Divorce Court

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Weekdays 2:00 PM on FOX
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Show Summary

  • Returning Series
Courtroom-themed shows have been a staple of syndicated television for many years. One of the earliest and most enduring examples of this realtiy-based genre (long before the term "reality TV" had even been coined) is Divorce Court. It may be hard for some of today's younger audiences to believe, but the original Divorce Court bowed in 1957 and lasted 12 years in daily syndication. A new, harder-edged Divorce Court bowed in 1985 and ran another five seasons. The current version, involving real-life divorcing couples and even more hard-edged, bowed in 1999. In both versions, divorcing couples presented their stories before the judge Voltaire Perkins in the 1950s and 1960s version; William B. Keene (best known for presiding over the William Bonin "freeway killer" trial) issued his rulings in the 1980s. A new case was presented each day, with usually but not always both litigants seeking a divorce. The court reporter briefed the TV audience on the basics (the names, reasons for the divorce, how long they've been married and other issues the soon-to-be ex-couples wanted resolved (including child custody and asset division)). The attorneys each gave opening statements, while the litigants, along one or two supporting witnesses, giving their side of the story and enduring cross-examination. Many of the stories involved accusations of cruelty, adultery, desertion and irreconcilable differences, while the cases often had many strange twists and turns. And rather than focus on the henpecked wife's affair with the milkman or the husband's meddlesome mother interfering with and ultimately ruining the marriage Divorce Court focused on more sensational cases with "shock value." For example: A father who deliberately involved his children in "accidents" so he could collect on the insurance. He would pay them off by offering them presents and other rewards. The woman who hosted male-stripper parties overnight while her husband was "working late" and suspected of having an affair of his own. Frequently, the judge interviewed minor children involved in cases where child custody was at issue. The judge always rendered his decision by the end of the program and resolved other divorce issues, such as alimony, division of assets and child custody. Although the cases were fiction, they were said to be based on real-life divorce cases. Many of the stories during the 1957 and 1985 versions of Divorce Court explored serious issues, including racism, alcohol and drug abuse, war, cancer, grief, pornography and much more. In later years of the 1980s version, some divorce proceedings were played out over multiple shows; litigants (instead of spending five minutes on the stand and enduring a one-minute cross-examination), now could possibly spend the entire program on the stand. The court reporters interviewed the litigants prior to each show. Unlike the 1957 and 1985 incarnations, which used actors as the litigants and student attorneys to argue each case, the 1999 revival of Divorce Court was promoted as settling real-life divorce cases invovling acutal couples. The couples presented their stories before Judge Mablean Ephriam, who gave her decision and settled the requisite divorce issues at the end of the show. On Wednesday, April 1, 2009 and Thursday, April 2, 2009, a special two-part session of Divorce Court will air starring former evangelical prearcher Ted Haggard and his wife Gayle. Ted was one of America's most influential and respected Christian leaders until his secret life unfolded in the media headlines, with accusations of a drug fueled, affair with a male prostitute. Tune in and find out what Judge Toler has to say to both Ted and Gayle about the scandal that shocked the nation and made the once popular pastor an outcast.moreless
7.3
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Episode Guide

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S 1 :  Ep 2 Aired 10/3/03
S 1 :  Ep 1 Aired 10/2/03
S 1 :  Aired 10/16/03
Ep 2
Ep 1

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Fan Reviews (14)

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  • You'll definitely learn about love and hate

    7.0
    "Good"
    By T_VFan, Apr 29, 2012
    on this show! Like the stories on this show are appalling sometimes. It's a shame to see how many Americans divorce, but this show will definitely teach you how to overcome your bad experience in finances and love mishap. Some people really don't love each other to begin with. America is so odd for this... and this show makes me laugh at stories like that, but it also makes me cry. Emotional and empowering in an odd way!moreless

  • I was shocked and disgusted in yesterdays broadcast of divorce court on april 30,2007. when the judge made racial comments. thats terrible when will we all grow up . ecpecially know we have judges makeing racial commetntsmoreless

    8.5
    "Great"
    By joetm684, Nov 14, 2010
    I was shocked and disgusted in yesterdays broadcast of divorce court on april 30,2007. when the judge made racial comments it was gross and uncalled for . i will never watch this show again. She should be impeached off the bench. when she said us sister dont like it when our brother date white woman. that is so racial . its disgusting. does she even realize what she said. if tables were turned it would of been an all out war. who cares about what race any one is. i could care less. i have many friends and family of all different races and i find it affensive that a judge would put races in group this is one of many reasons why there is racism in america. That judge should be off the bench. thanks youmoreless

  • Male Bashers

    1.0
    "Abysmal"
    By toooldforhim, Mar 27, 2008
    The score should go to negative infinity because that is where shows like this belong.

    Why is it that they rule against a male in a male vs. female case most of the time. Is it because 1 - you do not beleive that a male can tellthe truth Nno mater what they state, 2 - iT would hurt your ratings, 3 - You have a cokplex against males, or 4 - You are purely and simply just a male basher. They need to realize that if there were no males on this planet, then the blanks and the blank wanna-bes, like them would die off and that would be a blessing to this civilzation.moreless

  • This show has improved so much since Judge Lynn Toler joined the cast. She is an extremely intelligent woman, who keeps to her roots without compromising her educational background and/or social knowledge. Kudos!!moreless

    8.0
    "Great"
    By debadavis, Nov 30, 2007
    Keep up the good work, Judge Toler, with your class and taste, intolerance of nonsence, and control over the court, although, you haven't lost your sense of humor and groundedness. Her down-to-earth and tasteful comments with regard to the litigants must be admired because there are times when I want to bash some of the swollen egos that emerge. She is far from being obnoxious; but definitely keeps it real with her professional judgments (relating back to her own experiences with marriage and family), in their ridiculous requests and their behavior, which most of the time, have brought them before her to begin with. My only negative comment pertains to the baliff, Joe. He should tone down the volume of his annoucement, "All rise..." at the start and end of each show. It is extremely loud and his voice tone seems to come across as unnatural. I don't understand why!! It signifies inexperience or his only chance to make an impression, which I know isn't. Otherwise, I think that his role is good--especially when he meets with the judge to address e-mails sent to the show after some segments.moreless

  • that judge maybelline, or however you spell it is horrible, and probably like Judge Judy should be disbarred, for some of their behavior.

    1.1
    "Abysmal"
    By kevinb4444, Mar 22, 2007
    She went off into some political rant, that wasn't even true by the way, in the middle of the court room, she isn;t there to do that, she is there to hear the case, and judge impartially. She was also on some other show and she seems very ignorant about world situations, I'm sure she is intelligent, but won't listen to other people. I still remember with Bill Kean it was alright, and before that, but she made this show worse than it was. It's already bad enough watching a show were someones marriage is breaking up, and then fighting over stupid stuff, but then when you have a judge like that I will pass on watching it.moreless
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Divorce Court Forums


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  • todays show
    I am watching Divorce court and the case now is a moron who wanted his wife to wait for his game to be over when she was in labor....
    By carolynd1, Jun 14, 2011
    06/14/11
    1
    Reply
  • just a note..
    Judge Toler -- I watched your show today -- It alone helped me realize that my husband is a deadbeat loser. My parents have never...
    By ldp1031, Jan 18, 2010
    06/14/11
    2
    Reply
  • While I sit and wonder
    Hello, As I sit and wonder why life is so hateful and full of broken dreams and promises. I still sit and wonder why? I wait for ...
    By MaileLeyva64, Jun 14, 2011
    06/14/11
    1
    Reply
  • I Don't Want To Lose Him
    Hello, I'm going through a situation where my husband is now seeing and living with a so called friend, well she is not a friend ...
    By MaileTorrez, Jun 08, 2011
    06/08/11
    1
    Reply
  • Where is Judge Maybeline?
    I've caught the previews for the new Divorce Court, and there is a new judge on the show. Does anyone know where Judge Ephram went...
    By ez1jb, Sep 20, 2006
    04/27/11
    12
    Reply

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