February 28 (2017-02-28) – March 24, 2017 (2017-03-24)
The High Court with Doug Benson is an American comedy and arbitration-based realitycourt show presided over by comedian Doug Benson. The High Court with Doug Benson premiered on Comedy Central on February 28, 2017. In each episode Benson judged real cases while under the influence of cannabis. This court show also marked the return of Viacom to the court show genre.
Development
While pitching the show to Comedy Central, Doug Benson said that the show would be a "court room show and I'm the judge". Comedy Central accepted it right away, thinking that Benson's antics would be liked by their audience. Benson said the pitch was the easiest pitch he had ever made in his career.[1][2]
Production
Benson was under the influence of cannabis during each trial. Each episode had a special "guest bailiff", who helped make the final decision on the case during the deliberation, often after smoking from a bong on-air along with Benson. All of the cases featured were real and Benson's rulings were real and legally binding. The cases in the show were pulled from the Los Angeles County court records, which is a common practice used in other court shows. The show's budget had money allotted for Benson to pay the people pleading their cases if necessary.[2]
The show was recorded in Los Angeles, California, where recreational use of cannabis has been legal since 2016. A special ventilation system was added to the deliberation room studio to filter smoke out of the room, so production crew and producers would not be impaired during filming.[1]
The series was directed by Sharon Everitt, and produced by JASH and Propagate Content.
A woman sues for $600, after she lent the defendant her car and never returned it. The defendant counter-sues for $2,100, because the car had expired tags and was impounded.
Verdict: Doug orders the plaintiff to pay the defendant $1,100.
A mother claims her daughter borrowed $3,858 for a new car, and never repaid her. The defendant claims she doesn't owe anything because she drives her mother everywhere.
Verdict: Doug decided to have the court pay off the initial loan, and give the defendant a lesser loan to pay.
A man sues his ex-girlfriend for $2,400, claiming he lent her money to record an album and was never repaid. The defendant claims the money was an investment in her career, and not a loan.
A woman sues a car dealer for $1,410, for cars she claims he never delivered. The defendant claims said he did find the cars but none of them suited her.
A woman sues her friend for $2,500, after ordering hair extensions that never arrived. The defendant claims they were delivered but eaten by the plaintiff's dog.
Verdict: Doug orders the defendant to pay the full $2,500.
A blues musician sues his goddaughter for the $500 he didn't receive for a night club appearance. The defendant claims she shouldn't have to pay because nobody attended the show.
A magician sues another magician for $5,000, claiming he stole one of his tricks. The defendant claims that the trick is an old trick, and he shouldn't have to pay.
Verdict: Doug orders the defendant to pay the plaintiff $1,050.
A man sues for $1,250 for a security deposit for the apartment she rented. The defendant claims she shouldn't have to pay because the plaintiff skipped out on the lease.
Verdict: Doug orders the defendant to pay the full $1,250.
A woman sues her son for the $300 she wasn't repaid for cosmetics. The defendant claims he doesn't have to pay because the products caused him to break out, costing him a modeling gig.
Verdict: Doug orders the defendant to pay the full $300.
A woman sues a car dealer for the $2,000 deposit she lost on a truck she never received. The defendant claims he owes her nothing because his deposits are non-refundable.
Verdict: Doug orders the defendant to pay the full $2,000.
A man sues his friend for $900, after lending him the money without being repaid. The defendant claims he shouldn't have to pay because he was drunk at the time.
Verdict: Doug orders the defendant to pay the full $900.
