Cold Justice is an investigative true crime series originally broadcast on TNT and currently on Oxygen. The series, produced by Dick Wolf, follows former Harris County, Texas prosecutor Kelly Siegler[1] and a team of investigators as they reopen unsolved murder cases with the consent and assistance of local law enforcement. Crime scene investigator Yolanda McClary, a veteran of the Las Vegas Metro police, also appeared on the series; McClary had earlier been the inspiration for Catherine Willows, the character portrayed by Marg Helgenberger on the series CSI.[2]
| Cold Justice | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | True crime |
| Starring |
|
| Theme music composer | Robert ToTeras |
| Composer | Robert ToTeras |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 7 |
| No. of episodes | 110 (list of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Executive producers |
|
| Running time | 60–90 minutes |
| Production companies |
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| Original release | |
| Network | |
| Release | September 3, 2013 – present |
| Related | |
| Cold Justice: Sex Crimes | |
As of July 2021[update], the team has helped to generate 49 arrests and 21 convictions, in addition to four confessions, three guilty pleas and three murder convictions.[3][4]
Although TNT made no official announcement, McClary wrote on her personal Facebook page in mid-2016 that the series was canceled. She later said that the production company is shopping the series to other networks.[5] In February 2017, it was announced that Cold Justice had been acquired by Oxygen[6][7] and resumed broadcasts on July 22, 2017.[8] The sixth season aired from July 10, 2021, to January 1, 2022.[4] In May 2023, Oxygen announced the series would return in 2024. In May 2024, Oxygen announced the series would return for its eighth season in 2025.[9]
Episodes
editCritical reception
edit
Cold Justice scored 66 out of 100 on Metacritic based on five "generally favorable" reviews.[10] Mary McNamara of the Los Angeles Times states, "Although one can be fairly certain, if only for legal reasons, that any suspect shown on television is going to turn out to be guilty of something, the lies that are told, the twists of the legal system and the simple horrible stupidity of the crimes provide drama enough."[11] Brian Lowry of Variety stated, "While some of those made-for-TV encounters feel a little stilted, they do tend to pull you along, wanting to see how the drama plays out."[12] Neil Genzlinger of The New York Times states, "The idea that the criminal justice arena also needs a TV show to serve as equalizer is somehow dismaying. Investigative journalism programs have done this for years, but Cold Justice is more ride-to-the-rescue, less public service."[13] David Hinckley of the New York Daily News stated, "There isn't a lot of drama." He added, "Seeking justice is good. Don't hate us if we don't always watch."[14]
Lawsuits
editIn August 2014, a Gallatin, Tennessee, man filed a defamation lawsuit against the show's producers for implicating and never fully exonerating him in their investigation into the 2010 death of a woman who was suffocated and stabbed inside her home. Joshua Singletary was treated for cuts at the hospital around the time of the murder and arrested as a suspect. He was later released owing to insufficient evidence. According to Singletary, the aired episode ruined his reputation and caused his business to lose customers. He requested a jury trial, seeking $100,000 in damages and other compensations.[15][16] The lawsuit was reportedly closed in May 2015.
In August 2015, another lawsuit arose from acquitted murder suspect Steven Noffsinger, who sued the series' producers, Siegler, McClary, and Brown for civil rights violations and defamation.[16]
Spin-off
editIn October 2014, TNT announced it had green-lighted a spin-off of Cold Justice. The new series, titled Cold Justice: Sex Crimes, began on July 31, 2015,[17] and features unsolved sex crimes. Former Harris County, Texas, prosecutors Casey Garrett and Alicia O'Neill travel around the United States to help local law enforcement officers close dormant cases. The first season has 10 episodes.[18]
See also
edit- Cold Case Files, USA / A&E, 1999 (true cases)
- Solved, USA / ID, 2008 (true cases)
- To Catch a Killer, CAN / OWN, 2014 (true cases)
References
edit- ^ "Kelly Siegler, Houston, Texas, Harris County Criminal Defense Attorney | Bio".
- ^ Christopher Lawrence (Aug 31, 2013). Longtime CSI expert takes crime-solving skills to TV, Las Vegas Review Journal, accessed 2018-03-24
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (January 9, 2015). "TNT's Real-Life Crime Series 'Cold Justice' Helps Land First Jury Trial Conviction Ahead of Season 3 Premiere". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on January 10, 2015. Retrieved January 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "Oxygen's True Crime Investigative Series "Cold Justice" Is Back for a New Season Beginning Saturday, July 10 at 8 PM ET/PT". The Futon Critic. June 8, 2021. Retrieved August 8, 2021.
- ^ McLennan, Cindy (May 4, 2016). "Cold Justice: TV Show Cancelled; No Season Four on TNT". tvseriesfinale.com. Retrieved July 4, 2016.
- ^ Littleton, Cynthia (February 1, 2017). "Oxygen Surrenders to Crime Wave in Programming Strategy Revamp". Variety. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (February 1, 2017). "Oxygen Officially Rebranding as Crime-Focused Network". The Hollywood Reporter. United States. Archived from the original on February 1, 2017. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
- ^ "Oxygen Media Brings Back "Cold Justice" with New Episodes Premiering Saturday, July 22 at 8 PM ET/PT". The Futon Critic. June 12, 2017. Retrieved July 22, 2017.
- ^ Oxygen True Crime, Home of High-Quality True-Crime Programming, Adds Five New Series Premiering in Q4 2023 and 2024, and Picks Up Three Returning Series
- ^ "Cold Justice : Season 1". Metacritic. Retrieved March 15, 2014.
- ^ McNamara, Mary (September 3, 2013). "Review: Solving the unsolvable on TNT's 'Cold Justice'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
- ^ Lowry, Brian (August 29, 2013). "Review: 'Cold Justice, My Big Fat Revenge'". Variety. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
- ^ Genzlinger, Neil (September 2, 2013). "Revisiting the Scenes of Unsolved Crimes". The New York Times. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
- ^ Hinckley, David (September 2, 2013). "'Cold Justice,' TV review". New York Daily News. Retrieved April 1, 2014.
- ^ Tenn. man sues 'Cold Justice' for defamation, USA Today, 22 August 2014
- ^ a b Patten, Dominic (12 August 2015). "TNT & 'Cold Justice' Producers Sued By Acquitted Murder Suspect". Deadline. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "TNT Sets Summer Dates for Last Ship, Major Crimes, Jennifer Beals Drama, Falling Skies' Final Run and More". TVLine. April 2, 2015. Retrieved April 2, 2015.
- ^ Kondolojy, Amanda (October 22, 2014). "TNT Greenlights 'Cold Justice' Spinoff". TV by the Numbers. Archived from the original on October 24, 2014. Retrieved October 22, 2014.
