Judith Sheindlin

TV Judge

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In her two-hour interview, Judge Judith Sheindlin discusses in detail her transition from being a New York Family Court judge (where she was known as "America's toughest judge") to becoming a phenomenal television success as "Judge Judy." She chronicles her rise to notoriety, which peaked when she was featured on 60 Minutes. From that appearance, she soon was offered the opportunity to bring her "no excuses" judicial philosophy to the small screen. Judge Sheindlin talks about Judge Judy's flawed pilot and how the show found its footing early on. She also discusses her courtroom demeanor (including her famous "Judy-isms") and talks about the production details of the show. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on December 1, 2009 in Beverly Hills, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"If you're going to try to make a fool of the justice system by not following the rules, by flaunting its orders, by not abiding by the laws of the place where you live, there is a consequence. I am your consequence."

People Talking About ...

Judith Sheindlin

Highlights

Judith Sheindlin on being a "truth machine" on Judge Judy

01:22

Judith Sheindlin on her appearance on 60 Minutes and why she agreed to do the piece

08:13

Judith Sheindlin on her court room set on Judge Judy, and on making it as much like a "real" court as possible

03:34

Judith Sheindlin on the catchphrases, or "Judy-isms" of Judge Judy

03:14

Judith Sheindlin on being called "Judge Judy"

00:53

Judith Sheindlin on watching The People's Court and knowing she could do better, by using humor

01:00

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On her early life and influences; on growing up watching Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater, and on meeting Berle years later; on her childhood fantasy of becoming a star

On learning comedic timing from her father and from a family friend; on watching The People's Court and knowing she could do better, by using humor; on her education, and on her first marriage

On becoming a prosecutor for Family Court in New York City; on being a "law and order girl" and how to apply flexibility in law, within parameters, and on unacceptable behavior; on her reputation as a tough family court judge

On getting across the message that the justice system means business; on the most frustrating aspect of being a family court judge; on her trademark lace collar

On her appearance on 60 Minutes and why she agreed to do the piece; on how the show Judge Judy came about and her opinion of televising the courtroom; on the pilot of Judge Judy and the difficulties in filming a real courtroom

On wanting to name her show Hot Bench or Judy Justice; on the name Judge Judy; on dealing with the business-end of her show, Judge Judy

Chapter 2

On adjusting to to being a judge on television on Judge Judy; on her court room set on Judge Judy, and on making it as much like a "real" court as possible; on her producers, Timothy Regler and Randy Douthit, and on the production of the show

On not changing her ways as a judge when she started on Judge Judy, and on the impact the show has had; on a typical production day on Judge Judy; on how Judge Judy operates as an arbitration rather than a court of law

On being a "truth machine" on Judge Judy; on the catchphrases, or "Judy-isms" of Judge Judy; on Judge Judy's impact on young people, and on her impartiality

On standing by the decisions she makes on Judge Judy; on dealing with the fame that resulted from Judge Judy; on Judge Judy being nominated for Emmy Awards

On her contract negotiations to continue doing Judge Judy; on other court shows, and on the longevity of Judge Judy; on the cases on the show

On the impact Judge Judy has had on society; on the power of television; on playing herself on various shows

On Law & Order; on career achievements and regrets; on advice to an aspiring daytime television personality

On why she is successful; on how she would like to be remembered

Shows

60 Minutes

Judith Sheindlin on her appearance on 60 Minutes and why she agreed to do the piece

08:13

Emmy Awards, The (Primetime and Daytime)

Judith Sheindlin on Judge Judy being nominated for Emmys

00:35

Judge Judy

Judith Sheindlin on how Judge Judy came about, and her opinion of televising the courtroom

04:23

Judith Sheindlin on the pilot of Judge Judy, not being an actress, and the difficulties in filming a real courtroom

01:40

Judith Sheindlin on wanting to name her show Hot Bench or Judy Justice

01:46

Judith Sheindlin on her trademark lace collar

01:14

Judith Sheindlin on being called "Judge Judy"

00:53

Judith Sheindlin on dealing with the business-end of her show Judge Judy

04:23

Judith Sheindlin on adjusting to to being a judge on television on Judge Judy

03:34

Judith Sheindlin on her court room set on Judge Judy, and on making it as much like a "real" court as possible

03:34

Judith Sheindlin on her producers, Timothy Regler and Randy Douthit, and on the production of Judge Judy

04:33

Judith Sheindlin on not changing her ways as a judge when she started on Judge Judy, and on the impact the show has had

04:51

Judith Sheindlin on a typical production day on Judge Judy

01:23

Judith Sheindlin on how Judge Judy operates as an arbitration rather than a court of law

02:24

Judith Sheindlin on being a "truth machine" on Judge Judy

01:22

Judith Sheindlin on the catchphrases, or "Judy-isms" of Judge Judy

03:14

Judith Sheindlin on Judge Judy's impact on young people, and on her impartiality

04:11

Judith Sheindlin on standing by the decisions she makes on Judge Judy

01:08

Judith Sheindlin on the litigants on Judge Judy

00:39

Judith Sheindlin on dealing with the fame that resulted from Judge Judy

02:13

Judith Sheindlin on Judge Judy being nominated for Emmy Awards

00:35

Judith Sheindlin on her contract negotiations to continue doing Judge Judy

04:01

Judith Sheindlin on other court shows, and on the longevity of Judge Judy

03:45

Judith Sheindlin on the cases on Judge Judy

04:03

Judith Sheindlin on the impact Judge Judy has had on society

02:10

Judith Sheindlin on playing herself on various shows

01:13

Law & Order

Judith Sheindlin on Law & Order

02:12

People's Court, The

Judith Sheindlin on watching The People's Court and knowing she could do better, by using humor

01:00

Judith Sheindlin on her husband, Harry Sheindlin, taking over as judge on The People's Court

01:47

Texaco Star Theater

Judith Sheindlin on growing up watching Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater, and on meeting Berle years later

01:58

Topics

Advice

Judith Sheindlin on advice to an aspiring daytime television personality

02:04

Characters & Catchphrases

Judith Sheindlin on the catchphrases, or "Judy-isms" of Judge Judy

03:14

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Judith Sheindlin on learning comedic timing from her father and from a family friend

02:27

Emmy Awards

Judith Sheindlin on Judge Judy being nominated for Emmys

00:35

Fame and Celebrity

Judith Sheindlin on dealing with the fame that resulted from Judge Judy

02:13

Pivotal Career Moments

Judith Sheindlin on learning comedic timing from her father and from a family friend

02:27

Pop Culture

Judith Sheindlin on being called "Judge Judy"

00:53

Judith Sheindlin on her trademark lace collar

01:14

Judith Sheindlin on the catchphrases, or "Judy-isms" of Judge Judy

03:14

Judith Sheindlin on dealing with the fame that resulted from Judge Judy

02:13

Television Industry

Judith Sheindlin on the power of television

01:30

Judith Sheindlin on advice to an aspiring daytime television personality

02:04

Professions

Hosts

View Profession

Judith Sheindlin on her court room set on Judge Judy, and on making it as much like a "real" court as possible

03:34

Judith Sheindlin on not changing her ways as a judge when she started on Judge Judy, and on the impact the show has had

04:51

Judith Sheindlin on advice to an aspiring daytime television personality

02:05

Television Judge

View Profession

Judith Sheindlin on her court room set on Judge Judy, and on making it as much like a "real" court as possible

03:34

Judith Sheindlin on not changing her ways as a judge when she started on Judge Judy, and on the impact the show has had

04:51

Judith Sheindlin on advice to an aspiring daytime television personality

02:05

Genres

Comedy Series

Judith Sheindlin on growing up watching Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater, and on meeting Berle years later

01:58

Legal Dramas

Judith Sheindlin on Law & Order

02:12

News and Documentary

Judith Sheindlin on her appearance on 60 Minutes and why she agreed to do the piece

08:13

Reality TV

Judith Sheindlin on watching The People's Court and knowing she could do better, by using humor

01:00

Judith Sheindlin on Judge Judy

13:05

Judith Sheindlin on Judge Judy

49:27

People

Milton Berle

View Interview Page

Judith Sheindlin on growing up watching Milton Berle's Texaco Star Theater, and on meeting Berle years later

01:57