Comics run TV courtrooom

A new TV show sees two genuinely warring sides argue their case in front of a judge – veteran comic Dom Irrera – with other stand-ups acting as their lawyers.

Supreme Court Of Comedy, which airs on satellite TV station DirecTV, follows the same format as The People's Court or Judge Judy, but with a twist.

Comedians who have acted as attorneys have included Tom Arnold, Paul Rodriguez and Sinbad – and cases are chosen because of their comedy value. One has concerned a stolen sex tape, another was about a woman who accused her husband of going out in her clothes.

The show was the brainchild of Jamie Masada, owner of the Los Angeles Laugh Factory, where Michael Richards made his infamous racist outburst in 2006, and it is filmed inside his club.

Masada said he came up with the idea after being hit by a lawsuit by one of his customers, which claimed that the man sitting next to him howled with laughter so much that his hearing was damaged.

Masada said: ‘It was so ridiculous. I thought, “This is a TV show.”

‘Our courtrooms are already bogged down with ridiculous cases and frivolous claims. Supreme Court of Comedy takes these cases out of the courtroom and puts them where they belong: a comedy club.’

Eric Shanks of DirecTV added: ‘Everyone should use comedians as their lawyers — it would make the world a better place.’

Here’s a clip from the show:

Published: 8 Apr 2008