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?
PLEASE DONT END THIS
I have been watching the People’s Court since it started. I love Judge Marilyn. She is the best.
I don’t understand how they cancel this show that has honesty and respect for people and keep all the trashy reality shows no wonder people behave the way they do these days with no integrity and honesty to each other.
I don’t understand why this show has been cancelled. Best court show on tv along with Judge Millian, I learned a lot from this show. Maybe she could do her own show. Pleases put this show back on or a replacement with Judge Millian as the judge.
WHY? I’ve been watching every day for a while now. I’ve taken notes, used things I learned from Judge Millian and included some things I learned in rental contracts I use as a landlord. I also have things I learned ready to go for the next rental contracts and for other activities I expect to need in the future.
It was more than just entertaining. Thank you People’s Court! Please come back!
Can NOT believe this! Please figure out another way. I love the banter between John and Marilyn!!! Help. Please.
I was stunned. She was my favorite. I just retired and enjoyed taking a break in the afternoon to watch her show. Hopefully another opportunity for her will appear. Wish it wasn’t so.
Will lose the best part of my day
How can they cancel the best court show on tv. We need honesty in life and you always got that with Judge Marilyn. I will miss her terribly. No replacement for this show.
Say it isn’t so!!!! No people’s court??!!! Cancelled for no good reason yet the ludicrous and boring hot bench remains…..stupid-drama divorce court remains…..someone in admin and management at tv production needs to be fired for this abominable decision. Booooo hissss! Miss Marilyn is so good at what she does, so photogenic and intelligent and just plain all around cool, why, why,why? Well, maybe she and her nice husband John can take over the horrid Kelly Ripa and mark consuelo roles on their asinine show, I’m sure Marilyn and John would bring way more class to that dismal production.
As a big fan of the Court TV programs (like Judge Judy, Hot Bench and People’s Court) for many years, my favorite of them all has been People’s Court with Judge Marilyn Milian. Hearing her personal experiences as she and her husband chat at the end of each episode was a bonus. I hope the series will play reruns like they and the others have, as I never get tired of seeing them.
I am 75 years old and I have never enjoyed a t v show like the peoples court ( with judge Milian). I was watching the last show when they announced that that would be the last show and I couldn’t believe it. I taped every show for years and watched them all. I was undecided when John joined the the show but grew to really like him, we are so much alike. They were just both my kind of people. I already miss ya’ll so much and nobody will ever take your place. Good luck.
I have thoroughly enjoyed Judge Marilyn as she arbitrated cases on “The People’s Court”. One of the best Judges on TV, she brought class, wisdom, toughness, and kindness as skill sets to the show. She clearly knows the law, and she was firm, but fair in her decisions. This country needs more Judges like her. I wish her much success as she enters the next chapter of her life. She is smart, wise, and knows her business well, so she will be a-ok.
I don’t understand why this was cancelled when so many lesser court shows are still on. This is one of the few court shows that has actual litigants and not the bad actors as on the other shows. It makes a huge difference!
Judge Milian, Thank you for all you wonderful work, I have watch from the beginning. You brought compassion and insight into the law. I have learned what I needed to present a decent small claims case of my own and I won. Enjoy your retirement
I have watched this show since I was a teenager and I’m 54 now. Judge Milian hands down was the best in terms of fairness, being kind to litigants who needed it and being tough on the ones that deserved it. She also was great giving advice and shared her motherly wisdom in hopes of bringing together people who were feuding. She is smart, beautiful and such a humanitarian.
I will miss the show very much, I watched almost every day. I do think the judge yelled too much and talked about her family experiences way to much and sometimes got it totally wrong. But all in all I liked it. I hope it comes back with a calmer judge like Wapner was. He and Rusty were great although Douglas is great too. Get a new judge and start again!
Why get rid of such a great show. Will be missed greatly.