When the history of the late 20th and early 21st centuries is written, there will be at least passing mention for the media craze of our time - reality television. And at the forefront of the art form (or is that plague?) are a couple of Dutchmen called Joop van den Ende and John de Mol, who in 1993 set up the television production company Endemol.


To shorten a story, Messrs Joop and John have been hugely successful, with branches in 23 countries, including the UK (where they have made a certain Jade Goody a household name) and in the US, where the version of 'Deal or No Deal' apparently has punters glued to screens from California to Kansas to Connecticut.



Now the Yank branch of the Endemol family is gearing up to tackle the law. A pleasant chap has rung Obiter from his sun-drenched offices on (where else?) Hollywood's Sunset Boulevard to ask for help in sourcing 'a judge (or former judge), QC or barrister [sic] with a sharp personality for a new American court show'. Obiter gets the strong impression that the programme-makers might even consider sharp-witted solicitors.



Apparently, the programme will involve a judge settling real personal, but not financial, disputes. Hang on, you can hear Obiter cry, is that market not already saturated in the US? Er, replies our man from Tinseltown, there are about a dozen of them. But this show will be innovative not just for potentially having a wigged, British judge (they particularly like that idea of the horsehair), but also for its use of a 'revolutionary new lie detector technology'.



Lawyers keen on a life of stretch limos and kidney-shaped swimming pools should contact Endemol US's Aaron Brodkin at email: aaron.brodkin@endemolusa.tv.