Fox O&Os To Air ‘Caught In Providence’

Debmar-Mercury said today that Fox Television Stations has acquired Citylife Productions’ Caught in Providence for a fall 2018 national launch. The co-produced first-run series will offer episodes of real-life cases directly from the Providence, R.I., courtroom of Judge Frank Caprio.

Fox O&Os in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Francisco, Washington, Phoenix, Orlando, Minneapolis and Charlotte, N.C., will air the series, “offering a distinctive twist on a popular daytime programming staple thanks to the compassionate brand of justice doled out daily by Caprio, the chief judge of the Providence Municipal Court,” according to Debmar-Mercury. 

Frank Cicha, SVP of programming for the FOX Television Stations, said: “If there’s one thing the Fox TV Stations and Debmar-Mercury have always agreed upon, it’s that the last thing syndication needs is another court show. So, here comes one. This show is different, though. It’s a completely fresh approach. Just goes to show, never say ‘never!’”

Judge Caprio’s longstanding reputation on the bench as a kind and respectful jurist who tempers the letter of law with compassion and humor has turned him into a viral sensation. Clips from his courtroom over the past two years have captured more than 1 billion views — aggregated by Citylife’s Sociable platform — of people drawn to the good-hearted judge’s daily display of humanity and warmth.

“We love Judge Caprio’s heartfelt take on justice and think Caught in Providence will truly stand out from every other show on daytime television,” commented Mort Marcus and Ira Bernstein, co-presidents of Lionsgate-owned Debmar-Mercury. “In these contentious times, many viewers are simply looking for something light-hearted and fun. Caught in Providence has proven to be exactly that, and has an unprecedented social media following to prove it.”

Citylife Productions owner Joseph Caprio said: “We are proud to work with Debmar-Mercury to showcase the wonderful people of the City of Providence, RI, and their experiences in America’s most interesting courtroom. We will keep it real by continuing to film the actual cases and litigants in the Providence Municipal Court.”

Viewers will see actual cases in which the judge takes to heart advice about how he should rule from the kids of the defendants, as well as a fair share of antics ranging from handstands to explanations about hibernating squirrels.