Show goes Hollywood (S.C.)The Post and Courier
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Melissa Haneline TV Judge Akim Anastopoulo makes his way to the bench for the taping of 'Eye for an Eye' at the television and film studio recently opened in Hollywood. 
Melissa Haneline Dog Austin accompanies a plaintiff on the 'Eye for an Eye' show with TV Judge Extreme Akim. 
Melissa Haneline The audience chants, 'Extreme Akim, Extreme Akim,' as Judge Akim Anastopoulo makes his way to the bench. HOLLYWOOD — The Bat of Justice measures about 30 inches, the equivalent of a Little League model. But in the hands of "Extreme" Akim Anastopoulo, it has inflicted more punishment than any pint-size ballplayer. The Charleston attorney wields the bat — "JUSTICE" engraved into the sweet spot — on his syndicated courtroom television show, "Eye for an Eye." The symbolization is obvious: Fairness, strength and comeuppance. Anastopoulo's show breaks from similar programs with an unusual sentencing structure based on payback. It amounts to a deliciously strange combination of "Night Court," "Jerry Springer" and professional wrestling. In five years as judge, Anastopoulo once ordered a man to wear a fat suit after getting a girl pregnant. He made a slumlord write a new building policy while sitting in a garbage truck. He asked his trusty bailiff, a former middleweight boxing champ named Big Sugar Ray Phillips, to tar and feather a gentleman and parade him down the street. Anastopoulo issued those penalties — more like binding arbitration than actual sentences — from a film and television studio in Dallas. At 160 shows a year, he kept a harried schedule, the travel separating Anastopoulo from his wife, two children and downtown home. Until now. "Eye for an Eye" began filming this week in Anastopoulo's new 16,000-square-foot studio on S.C. Highway 162. The facility, a converted Piggly Wiggly, sits a few doors down from a storefront church, florist shop and Morrison's Burger Hut, which beckons patrons to stop by, ketch-up and relish the flavor. Only in Hollywood, South Carolina. Anastopoulo, 47, hopes to use a nearby tract to build a 40,000- to 50,000-square-foot open-area structure and attract big-budget films. Already, thanks to an $8 million initial investment, the project represents the state's largest television and film studio. But the focus remains the show, and producers plan to shoot here full time if taping goes well. "I'm going to push really hard for it to be permanent," Anastopoulo said. "Eye for an Eye" airs two episodes weekdays 1-2 p.m. locally on WTAT. The program is followed by two more half-hour episodes of "Judge Alex," hourlong installments of "Judge Mathis" and "People's Court," two episodes of "Judge Joe Brown" and an hourlong "Judge Judy." In all, WTAT broadcasts a six-hour continuous block of courtroom television Monday through Friday. Which means one thing: People watch this stuff. By Anastopoulo's count, his show airs in 43 countries. "It really hit me when I was in London," he said, "and people were coming up to me asking, 'Are you Extreme Akim?' " This week on WTAT, "Eye for an Eye" featured two men arguing over the dog they once shared, and a man who underwent breast augmentation, only to sue his doctor, saying women no longer found him attractive. During filming in Hollywood, "Eye for an Eye" heard several cases, including this partial docket Wednesday: --A middle-aged mother, trying to reach her gay, estranged son, sued a drag queen club owner for barring her from the premises. --A man seeking to reclaim power of attorney from his daughter. --A businesswoman wanting a schlubby dog walker to reimburse her after shirking his duties. --A young man filing suit against an agency contact to learn the identity of his sister. --A hefty woman asking for $2,000 and her smug tailor to be held accountable for a poorly altered suit. --A young lady suing her 6-foot-4, 300-pound neighbor for kicking her fluffy, Pekingese dog. He confessed to the attack. "I was in fear for my life," he told Anastopoulo. Some of it appears staged or the participants coached, likely no different from similar programs or reality TV. It is what it is: televised courtroom entertainment. "It's a more humorous show," Anastopoulo said. The studio audience — roughly 60 folks — enjoyed the cases, pumping fists and chanting "Extreme Akim, Extreme Akim," and howling, laughing and commiserating with the plaintiffs and defendants. Leon and Jean Rudich celebrated their 41st wedding anniversary at the show. They had so much fun during Monday's taping, they returned Wednesday with Leon's sister and brother-in-law, Pearl and Warren Hyman, whose 60th wedding anniversary is in late December. The secret to a long-lasting marriage? "All you have to do is give a Southern boy Southern fried chicken one time and he's hooked," said Jean, "and it doesn't matter if you made it or if the housekeeper made it." They, like other audience members (and media) signed releases forbidding disclosure of the "litigated" disputes. On a day like Wednesday, Anastopoulo and company motored through nine cases, or five episodes. If only the judicial system moved this swiftly. Not to say each case demands outlandish punishment. Most times, Anastopoulo awards monetary damages. Sometimes, he reunites loved ones or surprises plaintiffs with gifts. Anastopoulo owes his own career to happenstance. In Los Angeles trying a case, he auditioned for "Hollywood Squares" and made the cut. The cast director said he'd be a great TV judge. His persona off-camera, self-effacing and calm, contradicts the nature of "Eye for an Eye." But like any good lawyer or judge, Anastopoulo recognizes one of his profession's realities: Revenge is profitable. Reach Rob Young at ryoung@postandcourier.com. |
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Comments
This article has 21 comment(s)
Posted by lillycollette on August 9, 2008 at 4:12 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Geepers -- I would enjoy seeing Big Sugar Ray Phillips tar and feather some of our family court judges.
Posted by WhoCares on August 9, 2008 at 5:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I saw part of this show once while flipping channels. I wouldn't call it entertaining!!
Posted by meggettcitizen on August 9, 2008 at 8:48 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Hmmm, wonder how one may get tickets to be in the studio audience.
Posted by Neponset on August 9, 2008 at 8:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Lawyers have a big enough problem with image, without this clown. Looks like there is not enough work for all the lawyers out there. I say reduce the number of slots in law schools and don’t teach ambulance chasing.
Posted by wonderdog on August 9, 2008 at 9:46 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Well said, Neponset!
Posted by ChasMagnolia on August 9, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. (Suggest removal)
WHAT an embarrassment! It is hard to believe that THIS is actually an elected official that represents Charleston citizens in Columbia. No wonder we are bottom of everything and the laughing stock of the country.
Posted by sc_expat on August 9, 2008 at 6:44 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Once upon a time, I was a Deputy in the Lowcountry and twice had the misfortune of dealing with this clown. This story solidifies everything I thought about him then: He is a hack, a cad, an ambulance chaser and a complete waste of the paper it took to print his law degree. It would have been more useful to all if that paper had been turned into toilet paper. Good move Anastopoulo, I bet you don't even have a clue that you are being laughed at! What a moron!
Posted by wonderdog on August 9, 2008 at 6:46 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Actually, Akim is not an elected official or "real" judge - he's a TV judge. Outside of the TV courtroom, he's just another ambulance chasing personal injury lawyer.
Posted by disco on August 10, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Akim, that's awesome you got a tv gig...everyone else is just jealous of your success.
Posted by jeff61 on August 10, 2008 at 8:11 a.m. (Suggest removal)
His wife says
Posted by disco on August 10, 2008 at 12:07 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Akim, that's awesome you got a tv gig...everyone else is just jealous of your success.
Posted by jeff61 on August 10, 2008 at 9:31 a.m. (Suggest removal)
The guy is an azz-clown and so is his show...
Posted by disco on August 10, 2008 at 10:56 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I'm not his wife - I don't even know the guy, but I can congratulate someone if they are successful. Jealousy is very ugly jeff....
Posted by jeff61 on August 10, 2008 at 3:47 p.m. (Suggest removal)
If this is what you consider successful then I will pass. The "show" is nothing more then a paid comercial for his azzclown law pratice. I am not jealous. The guy makes a fool of himself with this "show" and there is no way in hell I would ever hire him after catching a glimps of this B rated show. It looked as if it was put together by highschool kids. It's the type of show a bunch of ignorant trailer trash would sit around and watch. He is not even a judge and he will never be consider afte making a fool of himself. .
Posted by walleyedwoman1215 on August 10, 2008 at 7:30 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Dear Lord I pray! First, he looks good for his age. Second, I've never been abroad (London), so I'd probably be considered provincial if not a downright redneck. And third, it seems he is to the law what Rachael Ray is to Cordon Bleu.
Only my opinion, and I could be drunk.
Posted by jeff61 on August 10, 2008 at 7:38 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Take another drink, This guy is to the legal profession what Al Parish is to Financial Investment. It's just another "Peoples Court" but with ambulance cashing fool dressed up as a clown...
Anastopoulo recognizes one of his profession's realities: Revenge is profitable.
What a hack to make such a comment. Puts his pratice and agenda out there dosen't it
Posted by disco on August 10, 2008 at 10:59 p.m. (Suggest removal)
He's doing something right - his show is in 43 countries. I would give up my job to do what he does in a minute. There's nothing he's doing that's immoral or in bad taste. It's entertainment...
Posted by katrenavantassle on August 11, 2008 at 9:01 a.m. (Suggest removal)
walleyedwoman1215 said: Akim is to the law what Rachael Ray is to Cordon Bleu. LOL!!!! So right!!! Akim is a very smart man to make such a success out of his show, staged as it is. I think it is strange that so many people have nothing better to do than to watch Extreme Akim between 1 & 2 pm each day!!! Don't they have jobs???
Posted by stephaniem on August 11, 2008 at 1:05 p.m. (Suggest removal)
there is nothing wrong with rachael ray or any tv judge.
I would rather see this on tv that a golf or fishing show any day or a nascar race.
I still wish mtv played music and videos
Posted by jeff61 on August 11, 2008 at 1:25 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Many of these TV judges set a bad example for real judges and turn a court room into a joke. Now this clown sits there with a baseball bat. If he had any ties to this area he would have at least taped his clown of show locally. Dam Gadsden you kind of stung Stephie with that one..
Posted by Marianne0558 on August 11, 2008 at 3:01 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Ok well if anyone actually looked up to him as a 'judge,' then they need a serious reality/IQ check.
The show is just television, as is Family Guy or Jerry Springer. People watch because it's funny to see someone forced to sit in a garbage truck.
Yeah, I've watched. Revenge IS funny. Wait til I subpoena one of your asses to come on with me ;)
Posted by mademoiselle16 on August 11, 2008 at 5:10 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I applied for a job for the summer in Akim's office in North Charleston. He hired me on the spot. Three days later, I get a phone call from him, saying that "something came up" and he found someone else for the job. I assumed she was more interested in the film industry than I. A friend of a friend also works for him in North Chas., and told me that Akim found someone "cuter" to do the job. What a slimy jerk!