SERIES / 1999

Snap Judgment

Snap Judgment was a daily American legal comedy television program, which aired on CourtTV from 1999 to 2000, hosted by commentator Lionel, and created by The Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead. Court TV described it as "an irreverent, satirical and 'judicially incorrect' look at the absurdities that exist in all areas of the legal system." According to a review in the New York Observer, "Snap Judgment, hosted by the AM radio personality currently known as Lionel, is a novelty for Court TV, a satirical examination of the process it otherwise treats so reverently. The show contains court testimony from absurd lawsuits and profiles of obscure players in the legal profession." According to The New York Times, "Shown on weeknights, the show features Lionel offering sardonic commentary on legal events in the news and video excerpts from trials, often from small-claims courts. An "expert" then joins Lionel in analyzing the cases. One recent case: a fight between two neighbors over injury to a chicken that inspired producers to book the Chicken Man, whose usual job is on-street promotion for poultry dinners."