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Aug 18, 2008 5:58 pm US/Central
Report: Ventura In Talks To Host Court Show
MINNEAPOLIS (CBS) ―
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Jesse Ventura developed his flamboyant flair for the dramatic as a professional wrestler. He carried it into the Governor's office, once serving as a paid referee on a WWE wrestling match. (File)
AP
Jesse Ventura has been Governor of Minnesota, a wrestler, an actor and an author. He could be adding the title of "TV Judge" to the list. A deal is apparently in the works to give Ventura a show similar to "Judge Judy."
When Minnesotans last saw Jesse Ventura, he was seeking publicity for a new book while theatrically avoiding reporters. Now Minnesota's former governor may be moving from the statehouse to the courthouse.
TV Week reported Ventura is "deep in negotiations" with Twentieth Television to "host a court show aimed at daytime television.'"
Media analysts say it could be a good fit.
"It really fits into his personality and it's also not a lot of heavy lifting," said John Rash, a national media analyst for Campbell Mithun.
Rash said court TV reality programs are among the fastest-growing TV genres.
"But if one already watches 'Judge Judy' or one of the 11 other shows that are out there right now, it's certainly possible, if not likely, that Governor Ventura would be the type of judge who would make for an entertaining television show," he added.
Ventura developed his flamboyant flair for the dramatic as a professional wrestler. He carried it into the Governor's office, once serving as a paid referee on a WWE wrestling match. They are qualities that could serve him well on a TV court bench.
Ventura dropped out of public view for years after leaving office. He resurfaced last month to promote his new book, and decided against running in Minnesota's U.S. Senate race.
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