Genre Court show/Comedy Updates Weekly (Wednesdays) Debut 1 November 2010 | Language English Length 30–60 min. Provider Maximum Fun | |
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Judge John Hodgman is a weekly, comedic court show podcast hosted by humorist John Hodgman and distributed online by Maximum Fun.
Contents
The program features host John Hodgman acting as a judge (with Jesse Thorn as bailiff) adjudicating real-life disputes within a fictional courtroom setting.
History
Judge John Hodgman was originally a segment of the Maximum Fun podcast Jordan, Jesse Go!. When Hodgman ended his podcast Today In The Past, he began Judge John Hodgman as a full-fledged podcast.
Format
In each episode, "Judge" John Hodgman hears and renders a judgment on a dispute (often over petty or trivial matters) between two people (calling in via Skype or similar program from their home location) in a virtual "courtroom" setting. Hodgman's co-host most episodes is "bailiff" Jesse Thorn, who introduces each episode, interjects humorous questions and observations during cases, and interviews the disputants before and after Hodgman's verdict is announced. Several episodes have also included notable "expert witnesses" who call in and offer their insight into the case. Though Hodgman has no formal legal training or experience (often describing himself as dispensing "fake internet justice"), and much of the content is played for laughs and entertainment, the disputants in each episode do verbally agree to abide by Hodgman's ruling before their case is heard.
There are also separate episodes in which Hodgman and Thorn "clear the docket", discussing and ruling on cases which were not selected for a full hearing.
Guests
When Jesse Thorn is not available, his role has been filled by "Guest Bailiffs", including Scott Adsit, Elna Baker, Monte Belmonte, Elizabeth Gilbert, Jordan Morris, Tom Scharpling, and Jake Tapper. "Expert witnesses" calling in to offer their insights into cases have included Kurt Braunohler, Alton Brown, Brother Ali, Jonathan Coulton, Dante, John Darnielle, Jane Espenson, Jonathan Goldstein, Jonathan Miles, Eugene Mirman, David Rees, Mary Roach, John Roderick, Paul F. Tompkins, Morgan Webb, and Jon Wurster.
When Judge John Hodgman has been taken on the road and performed in front of a live audience, one or more musical guests have been invited to perform after or in between cases. These performers include John Darnielle, Jonathan Coulton, Jean Grae, Mr. Len, and MeLa Machinko.
On occasions that Hodgman was not available to record an episode, Jesse Thorn has acted as judge, with Jordan Morris of Jordan, Jesse, Go! filling in as bailiff.
Episodes
Since the podcast's inception in 2010, over 300 episodes of Judge John Hodgman have been produced.
Judge John Hodgman: Maritime Edition
In January 2011, two cases involving participants on the Jonathan Coulton Cruise Crazy were adjudicated by Judge John Hodgman and posted on YouTube.
Newspaper column
Judge John Hodgman appears as a newspaper column in The New York Times Magazine every Sunday, in which Hodgman settles disputes in a similar fashion.
Reception
In November 2010, Boing Boing's Mark Frauenfelder wrote "Only three episodes of the Judge John Hodgman podcast have been produced, but I know that it's going to be one of my favorites." Boston's Thomas Lewis called Judge John Hodgman a "hilarious podcast".
In 2013, Arizona muralist Joe Pagac created art for Judge John Hodgman entitled "Sexy Justice". "Sexy Justice" has since been made available via online retailer TopatoCo as prints.
In 2014, Rolling Stone ranked Judge John Hodgman #15 in their list "The 20 Best Comedy Podcasts Right Now".