Hot Bench has not been cancelled, and the court show is set to return with its ninth season later in the month of October 2022.
In the reality television sub-genre of court shows, more recent additions seemingly do not last more than a couple of seasons, like Judge Faith, which was cancelled after four seasons as it only premiered in 2014. Another court show that premiered in that year was Hot Bench.
The court show’s originality in the conventional single-judge format is just one aspect that has contributed to the success of the show.
But it is the three judges presiding over the small claims cases format which is touted as the biggest reason for its success. This is as Hot Bench has been renewed for a ninth season.
What makes Hot Bench so special?
Hot Bench is an original take on the court show reality show format as it features a three-judge panel instead of a single judge presiding over the courtroom.
The show’s premise was a novel which was inspired by executive producer Judith “Judge Judy” Sheindlin, after she saw this format in a court during a trip to Ireland.
But what had continued to bring viewers back to the show was the chemistry between the initial long-standing judges, Tanya Acker, Patricia DiMango, and Michael Corriero, the latter joining the panel in season three after the departure of Larry Bakman in season two.
Did Hot Bench get cancelled?
It seems that the future of Hot Bench is guaranteed for at least one season as it has been confirmed that after season eight’s conclusion in September 2022, the court show has been renewed for another season.
This should not come as a surprise, considering that the now syndicated court show was a ratings-winner in its last season.
The court show is considered a number one syndicated show as during its last season, it averaged an extremely healthy viewership rating of 2 million viewers per episode released in real time.
Moreover, in 2021, CBS lost its flagship court show, Judge Judy, which closed its curtains on her 25-year run as the number one syndicated court show.
Hot Bench is perfectly suitable as a replacement, particularly because it is not only endorsed by Sheindlin, but she also executively produces it herself.
While judges Tanya Acker, Patricia DiMango, and Michael Corriero’s chemistry on screen was what anchored six of the eight seasons of the show so far, many are interested to see whether the court show will continue to enjoy a successful run with Acker and DiMango having been confirmed to be leaving the judges’ panel in the upcoming season.
Hence, the upcoming season will see if the show continues to increase in success due to its originality rather than the chosen personalities.
Did Acker and DiMango get fired?
Hot Bench judges, Tanya Acker and Patricia DiMango, are the original judges to have started with the court show at its inception.
As such, until the beginning of the upcoming ninth season, they both hold the record of the longest-standing judges on the show. They have both appeared in every episode since Hot Bench premiered in 2014.
Thus, it seems that executive producer and reality star, Judith Sheindlin, is looking to have the two bring the same magic in her upcoming Amazon Freevee original court drama, Tribunal, which is slated to follow the same premise as Hot Bench.
Did Michael Corriero get fired?
Judge Michael Corriero joined judges Tanya Acker and Patricia DiMango at the beginning of season three, as he replaced Larry Bakman on the judges’ panel.
Since the exit of Acker and DiMango has been confirmed, viewers may have been concerned about the stern but emphatic judge’s future on the show.
But with the release of the season nine trailer, it was confirmed that Corriero will return this time, assuming the centre of the judges’ panel as he welcomes judges Yodit Tewolde and Rachel Juarez beside him on the court show, which is set to return on Monday, 31 October 2022.
Did Larry Bakman get fired?
Fans of Hot Bench would know that before the successful trio of judges Tanya Acker, Patricia DiMango, and Michal Corriero, the original trio was Acker, DiMango, and Bakman.
Larry Bakman was part of the show for its first two seasons before he left abruptly at the end of season two. Upon seeing the social media push to have him return to the show, Bakman took to Facebook to address the reason for his departure, writing:
“I am incredibly swamped with my practice. The cases over there are big-time and include things along the lines of domestic violence, solicitation of murder, and voluntary manslaughter. This is very different compared to Hot Bench’s small claims”.
