A HAT SQUAD TVXOHOF - REMEMBERING JUDGE WAPNER

SARAH CUMMINGS:

Judge Wapner?  From 'The People's Court'?

JUDGE WAPNER:

No, I preside over my own 'Animal's Court' now.

'Sunset Beach'

A lot of news this past weekend - Bill Paxton died; a major snafu over the Best Picture winner at the Oscars; just about anything to do with Trump.

So I wouldn't be surprised if you missed this story....

From FOX 61:

Judge Joseph Wapner, of the popular reality television program “People’s Court,” died at age 97 on Sunday at his home in Los Angeles, California, according to his son Judge Fred Wapner.
Wapner presided of over the TV courtroom for 12 seasons from 1981 to 1993, and almost 2,500 episodes.

'The People's Court' was a "reality" show and usually I don't like to include those as a reason for inclusion in the Television Crossover Hall of Fame.  But he was the original star of this program and because of it he went on to appear on all of these other shows.  So I think it should be included.  I'm also including his spin-off 'Animal Court' which also featured his sidekick Rusty, especially since he mentioned it in his 'Sunset Beach' cameo.  (That meant Sara Cummings had seen it.)

Here are his applicable credits in chronological order for the most part:

 

'The People's Court'
1981 - 1993

'Animal Court'

1998

'The People Next Door'
- "Town Without Pity" (1989) 

When Walter Kellog upset the people of Covington, Ohio, with a published cartoon, his imagination summoned up not only Judge Wapner but also Henny Youngman.

'Muppets Tonight'
- "Whoopi Goldberg" (1996) 

Judge Wapner presided over a case involving Miss Piggy vs. Whoopi Goldberg

'Sliders'
- "Pilot" (1995) 

The second world visited by the Sliders is Russian Toobworld, where Rembrandt Brown is brought before Commissar Wapner in his televised 'People's Court'.  For using money from the main Toobworld, he is sentenced to 15 years in a gulag.

'Malcolm & Eddie'
- "The Mad Hatter" (1999)

Eddie sues Malcolm after his prized hat collection is stolen.  They appear before Judge Wapner in an episode of 'Citizens' Court'.  This is probably the show starring the televersion of Wapner after he left 'The People's Court' in 1993.

'Sunset Beach'
- Episode #1.528 (1999) 

His appearance was in Sara Cummings' mind. as she thought about what could happen if her sister Meg found out that she was trying to steal away the love of Casey Mitchum.  

O'BSERVATIONS:

All but the 'Sliders' episode takes place in Earth Prime-Time, even the Muppets show. His appearance as Commissar Wapner in that 'Sliders' episode took place in Russian Toobworld.  (AKA телевизионный мир)

Technically, his appearances in 'Sunset Beach' and 'The People Next Door' were imaginary, but they suggest that he really did exist as both Sara and Walter had to know of him in order to picture him.

One other point of interest:

Wapner received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6922 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on November 12, 2009.

Welcome to the TVXOHOF, Your Honor.  You led a long life and left quite a legacy......