Shark Bytes

Dateline seems to have either retired the Predator series or (more likely) decided to put it on ice for awhile since it's been all over the news, and they'll let it cool down before starting it up again. Sure, it's always the same - guy walks into the house, girl says "Hey, there's cookies/sweet tea on the counter, help yourself, I have to go change/finish the laundry. Then here comes Chris, transcript in hand, and the pervert's jaw drops. "We weren't gonna do anything, just hang out and watch TV, I've never done anything like this before, I'm here to make sure she's okay since she's by herself..." (That last one is my favorite.) But it's entertaining TV and you have to love the oddballs like the guy who was busted and then a few weeks or so later was busted AGAIN. All he had to say was "Oops!" Don't drop the soap in the prison bathroom, buddy, you'll be saying a lot more than "oops". With summer coming up and kids being out of school and home alone, this'd be the perfect time to revive the Predator series again.

Stings like "To Catch a Predator" should be done in private because a lot of these perverts have wives and children, and they don't deserve to be humiliated as well! As usual, Dateline took a concept and ran it into the ground.

Apparently Dateline has given up on To Catch A Predator and is now focused on being a 48 Hours Mystery "we love stories about women murdered by their significant others or men they dated only once and he became obsessed" clone. Boo! Hiss! Boo! Hiss!

Dateline jumped the shark when Maria Shriver, Stone Phillips, Jane Pauley et al left. Before she was California's first lady, Maria did an excellent job reporting. Stone, Jane, Tom Brokaw and the other peeps also did well in terms of news reporting. When they left, it was pure shark fest.

Predator was entertaining at first, but it's gettin' old fast.

This is one of the best documentaries that I have ever seen. For repeat2x, I respectfully disagree with you. This show is an excellent way to let your children know what kind of sick people are on the internet. I personally hope it has a very long run.

How can anyone say this jumped because of catching online predators? That is the best thing going. In fact, if they had a Chris Hansen channel where all he did was catch predators all day, I would be all for this.

Yeah...uh...this message is to Jessie, the July 15 poster: I'm sure you've been arrested by now and are using your 45 minutes per day of internet access in the correctional facility for legal advice and getting your on-line law degree in preparation for your defense, and will likely never see this post. Despite that, I must say that Chris Hansen missed a hell of a story by not interviewing YOU.

Here's what I love about your post: On 90% of the To Catch a Preditor episodes, the males sitting on the bar stool talking to Chris Hansen are usually saying that they were there to "teach" the 13 y/o that the internet was dangerous. To show them "what could have happened".

Hey Jessie... Sound familiar? Hmmm. Been chatting up some 13 year olds lately? You are one glass of lemonade and a hot tub away from a visit by Senior Hansen and crew. Remember to lock your fingers behind your head when you go to your knees...

Jane Pauley leaving. Ever since the show has lost it's voice and direction. It's a mess now.

I thought the Dateline "To Catch A Predator" was an excellent concept, but when you tuned in a few days later, they're rebroadcasting it over and OVER AND OVER, well you get the picture. Why'd they do that? Did these people want to be sure they were embarrassed in front of as many people as possible?!? Or, perhaps the night their piece aired, they didn't have the VCR set up right? Any idea how many people's lives are getting affected by these shows? Man, makes you wonder.

Brian Ross and 20/20 did an investigation on the whole operation of To Catch A Predator. It looks like NBC is committing another exploding GM truck incident of years past.

It basically proved that Dateline is doing this for ENTERTAINMENT- rather than true awareness and law enforcement.

It revealed that NBC called most of the shots, instead of leeting the police dept do its work. Stuff like...

* NBC creating a potentially dangerous situation when you see predators walk out of the house to arresting police officers WITH guns drawn in all directions, as NBC dictates

* Chris Hansen NOT reading miranda rights to the predators once he starts talking to them

* In one case, one of Perverted Justice guys INITIATING a call (entrapment!) to a predator to get him to come over because the preadator decided to not come over, which led to bad things

Interesting stuff.

I could not believe Dateline did a full show on iPod theft! It was the most boring show they ever aired! It was awful. Dateline, there is enough criminal, social and political activity in the world to televise without contributing to the Apple hype! Stick to mystery, crime and politics. I can even stand celebrity shows but iPod theft??? Give me a break!

re: Maria Shriver's interview
with the ousted gay guy. I believe that Maria did not have the time (probably) to change from her vacation ensemble to a proper working outfit. Leave Poor Maria alone!

I will NEVER get tired of watching those perverts get busted! I think Chris Hansen and Perverted Justice are doing our country a great service exposing these freaks! I hope they continue to catch those weirdos.
On the other hand, the show about the I-Jackers, was dumb. Who isn't going to keep a Ipod they find?

Has anyone else noticed that the "Catch a Predator" series has been getting more graphic? Now they actually have the guy talk IN PERSON to the girl/boy pretending to be underage.

I wonder what will come next. Let the guy grab the "bait" before the police or the host comes out and says, "haha! Gotcha!"