Latest news with #JudySheindlin
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Prime Video fans are bingeing 'high stakes' courtroom drama that makes them 'trust no one'
All eight episodes are available to stream on Prime Video Prime Video fans are binge watching a high stakes court drama that makes them "trust no-one". Justice on Trial is a gripping new series from judicial icon Judge Judy Sheindlin. Premiering on July 21, fans have already binge watched the show, which sees Judge Judy Sheindlin putting the justice system on trial. With eight episodes, fans have branded it a must watch for fans of true crime. Judge Sheindlin herself said of the show: "Judges do not make law. They interpret the law. Judges are people. Sometimes they get it wrong. Then what happens? "When and how long will it take to get it right? I've put justice on trial. I couldn't be more proud of this series. Everybody who watches it will come away a little smarter. Mission accomplished." The judge will visit one of the most personal and complex cases of her career, a diplomatic immunity battle, as well as recreating the chilling case of Archie Dixon, who confessed to murdering his roommate and burying him alive. A Prime Video synopsis reads: "Judge Judy Sheindlin puts the American justice system on trial in a true crime high-stakes courtroom drama, as she and her expert legal team recreate the trials from notorious cases where following the letter of the law did not necessarily feel 'just.' "Season 1 spans from the 1925 Scopes Monkey Trial to a case in which the convicted killer is currently on Death Row." And the series has been a hit with fans already. One fan wrote: "Justice on trial is really good, this is just the first episode I'm on, very compelling." Another added: "Check out the show #JusticeOnTrial on @PrimeVideo it's a great show." While a different viewer commented: "Justice on trial is really good, this is just the first episode I'm on, very compelling." Elsewhere, another show watcher put: "I enjoyed this show. It is a nice change from civil suits" while a different account put: "This case had my mouth dropping open! We immediately watched the next one!!"
Chicago Tribune
23-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
‘Justice on Trial' review: Judge Judy's speeches about legal principles are out of step with the moment
'Judge Judy' aired in syndication for 25 years before star Judy Sheindlin pulled up stakes and moved to Amazon to do a similar (but lesser) version of the series called 'Judy Justice.' That kind of multi-decade success has allowed her to build a mini-TV empire in the latter portion of her career, producing (though not appearing on) shows including 'Hot Bench' and 'Tribunal Justice.' But she's back in front of the camera for her latest series, called 'Justice on Trial.' The premise is straightforward: With Sheindlin presiding as judge and attorneys Larry Bakman and Dan Mentzer as the attorneys facing off, a real court case is recreated on a television set, moot court-style, and interspersed with dramatic recreations of the crime itself. It's a ripped-from-the-headlines sensibility. 'While we're not going to recreate the trials verbatim, all the courts' ultimate decisions are accurate,' Sheindlin says at the top of each episode. 'It will be up to you to decide whether the case was fair and the outcome just.' The show's tagline: 'Real cases. Actual lawyers. Surprising verdicts.' To assess the series, it's worth thinking about why the original 'Judge Judy' remained popular for so long. The schadenfreude of watching her tear into someone who was refusing to take responsibility was a big factor. But I always liked that the show featured a cross section of Americans whose lives are rarely given much attention on TV. Grievances and interpersonal clashes of the poor and working class were taken just as seriously as anyone else's. All were equal before the withering gaze of Judge Judy. The show was shamelessly tacky, which was perhaps some of the appeal as well, which has only gotten more pronounced with her subsequent efforts. Perhaps 'Justice on Trial' is an effort to combat some of that, because instead of exploiting yet another interpersonal conflict for ratings, the intention here seems focused on helping laypeople understand why, as Sheindlin says in every intro, 'justice doesn't always end up feeling just.' She's trying to explain how the law works. Sure. Fine. Great. But the context in which the show is premiering makes this a surreal project, where legal rights and principles we were once told were sacrosanct are being eroded. It's hard to take anything Sheindlin says seriously, considering the real-world backdrop we're currently living through. A disclaimer runs at the beginning of each episode: 'Although some details have been altered, the outcomes are very real.' What details have been altered, and why? No information is forthcoming. Some of the cases are more interesting than others. The most fascinating, from the late 1980s, involves an abusive father who is also a diplomat from Zimbabwe who claims he can't be prosecuted because he has diplomatic immunity. Sheindlin actually ruled on the case before it was appealed to a higher court. The man is accused of beating his 9-year-old son and the details are gruesome; the boy says he was tied up by the arms and whipped, sometimes with a belt or electrical cord. His mother and sister were allegedly forced to watch. When he collapsed at school, child protective services removed him from the home. The father is seeking his son's return. According to international law, Shiendlin says, 'high-level diplomats are not subject to the laws of the foreign country where they serve. So they cannot be prosecuted for the crimes they commit. But what about the rights of a child from Zimbabwe living in America and being abused by his father?' The reasons why diplomats have immunity are explained and they make sense, but Sheindlin's researchers either could not or didn't bother to follow up and see if they could find out what fate ultimately befell the boy in the years since the case was decided. Another case involves a traffic stop that led to the discovery of a dead body. The issue at hand concerns evidence that is considered 'fruit of the poisoned tree' (a conflict beloved by 'Law & Order' writers for decades). Another case centers on a lawsuit that argues hate speech is not protected under free speech. These are all good debates. In theory. But ultimately, this feels like such a hacky exercise. In one dramatic recreation, someone drinking wine gets so upset, their hand contracts into a fist, crushing the glass they're holding. I've never seen this happen in real life, but more to the point, it's silly. The courtroom set and lighting are similar enough to that of the other shows Sheindlin produces that it's likely they're just being repurposed for this series. The judges from 'Hot Bench' are the appellate court. The overall vibe is: Sure, we're doing this on a budget in an artificial setting — with extras in the gallery as audience — but viewers are meant to take this seriously. The aesthetics, however, are that of a grimier show. 'Justice on Trial' — 2 stars (out of 4) Where to watch: Amazon
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
Judge Judy talks new series 'Justice on Trial'
Emmy Award-winning Judge Judy Sheindlin discusses her new Prime Video series exploring real criminal cases through courtroom re-enactments.
Metro
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
TV fans have less than two weeks to binge on 'brilliant' free streamer
A free streaming service hailed as 'brilliant' by users will be shutting down for good in two weeks, but fans can still watch for free on Amazon Prime Video. Freevee is Amazon's free, ad-supported streaming service and gives users access to thousands of movies and TV shows without the need for a subscription. It was launched in 2019 as a FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) service under IMDb, before rebranding as Freevee in April 2022. Amazon first announced its intention to shut down Freevee in November 2024, citing plans to consolidate both its free and paid streaming offerings in one app, Prime Video. Now, Amazon has confirmed when the free streaming service will close for good. An in-app message has appeared, notifying users of the change. It says: 'Prime Video is the new exclusive home for Freevee TV shows, movies and live TV. 'The Freevee app will be accessible until August 2025. Continue watching your favorite free originals and our library of hit movies, shows, and live TV on Prime Video for free, no subscription needed.' This means that while the streaming app is disappearing, the content on it won't be. Instead, fans of Freevee can access the same shows and movies for free, with ads, at their new home on Prime Video. An Amazon representative previously told Variety: 'To deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out Freevee branding. There will be no change to the content available for Prime members, and a vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members, including select originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST channels — all available on Prime Video.' Freevee's most popular content includes Emmy-nominated reality sitcom Jury Duty, which explored the inner workings of an American jury trial through the eyes of one juror, who doesn't realise that everyone except him is an actor. There's also Australian soap Neighbours and the Alex Rider series, which is a thriller following a teenager who finds out his late uncle was a spy, as well as Judy Justice, starring Judge Judy Sheindlin. Freevee also has Bosch: Legacy, a sequel to Prime Video's Bosch, and plenty of classic shows such as Hell's Kitchen, Mr Bean, Skins and Benidorm. For films, Freevee viewers can watch Me Before You, the 2013 re-imagining of Carrie, The Nice Guys and many more. Online, Freevee users have shared their thoughts on the app's closure, with some disappointed by the change. Reddit user Useuless said: 'This means no dedicated Freevee channel so you can only browse it's content, instead you have to wade through paid for content as well. Essentially it still exists, but now with ads and a more time consuming interface.' philosofova added: 'Will be kinda missed, I mainly liked it for the channel surfing aspect which I missed when I just wanted to watch random stuff.' And tunachilimac wrote: 'I am watching a couple things on Freevee and installed Prime because of this. The Freevee UI is much better than the Prime Video UI. It's weird they aren't keeping the better interface at least.' Others were less bothered, however, with Shap6 writing: 'I was looking through it just the other night out of curiosity, terrible content selection even by free streaming TV standards'. Lithogiraffe added: 'Go ahead. Nearly everything there is also on Tubi free'. Nevertheless, Freevee received hundreds of positive reviews during its time, with fans hailing it as 'brilliant'. On the Amazon website, reviewer Angel Eyes wrote: 'It's brilliant. It allowed me to catch up on all the episodes that I had missed. There's a lot of great content on there and the picture is amazing. The ads are very brief and not at all intrusive.' And John Chewter said: 'I am now hooked and am finding some very good Australian and New Zealand crime drama series I had never heard of and that are very good!' More Trending Another reviewer added: 'Unlike the other free movie channels, this one has only a few short ad breaks and does not bombard you with them. Use it all the time.' To find Freevee's content on Prime Video from next month, users should browse the 'free with ads' section of the Prime Video website and app. Users won't need to sign up or pay a subscription fee to access the content in this selection. View More » This article was first published on July 4, 2025. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: This horny book adaption's cast guarantees everyone will be obsessed with the film MORE: Shadow Labyrinth review – Pac-Man meets Metroid MORE: Amazon Prime fans warned 'you will be banned' if they break cardinal rule
Metro
04-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
TV fans have less than a month to binge on free streamer before it's shut down
A free streaming service hailed as 'brilliant' by users will be shutting down for good next month, but fans can still watch for free on Amazon Prime Video. Freevee is Amazon's free, ad-supported streaming service and gives users access to thousands of movies and TV shows without the need for a subscription. It was launched in 2019 as a FAST (free ad-supported streaming television) service under IMDb, before rebranding as Freevee in April 2022. Amazon first announced its intention to shut down Freevee in November 2024, citing plans to consolidate both its free and paid streaming offerings in one app, Prime Video. Now, Amazon has confirmed when the free streaming service will close for good. An in-app message has appeared, notifying users of the change. It says: 'Prime Video is the new exclusive home for Freevee TV shows, movies and live TV. 'The Freevee app will be accessible until August 2025. Continue watching your favorite free originals and our library of hit movies, shows, and live TV on Prime Video for free, no subscription needed.' This means that while the streaming app is disappearing, the content on it won't be. Instead, fans of Freevee can access the same shows and movies for free, with ads, at their new home on Prime Video. An Amazon representative previously told Variety: 'To deliver a simpler viewing experience for customers, we have decided to phase out Freevee branding. There will be no change to the content available for Prime members, and a vast offering of free streaming content will still be accessible for non-Prime members, including select originals from Amazon MGM Studios, a variety of licensed movies and series, and a broad library of FAST channels — all available on Prime Video.' Freevee's most popular content includes Emmy-nominated reality sitcom Jury Duty, which explored the inner workings of an American jury trial through the eyes of one juror, who doesn't realise that everyone except him is an actor. There's also Australian soap Neighbours and the Alex Rider series, which is a thriller following a teenager who finds out his late uncle was a spy, as well as Judy Justice, starring Judge Judy Sheindlin. Freevee also has Bosch: Legacy, a sequel to Prime Video's Bosch, and plenty of classic shows such as Hell's Kitchen, Mr Bean, Skins and Benidorm. For films, Freevee viewers can watch Me Before You, the 2013 re-imagining of Carrie, The Nice Guys and many more. Online, Freevee users have shared their thoughts on the app's closure, with some disappointed by the change. Reddit user Useuless said: 'This means no dedicated Freevee channel so you can only browse it's content, instead you have to wade through paid for content as well. Essentially it still exists, but now with ads and a more time consuming interface.' philosofova added: 'Will be kinda missed, I mainly liked it for the channel surfing aspect which I missed when I just wanted to watch random stuff.' And tunachilimac wrote: 'I am watching a couple things on Freevee and installed Prime because of this. The Freevee UI is much better than the Prime Video UI. It's weird they aren't keeping the better interface at least.' Others were less bothered, however, with Shap6 writing: 'I was looking through it just the other night out of curiosity, terrible content selection even by free streaming TV standards'. Lithogiraffe added: 'Go ahead. Nearly everything there is also on Tubi free'. Nevertheless, Freevee received hundreds of positive reviews during its time, with fans hailing it as 'brilliant'. On the Amazon website, reviewer Angel Eyes wrote: 'It's brilliant. It allowed me to catch up on all the episodes that I had missed. There's a lot of great content on there and the picture is amazing. The ads are very brief and not at all intrusive.' More Trending And John Chewter said: 'I am now hooked and am finding some very good Australian and New Zealand crime drama series I had never heard of and that are very good!' Another reviewer added: 'Unlike the other free movie channels, this one has only a few short ad breaks and does not bombard you with them. Use it all the time.' To find Freevee's content on Prime Video from next month, users should browse the 'free with ads' section of the Prime Video website and app. View More » Users won't need to sign up or pay a subscription fee to access the content in this selection. Got a story? If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. MORE: Neighbours filming wraps on Ramsay Street for the last time as star says 'farewell' MORE: 'Wildly entertaining' Amazon Prime action thriller soars up top 10 chart MORE: Film hailed 'one of the greatest ever made' now available on Amazon Prime
