Cristina Perez - Five Minute Recess

Judge Cristina

Recently, I received the news that I was nominated for my first Daytime Emmy Award—in the brand new court category. I can’t tell you what a privilege it is to be nominated in a category with such diverse legal talent. I’ve been a Judge-Host of court shows like “La Corte de Familia” (Telemundo/NBC) and now with my current show, “Cristina’s Court” (20th Television). I’m also privileged to be the first Spanish-to-English language crossover host in the court genre.

The Emmy nomination has inspired me to reflect on the court television genre—one I consider to be the first and true form of “reality television.” Court shows have been a TV staple. In my opinion, they are reality TV at its finest. Aside from some courtroom antics and crazy cases, they also can be educational, as they present and solve real life problems as well as promote an opportunity to display the importance of values and accountability for one’s actions in life.

Court shows are the ultimate unscripted dramas, told with enthusiasm, passion and some drama. Some cases may appear trite and over nominal amounts, however, on Cristina’s Court, the message we want to give viewers is that we can learn to use the law to protect and help, versus as a tool for abuse and manipulation. If this comes across the airwaves, then we are on the right track. If people use the law solely to belittle, punish, and seek revenge, or as a shield to take away rights, the more it will erode.

Now, back to reality TV. I’m sure you’ve heard of a new show recently premiered featuring actress/model Denise Richards (“Denise Richards: It’s Complicated”). The show will apparently document the personal lives of Richards and her two young daughters. FYI, prior to filming, it took a court ruling to decide that her children can legally be included in the show.

Generally, reality shows document personal lives as graphically and intimately as possible. What is the fascination with other people’s lives that we need to have cameras brought into their homes and go through their dirty laundry as if it’s our own? Also, what would make a person want to air their private life (and their families) to the world?

How will this particular show affect the children? Albeit, their mother now has the ‘legal’ right to have the kids on the program. We can only hope that she knows what is in the best interests of her children. Also, what is fascinating and quite ironic is that most celebrity parents go to extraordinary lengths to protect their children’s privacy from the media, understanding that celebrity can be a double-edged sword.

These are children whose parents have been discrediting each other in the media very publicly. Whether or not we believe that the children have been completely sheltered from their parents’ often-nasty divorce battle, we have to consider if there is any benefit at all for these or any children to have their whole lives put on a TV show. What’s the purpose? Is it to somehow show who is the better parent or to validate that one parent is a ‘great’ parent?

This reminds me of a proverb I learned: “La mejor palabra es la que no se dice” which loosely translates into, “the best word is the one that is not said.” So, with that, enough said for now. See you in Court.