# Jury Duty TV Show **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** documentary-bio\ **Created:** [April 17, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761 "2023-04-17T00:36:31Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/1 "2023-04-17T00:36:31Z")
We just started watching this very clever and funny TV mockumentary. It’s free to stream on FreeVee. [Jury Duty | All-New Series | Coming April 7 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2bnYkvjdD0) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 1:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/2 "2023-04-17T01:41:25Z")
OK, so is this really like the Joe Schmo show where the main dude isn’t in on it? Or…is the whole thing fake and even the main guy being tricked is also in on it? > **[The Joe Schmo Show](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Joe_Schmo_Show)** > > The Joe Schmo Show is a reality television hoax show created by Paul Wernick and Rhett Reese. The series was broadcast in the U.S. on the cable network Spike. The show's premise is that a target person or people are led to believe that they are contestants on a reality television show; in reality, all of the other participants in the purported show – including the host – are actors, and their actions and the outcome of the purported show are all scripted in an attempt to elicit comedic reactions... ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/3 "2023-04-17T02:39:47Z")
It all feels fake to me, but I am not fully sure. It’s entertaining. James Marsden is a hoot. ---
**Author:** ![planetcory](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/planetcory/32/1032_2.png) [@planetcory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/planetcory)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2023, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/4 "2023-04-17T20:13:06Z")
Listened to an interview with one of the actors today. The premise is that main guy is totally unaware. There were moments where they feared he’d figure it out, but he ultimately showed no indication. If he does figure it out eventually, it’s likely a spoiler that can’t yet be revealed. But, no, he’s not _supposed_ to know. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [May 11, 2023, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/5 "2023-05-11T13:55:09Z")
I just finished this series last night. I loved it. I loved watching the non-actor’s facial expressions. He was really serious about his jury duty. I can’t believe the actors were able to keep a straight face through the whole thing. And yes, James Marsden was great! They all were actually. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2023, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/6 "2023-05-17T13:59:02Z")
I’m about half-way through the show, which is very fun. I feel like he would suspect something is up with the zanier characters. Most of the jurors are normal people, but James pretending to be “Caleb” and the little inventory with his crutch pants he uses to sit. They are so over-the-top, I have to think he would catch on. Most of the jurors, though, seem like normal people you’d meet on a jury. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2023, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/7 "2023-05-18T02:15:42Z")
Finished it tonight. 1. Terrific all the way through. 2. Just like with the Joe Schmo show, part of me was kind of sad seeing him learn it was fake. They loved this guy and he learns they were all just fake. It has to hurt a bit. 3. How did they find Ronald? I get the actors, but how the heck did they persuade Ronald that this was a real jury summons? Did his work hold his job for him even though it was fake? ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [May 21, 2023, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/8 "2023-05-21T14:19:03Z")
He was recruited through Craigslist by the way. Also, he was just summoned for real. > **['Jury Duty' star Ronald Gladden reacts to being summoned to actual jury duty](https://www.today.com/popculture/news/jury-duty-star-ronald-gladden-reacts-summoned-actual-jury-duty-rcna85391?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=news_tab)** > > Oh, no. Here he goes again. ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2023, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/9 "2023-06-13T21:23:12Z")
I have not watched them yet, but there are now episodes available with cast commentary. Or, were they always there? Anyway, they are new to me. I clicked “extras” to find them. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2025, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/10 "2025-03-24T00:46:38Z")
BUMP Is anyone watching this new season of The Joe Schmo Show, which is like Jury Duty. Joe Schmo predated Jury Duty by a lot, but I’m guessing this new season was commissioned because of the success of Jury Duty. Fake reality show, only one guy(named Ben) is real while the rest are actors. I’m only on episode 4, but I am bringing it up because in episode 4…well, it’s happening. What? Ben literally says, “Wait…is this whole show fake and I’m the only one not in on it? Is this a prank on me?” Genuine panic behind the scenes. It’s the show-runners fault. The stuff they are doing is so ludicrous, Ben is basically unable to _not_ notice. ---
**Author:** ![Patx2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/73ab20/32.png) [@Patx2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patx2)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2025, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jury-duty-tv-show/982761/11 "2025-03-26T00:21:14Z")
We watched it when it first aired, loved it!