The freshman three-judge panel show looks to move from the CBS duopoly stations to CBS-network stations in fall 2015 in timeslots now occupied by the departing Queen Latifah talk show.
CBS Sees ‘Hot Bench’ As ‘Latifah’ Successor
CBS network stations will likely replace the departing Queen Latifah in the fall of 2015 with the surprising new court show Hot Bench, according to informed sources.
For Hot Bench, created by Judge Judy’s Judy Sheindlin and featuring a three-judge panel, the move would represent significant upgrades.
The show now airs in many of the top markets on CBS duopoly stations like WLNY New York, KCAL Los Angeles, KPSG Philadelphia and KTXA Dallas.
Hot Bench is this season’s highest rated first-year show in broadcast syndication, with a 1.5 household rating the week ending Nov. 9. It was well ahead of No. 2 rookies Debmar-Mercury game show Celebrity Name Game (1.2) and NBCUniversal talk show Meredith Vieira (1.2).
Sony Pictures Television last week confirmed that Queen Latifah will not return for a third season next year. And CBS Television Distribution last week discontinued plans to launch 2015 panel talk show Man in the Middle with Jerry O’Connell.
Latifah airs on CBS stations in 12 of the 14 CBS markets.
BRAND CONNECTIONS
There had been some speculation the past few days that CBS Stations would bring CTD’s The Doctors back to Queen Latifah’s time slots. But that is not happening.
Comments (3)
Just Fine says:
November 25, 2014 at 4:44 pm
Who honestly wanted another court show on television? Aren’t there, like, 12 on the air right now in most markets?
Linda Stewart says:
November 25, 2014 at 5:17 pm
All court shows are not created equal.
Keith ONeal says:
November 25, 2014 at 9:07 pm
You’re so right about that, Harry. I would watch ‘Hot Bench’ once to see what it’s like, but the station that carries it airs it at 10 AM, which is bad for me since ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ is on at that time. These stations could dump ‘Divorce Court,’ ‘Judge Mathis,’ and others; I wouldn’t miss them. The only court shows worth watching are ‘The People’s Court,’ and ‘Judge Judy.’