines and I was recruited by one of our Intelligence Agencies in D.C. I was only there 8 months when I had to resign to return home to care for my Mom who was dying from cancer. She signed me up for… Read more »
This stinks. It is the only daytime show that I watch.
This is one of 2 shows I watch when de-stressing. Judge Milian is wise, witty, fair, and compassionate. She is stern without being “nasty.” Will definitely miss her. On another note, times and how we watch tv have changed. Like many of my friends and relatives, I have not watched regular tv programming in over 15 years and liked being able to choose which episode of People’s Court to watch from the many options available on YouTube.
People’s Court was the best. Judge Warner was great, Mayor Koch was the worst, but Judge Milian was the greatest, I hope she creates another show.
I am hugely disappointed in the cancellation of these two shows. Court shows are all I watch during the day. I guess it will be ID all day after these shows are gone.
We should sue her! HA HA!