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A&E Canned 'Live:PD' During 2020 BLM Riots, Now They're Suing the Channel That Resurrected the Show
Red State ^ | 8/31/2022 | Kira Davis

Posted on 09/04/2022 8:15:48 PM PDT by simpson96

Remember way back in 2020, when Black Lives Matter managed to take a national crisis and make it a brand? They’re branding was so successful they somehow managed to simultaneously sell a billion dollars in merchandise while at the same time scaring corporations and tech companies into banning anything and everything that could possibly, maybe, sort of, in a way be connected to anything that could be labeled Racist™. There were many victims of the rush to Do Something™. Historical statues, churches and tv shows.

One such show was Live PD, the wildly popular reality show that followed police departments across the country live as they went about their days and evenings. The show was A&E’s top-rated show, drawing nearly 2.5 million viewers an episode. After the death of George Floyd and the subsequent protests, the mobs demanded the network end the show, calling it “insensitive” in the face of racially charged events and police brutality protests.

Host Dan Abrams said the move was frustrating at the time.

“I am frustrated and sad because I truly believed in the mission of the show to provide transparency in policing,” he said in an interview published on Thursday (June 11.) “I completely agree with advocates calling for more body cams on officers and more uniform rules for their use. It seems to me that the antidote to bad policing and officers is transparency and that means more body cams and more shows like Live PD.”

Paramount also cancelled the long-running show, Cops. The show was in its 30th year of broadcasting.

Audience demand continued anyway, and now Dan Abrams is back with a new show on Reelz, titled On Patrol:Live. If you can’t guess what it’s about, maybe A&E’s response will clue you in. They’re suing Reelz and the production company for replicating their idea.

A&E’s lawyers argue that the new show is infringing on its copyright to “Live PD.”

The complaint states that A&E suspended production of new episodes amid the George Floyd protests, which it calls “that critical time in our nation’s history.”

“AETN, however, has never relinquished or assigned its rights to create episodes of ‘Live PD’ nor has it authorized anyone else to prepare derivative programs based upon ‘Live PD’ except as works made-for-hire,” the complaint states.

In June, A&E lawyers sent a cease and desist request to the producers of the new show, but Reelz aired the show anyway. They pulled in 3.5 million viewers with the launch, which is likely to be one of the most successful ratings in the history of the third-tier cable network.

A&E is seeking an injunction on further episodes, noting that Abrams even used the title of the original series in a tweet while promoting the Reelz show.

Given the incredible ratings for the “reboot” it doesn’t seem likely Reelz will give up the show without a fight. It’s also a potent sign that the tastes and sensitivities of the general American public have not changed, despite the caterwauling from the progressive mobs.


TOPICS: Chit/Chat; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: 1619project; blackkk; blackliesmanors; blackliesmatter; blacklivesmatter; blm; criticalracetheory; crt; kiradavis
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1 posted on 09/04/2022 8:15:48 PM PDT by simpson96
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To: simpson96

Not even the local news can report on the REAL situation with black crime in cities.......REAL statistics cannot be given, because it will show the TRUTH of the matter.


2 posted on 09/04/2022 8:20:07 PM PDT by traditional2 (lets go B*and*n)
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To: traditional2

What is “black crime”?


3 posted on 09/04/2022 8:23:32 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
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To: simpson96

ridealongs are copyrighted???


4 posted on 09/04/2022 8:28:53 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: simpson96
Two pages, 502 words to say nothing. Who is fooling whom?
5 posted on 09/04/2022 8:28:55 PM PDT by Fungi
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To: simpson96

What a farce. They put the show in a memory hole and are now suing people who want to do something similar. They don’t have a leg to stand on.


6 posted on 09/04/2022 8:30:59 PM PDT by WMarshal (Neocons and leftards are the same species of vicious rat.)
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To: simpson96

I noticed last night that they have gone back to reporting that blacks commit crimes too whether they can breathe or not.


7 posted on 09/04/2022 8:34:10 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (I always thought a Merry Garland was a Christmas tree decoration.)
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To: simpson96

The producers of the new variant show are buds of mine, and it’s not a coincidence they went to Reelz. Reelz is one of those studios where you know you’re comfy not being greeted with an effing ugly tranny at reception like Disney. Hulu or netflix, and “normal” hot women making you feel at home.


8 posted on 09/04/2022 8:34:26 PM PDT by max americana (Fired leftards at work since 2008 at every election just to see them cry. I hate them all.)
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To: Chode

Think of all of the sitcoms that can be sued by the first sitcom (1940’s/1950’s?!)..
Heck, we would be left with nothing. TV companies would be shut down because of no business (not that anything is worth watching anymore)... /s


9 posted on 09/04/2022 8:48:24 PM PDT by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: max americana

I’ve DLed all of them so far.. Just like old times, except a plain name.
A few more departments now too ;)


10 posted on 09/04/2022 8:50:15 PM PDT by Bikkuri (I am proud to be a PureBlood.)
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To: max americana

Tell your buds, GREAT JOB. We’re loving having this type of show on TV again. I’m burned out on rainbows, unicorns and evil Disney princesses.


11 posted on 09/04/2022 8:50:20 PM PDT by FlingWingFlyer (I always thought a Merry Garland was a Christmas tree decoration.)
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To: FlingWingFlyer

They’re Freepers dude. ;) They go here once in awhile to read. It’s actually a blessing in disguise that A&E cancelled it because that network is known to hold you legally long term for almost no money. You think Duck Dynasty want to stay there? LOL AE isn’t even paying them properly.


12 posted on 09/04/2022 9:03:11 PM PDT by max americana (Fired leftards at work since 2008 at every election just to see them cry. I hate them all.)
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To: BenLurkin

What is “black crime”?

70% of all crime committed.


13 posted on 09/04/2022 9:04:48 PM PDT by outpostinmass2
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To: simpson96

No. You don’t have a ‘lock’ on such a basic concept as that.
Come on, now. That’s like a cooking show suing another network because now they are broadcasting a cooking show.

Cops, as a concept is not an offbeat or boutique sort of idea. Anyone who has ever seen, thought about or spoken to an officer could have thought of this without changing anything.

The new network should publicize this harassment lawsuit as a way of showing how smart they were to bring it back now, no matter what BLM had to say about it.


14 posted on 09/04/2022 9:06:17 PM PDT by lee martell ( )
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To: Bikkuri

lol... yup, it’s nutz


15 posted on 09/04/2022 9:16:50 PM PDT by Chode (there is no fall back position, there's no rally point, there is no LZ... we're on our own. #FJB)
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To: outpostinmass2

What do you mean?


16 posted on 09/04/2022 9:17:49 PM PDT by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion, or satire, or both.)
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To: lee martell

The format is simple....a camera guy just following police on duty. Judge will dismiss this challenge fairly quick.

If anything, it just shows that an audience exists to watch material like this. A&E screwed up by dumping it. Given the lousy choices on TV....it’s not entertainment, but it’s something ‘different’.


17 posted on 09/04/2022 9:37:12 PM PDT by pepsionice
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To: pepsionice

Love the show. Have it on record so I don’t miss it.


18 posted on 09/04/2022 9:51:08 PM PDT by Mouton (The enemy of the people is the media )
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To: simpson96

“They’re branding was so successful”

Does this blog have an editor?


19 posted on 09/04/2022 11:02:13 PM PDT by Larry Lucido (Donate! Don't just post clickbait!)
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To: WMarshal
What a farce. They put the show in a memory hole and are now suing people who want to do something similar. They don’t have a leg to stand on.

A&E doesn't need to be right. Big Media has deep pockets, and can intimidate and silence people just by filing a lawsuit. It's called lawfare.

Hopefully, Abrams will win and get court costs and attorney's fees.

20 posted on 09/04/2022 11:41:33 PM PDT by Angelino97
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