'The Puppet's Court'

January 20, 2012
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No cameras in court? No problem! One news station has decided to cover a federal corruption trial using puppets.

I can’t believe a legitimate news organization has resorted to using puppets to reenact the happenings of bribery and racketeering trial in Cleveland. The news station says it’s lampooning the trial which is frequently “absurd” and sometimes “comical.”  But you know what? It’s hilarious and I think more people would be interested in court coverage if acted out by Sesame-Street-like puppets.

See for yourself: http://www.woio.com/category/211979/video-landing-page?clipId=6656785&autostart=true

If anything, the use of the puppets is a great way to draw attention to your news coverage and generate traffic to your website. If not for “The Puppet’s Court,” I would have no reason to visit Channel 19 Action News’ website.

Our Indiana Supreme Court is still considering the pilot project of allowing cameras in state trial courts. Until they are allowed – if ever – I’d be OK with news stations using puppets to tell viewers about a trial, within reason of course. You don’t want to lampoon serious issues like a murder, molestation or rape trial, but when there are Rolex watches, prostitutes, sexually transmitted diseases, gambling and fake invoices for refrigerators involved, puppets seem kind of appropriate.

Apparently, the puppets even look like the parties involved in the case, although I’m not sure why a squirrel puppet is playing the role of the news reporter.

 

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