Judge Maria Lopez, a court show featuring the first female Hispanic judge appointed to the Massachusetts Superior Court, is set to debut in syndication next September.
"Judge Maria Lopez's dynamic personality and strong appeal to female and Hispanic viewers will have a big impact in the thriving court genre," said John Weiser, president of distribution at Sony Pictures Television.
The distributor signed a talent-holding deal this year with Lopez, who is described as having an outspoken, no-nonsense approach on the bench.
The show will air on such key stations as WPIX-TV New York, WCIU-TV Chicago, and KYW-TV/WPSG-TV Philadelphia.
The Lopez news marks the second clearance announcement for a first-run syndicated show launching next fall, following last week's announcement that NBC Universal Domestic Television Distribution has cleared Will & Grace star Megan Mullally's new daytime talker in four top markets.
Glad to have some latino representation on the 'reality' TV.
Great, just what the world needs, another Judge Whoever show... Judge shows are like lawyers now, they are everywhere and everyone is one.