The Return of Chris Hansen

In the mid-2000's there was a show on NBC called To Catch A Predator.  In this show, host Chris Hansen set up stings to catch child predators and get them arrested.  To do this, he worked with a organizations, including the local police, to look for people online trying to solicit boys and girls for sex.  He also worked with a child decoy, who was usually eighteen or nineteen, for the actual meeting with the predator.  It's in these face to face meetings where the hilarity happened.

Once the predator took the bait and went to the house, he was met with said decoy.  The decoy and the predator would make small talk for a bit before Mr. Hansen emerged from the shadows like a ninja to confront them, usually to the predator's surprise.  When the predator tried to deny their intentions, Mr. Hansen would present him with multiple e-mails to contradict the denial.

Then the camera men came out of nowhere and the predator knew he was screwed.  People all across America would see their face, know their name, and what they did for work.  Some of these people were (as this writer said in his Public Schools post) teachers who have daily access to children.  If that's not scary, then the word needs to be redefined.

The humor came when the predators realized they were up a creek.  Some begged, some cried, and a few even tried to attack Mr. Hansen.  Ultimately, the predator would be sent outside into a police ambush and promptly arrested.  It was satistfying, entertaining, and gave this writer hours of laughter.

So, where's the BS?  The show was canceled and Mr. Hansen was given the ax by NBC.  There were a number of reason why this happened, all of them BS.  Chief among the is the criminals were getting smarter and that the sting wasn't working as much.  There was actually some truth to this as in later episodes, people would stake out the house to make sure it wasn't a setup.  Some people would see the decoy and make a break for it or get scared and avoid the house altogether.  Others still would take the bait and knew exactly who he was and what awaited them outside.  The supposed nail in the show's coffin was when a big time CEO realized he had fallen for a trap and commited suicide when the police came to arrest him.

Anyway, this writer was heartbroken when he realized the show was canceled.  This writer faithfully watched the show.  Where would he see child predators get humiliated and arrested on national TV?  How could NBC cancel such a necesary show?

Enter Crime Watch Daily.  Mr. Hansen is now on that show, catching child predators again.  While it's not quite the same as his NBC show (as they don't devote entire episodes to it) the reactions of the predators are just as funny and their occupations just as shocking.  As stated in the Public Schools post, some of the predators are teachers, tutors, and youth sports coaches with daily access to children.  If that's not scary, then the word needs to be redefined.

This writer is happy Mr. Hansen is back on the air, doing what he does best.    The only thing wrong with the situation is that he never should have been taken off the air to begin with.  WTF, NBC?

Until next time...