Courtroom reality shows have a decades-long history. These shows bring real-life disputes into the television world, providing viewers with a unique blend of small claims cases and legal education. The pioneer of the genre is “The People’s Court,” which first premiered in 1981 with original judge Joseph Wapner. Over the years, other notable courtroom shows like “Judge Judy” and “Judge Mathis” have captivated audiences with their no-nonsense rulings and entertaining drama. Judged by Matt Walsh, endeavors to add its own little twist with Walsh’s signature deadpan delivery and unsparing sensibilities.

Judged by Matt Walsh (season 1: episode 1)

Matt Walsh is known for his Sahara-dry wit and utter contempt for willful stupidity. Fans of his long-running program, The Matt Walsh Show, appreciate his ability to reduce political propositions to their wick while dropping sardonic bombs of irony-laden contempt on those who propagate them.

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With his pedigree of disdain, it would seem as though pitting Matt against litigants of moral rectitude and intellectual potency to rival prostitute slugs is a Michelin recipe for wagyu wackiness, and it just might be… eventually. As it stands, this first episode suffers from some fairly normal growing pains.

The set design borrows heavily from the original People’s Court. However, it feels cheap and hollow, lending to a justifiable air of contempt felt by the entirety of the cast and crew for those who have bafflingly agreed to have their potentially costly problems mediated by a man whose credentials peaked at the zenith of a high school diploma.

Equally inadequate is the program’s narrator. The performer’s willowy voice lacks the tonal gravitas to either command or condemn and lends to the overall slightly slapdash atmosphere.

Adding to the show’s inconsistent quality, Matt’s every entrance is accompanied by a cringy gag that falls flatter than a week-old rootbeer float. Unfortunately, all of these are hubcaps on a tractor, i.e., unneeded distractions. The premise, ridiculous petitioners, and Matt are enough alone, or at least they could be. Matt is still finding his groove in this first episode of Judged by Matt Walsh.

It’s one thing to lay waste to policymakers and pundits who place themselves in the crosshairs or to level reality buckshot at an arrogant college student in an auditorium full of sympathetic audience members. It’s completely another to eviscerate someone while looking into their eyes from 8 feet away, knowing that one of your goals is to compound their self-served stupidity with truth and barely restrained scorn.

Unlike in his magnum opus, What is A Woman, where his stony silence drew ideological poison from the insane and inane like a witch’s poultice, for Judged to work, Matt will have to channel some of his internal fire and ratchet the energy up to at least a five if he hopes to illicit the needed drama to entertain and engage on a consistent and meaningful level.

That said, properly focused, Matt’s effortless on-the-spectrum-like demeanor has the potential to rival Judge Judy’s soulless and uncaring black heart when dealing with those he adjudicates. Once he gets more comfortable in the role and loses his distaste for hurting feelings as well as the Gallagher Two prop humor, I have no doubt that Judged by Matt Walsh will be Worth it.

One final thought: if there was ever a Courtroom reality show that would benefit from a post-trial interview with the participants, it’s this one. It would provide the chance for additional humor as offended plaintiffs, and defendants whine about the insulting injustice that just befell them while breaking up the show’s otherwise unavoidable monotony.

WOKE ELEMENTS

Are You Kidding?

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Judged by Matt Walsh (S1:E2)

Well, it didn’t take long for some of the most serious issues to get smoothed out. In episode 2, a simple lighting adjustment to a slightly warmer and less harsh tone enriches the entire set and considerably elevates the show’s overall appearance.

Unarguably, Matt himself is the best and most important improvement. Far more comfortable with the proceedings and having largely dumped the gags, Walsh’s natural repugnance for the twits before him and their foolishness shines through.

In the last installment, it seemed as though Matt was a skosh hesitant to lay into the degenerates and tear apart their unprincipled arguments with the barely concealed acid that they deserve. That’s gone the way of the dodo. In episode 2, he’s sharpened his wit and wields it against the dolts in his courtroom to (maybe not hilarious but) chuckle-worthy effect.

There’s still room for improvement. The narrator hasn’t been changed but should soon, and Walsh has room to grow, but if this episode is any indication, the show’s trajectory is up and far and aimed at excellent.

Based on this installment’s improvement and a general belief in Matt’s abilities, I’m marking Judged by Matt Walsh as cautiously Worth it.

WOKE ELEMENTS

Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens

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