To Catch a Predator

Say what you will about America.

We’re a flawed country.  We try our best.  It’s not easy being the #1 superpower in the world.  We may have poor values sometimes and we’re a little too obsessed with celebrity culture.  We’re kind of obese and we take things for granted sometimes.  Yet at the end of the day, we’re a country that allows our citizens to watch child molesters get embarassed and arrested on television.

God bless America.

NBC’s TO CATCH A PREDATOR is one of the greatest achievements the field of televsion has ever seen.  I’m sad that I’m so late to the party.  The show has been on for a few years but I haven’t seen it until recently.  I could watch child molesters get caught all. day. long.  It’s not just the fact that they’re being caught.  In a masterstroke, NBC hired Chris Hansen to host the show.  Chris Hansen is almost certainly some sort of failed newsman.  He’s got the voice and the hair and his smarminess really makes the show.  Here’s a sample:

God that’s great.  We catch child molesters, and then instead of just arresting them we make them talk to a snarky “journalist” while they twist in the wind.  Then we put it on television.  I mean look at that picture above.  Not only are you arrested but you have to be embarassed first by THAT guy.  Brilliant.  I love the excuses they make up.  They usually involve them just wanting to be friends or wanting to be a mentor.  Then Chris pulls out the chat transcript.  Hearing him read the transcripts in that voice is pure comedic gold. 

Here’s another one.  In this clip, they actually catch two guys at the same house.  One of them has a McDonalds bag in his hand and starts bawling like a baby when he gets arrested.  HAHAHAHAHA.

The stock and pillory mentality is back and its name is Chris Hansen.  Best show on television.