Freshman hybrid judge/talk show "Paternity Court" led by former Atlantan Lauren Lake is moving its operations to metro Atlanta for its second season 2014-15, the production company informed me today exclusively.
The syndicated show, which is seen weekdays on the CW network in Atlanta at 1 and 1:30 p.m., focuses on paternity cases but isn't purely about the DNA results. Lake talks to the families and advises them on how to deal with the results. In a sense, Lake plays relationship counselor as well as judge and jury.
It was renewed for a second season in January, averaging a 1 share in ratings, according to Broadcasting and Cable.
Lake, an attorney, lived in Atlanta from 1996 to 1999. (For a time, she and I coincidentally lived on the same street, though we didn't know each other.)
Taping begins June 24. And it goes without saying Georgia's generous tax credits drew the production company here.
"Moving 'Paternity Court' to Atlanta gives us the opportunity to feed off the energy of this great city. Viewers especially in this market have warmly received the show. Our production offices are locked and loaded and we can't wait to begin season two in June," said executive producer David Armour.
The show is produced by 79th & York Entertainment and distributed by Orion TV Productions
The other syndicated show in production in metro Atlanta is "Family Feud," a game show hosted by Steve Harvey. It has been shot the past three years at the Atlanta Civic Center, the past two years in a special studio built in the space where SciTrek used to be.
HLN host Nancy Grace aired a single season of the syndicated show "Swift Justice" at GPB studios in Midtown in 2010-11.
Comic and actress Mo'Nique aired two seasons of her BET talk show at Turner Studios from 2009 to 2011.
