Portland observer., August 30, 2000, Page 22, Image 22

Page 8
August 30, 2000
The Focus
cos rniBL ftp siotn
fqk Tut P ortland _Q bsehver
Programming leader King World
P roductions, Inc. adds a new
dimension to the popular courtroom
genre with Curtis Court, a lively
new daily half-hour series making
its premiere Monday, September
11 and airing, primarily in daytime,
on stations representing more than
82 percent o f the U.S. It is also
being sold w orldw ide by CBS
Broadcast International.
The series’ core - both creatively
and em otionally- is The Honorable
James Curtis, an award-winning
California prosecutor who is also
known to viewers nationally as a
fre q u e n t n e tw o rk te le v isio n
commentator on legal issues. Emmy
Award-winning Executive Producer
Mary Duffy and a production team
coming from top-rated court and
talk programming have created a
courtroom series shaped around
Curtis’ strengths while adding new
elem ents to the popular genre,
in c lu d in g e x p e rt w itn e sse s,
exam ination o f evidence (often
Focus > --------------------- |ïartkmh
ffîbaeruer
Curtis Court shows human
side of authority
taking Curtis out on location) and
an emphasis on newsmaking cases
from around the country.
For instance, one episode featured
Dr. Joyce Brothers offering expert
opinion in the case o f a day-care
teacher who sued a child’s parents.
A local fire chief was brought in to
provide testimony in another case
involving an exploding car that, in
turn, setanearby apartment building
on fire. An entire town became
in v o lv ed w hen the M ayor o f
Millville, NE came to Curtis Court
to help resolve a troublesom e
community dispute. Other cases
featu re p o ly g rap h exam iners,
policemen and firemen.
Evidence that has com e under
Curtis’ judicial eye has included a
litter o f puppies, an engagement
ring and even a race horse (which
took Curtis out to the farm to
determine the steed’s age). And
courtroom spectators are recruited
as “Curtis Court Witnesses” to go
on-location and examine physical
Dolemite a.k.a. Rudy
Ray Moore
First time in Portland
“The Original Father of Rap will
be in Portland for one time only”
T h u rs d a y , A u g u s t 31, 2000
Montgomery Park
Show starts at 9 p.m.
Drinks by Doris’ Café Catering
$20 in advance. Tickets available through
Tickmaster (224-4400) and two other locations:
Doris’ Cafe 325 NE Russel 289-2940
Galore Paging, 3213 NE. Martin Luther King
Blvd., 288-9180
For more information, call Galore Paging at 288-
9180.
Immediately following performance at 11:30 p.m.,
there will be an official meet and greet with the
Dolemite man himself at 915 SW. 2nd Ave. in
downtown at “Da Club.”
evidence, bringing back their report.
Tying all these innovative aspects
together is Curtis who, along with a
decade o f e x p e rie n c e, b rin g s
wisdom, compassion, fairness and
a definite sense o f humor to the
role. “Without being entertaining,
we wouldn’t be on the air,” he notes,
“ but I ’m e q u a lly focused on
enabling people to understand the
process and to make things better
with it.”
Taped in New York City, each
episode features two real-life cases
with actual litigants; they cover
small claims cases, family disputes
and feuding roommates, in-laws and
friends requiring mediation. Cases
come from county courthouses
around the U.S., uncovered by an
extensive network o f researchers
throughout the country, and chosen
based on their individuality, unusual
twists, unexpected elements and,
even, fun. An additional emphasis
is put on cases making headlines in
local markets and, often, the nation.
Enjoy live music
in one of Portland’s finest
acoustic showrooms
H earty Pub Fare • H andcrafted Ales & W ines
O u td o o r Seating Available
8203 N Ivanhoe Street • Portland • (503) 283-8520
„
www.mctnenianrins.com
Food, ales an d wines available to go.
tOMtifllllOIKUHMinUIHHtl
DOLEMITE
W AITS
TOT
Sponsored by Mind Elevation Inc., Pierre
Productions and (Ehc ^nrtlanh ©bserrier.
10LÍMIIÍ
11
MOIE
I