It's not making the world blind, it's making it ghetto + inexplicable...

So, I wasn't paying attention at the end of Craig Ferguson, which ends at 2:00 AM, and when I got back to the TV this show was coming on, it had a "Judge Alex"/"Judge Judy" style opening beginning, and I'm always into those trashfests, so I thought I'd keep watching it.

The first case was ridiculous. It didn't seem staged at all. Some poor black lady was suing this, like, 17 year old average looking kid who worked at Best Buy or something, or probably a shiftier version. She had seen an ad in the paper for a HD TV and had brought enough cash to buy it. This kid, who at first ws reluctant to say he worked on comission, had shown her around all of the choices in his store, and then when she brought the (different) TV home, her son told her it was the wrong one and she tried to bring it back. There was nothing wrong with it, so this kid said it was "store policy" that they couldn't accepted it back.

I really could not figure out what was the real story, probably part of the attraction of the show, usually. What disturbed me (I don't know if that is exactly the correct word for it) was the "verdict". The judge didn't really listen to this kid's side at all, and it seemed like the kid had really properly been doing his job. This lady, who said he jipped her because she was old, neglected to tell the court on record her age (if they even had a record) and simply identified herself as a "Senior Citizen". The judge, after an untold deliberation time, came out and said that OBVIOUSLY, this kid was trying to take advantage of this poor old woman, and said he would have to pay her his supposed comission fee, $700.

Now, when I was a teenager, I didn't even have $100 in my bank account, but it turned out this kid had around $500. He had to take ALL of this money out of his savings account, something he didn't appear to have been at all prepared for, AND THEN COMES THE MOST INSANE PART: the "judge" told this kid that he wasn't leaving without paying this lady the money he owed her (even though she never had to return the TV)and was then instructed to take off his shoes and a bid was placed in the audience. The kid's nice leather shoes were purchased by some redneck lady for $50. Then went his watch, his belt, his silver ring, all fine valubles that at least looked like they were worth a bit more than $10 a piece. Not enough money. The judge then told him he was to take off his PANTS, they were then sold for $20. It was later noted, though not shown on camera that this kid eventually had to even sell his sweaty oxford shirt, leaving him only his undershirt and boxers to walk out of the courtroom (set).

I really CAN NOT BELIEVE this show exists. I don't think it's staged, but I've only seen 18 minutes of it. The next case was an Iraq vet who was suing her husband for $180 and for cheating on her when she was deployed. The man continually tried stating that he thought his wife to be dead at the time as he hadn't spoken to her or any of her unit for 2 1/2 years. The judge said that he not only was cheating on his wife, he was cheating on America.

Knowing real judges, I can say that they usually don't show up on time, don't read the case files, don't pay attention for at least a teeny part of the trial, but they always listen and don't allow the plantiff and defendant to get into a all-in-out screaming match, and the people watching don't ever cheer, or offer to buy the defendant's pants.

"Eye For An Eye" is a crusty booger stain on the robes of the American justice system. I sure hope this show doesn't air in Europe (though how could it?) because that would just be yet another American sound-bite that makes for an easy joke.

Thanks to ANYONE who read this, I HAD to write it, and even if you are just going to rebute what I just said. It is 3 AM and I really just wrote a seven paragraph message board post about the worst show I have ever seen, excluding Home Improvement or According to Jim.