If fans of reality and police shows are wondering how to watch a series likeTo Catch a Predator, they may have to stick with unconventional means. Premiering in November 2004,To Catch a Predatoronly ran for a little over three years, a surprisingly short amount of time considering how ubiquitous the show is in pop culture. A part oftheDatelinereality TV showapparatus,To Catch a Predatoris a hidden camera series hosted by Chris Hansen as he confronts adult men who arrive at homes hoping to engage in sexual activities with supposed minors.
Adults posing as minors lure in unsuspecting older men by first contacting them via chatrooms, eventually leading to them being invited over to the house, which is secretly the site of a sting operation. There, the potential sexual predators (whom Hansen was always careful to refer to them as, rather than “pedophiles” [viaNPR]) are met by Hansen asking them some variation of the famous question, “Why don’t you have a seat, right over there?” After either tearful apologies or angry denials, Hansen calls in the police and the accused is taken away.
To Catch A Predator Isn’t Worth Watching
To Catch A Predator Is An Unpleasant Watch
There is no denying thatTo Catch a Predatoris compelling television. Reality shows often are, andpolice reality shows even more sobecause of how naturally high the stakes are.Hansen is an excellent host, firmly in control of the situation, with the ability to clearly explain the evolving situation to the audienceand a man who is likely questioning every decision in their life up to that point. These are not innocent men and their actions need consequences, but there is something stomach-churning and possibly immoral about a show likeTo Catch a Predator.
There have been numerous think pieces and discussions about the ethics ofa show likeTo Catch a Predatorwhich blurs the line between reporting on and creating newsworthy moments. Aside from those many well-reasoned arguments all across Google, just watchingTo Catch a Predatorfor too long can get disquieting. There is not a lot of joy, even the righteous kind, that comes from watching an inherently unadjusted man have his life fall apart all around him, as much as he may or may not deserve it.
There is a whole justice system in place for people who commit crimes. The media isn’t a part of that justice system, as much as some members would like it to be. WhatTo Catch a Predatorstarts to feel like, and why it’s not worth watching, is a show solely interested in extrajudicial, humiliating revenge. It’s not about protecting kids, and it’s not even about catching criminals. There were only 24 men who appeared in three years of the series. It’s about sensationalizing real crimes, and that’s simply not a worthwhile endeavor.
To Catch A Predator Is Not Available To Stream For Free In The US
The Show Is Not Available To Rent Or Purchase Either
To Catch a Predatoris not currently available to stream in the US. In fact,it doesn’t seem to be available to stream in any location around the world, including the UK and Canada. Renting and buying, even physical copies of the show does not appear to be a possibility either. The only places where it seems possible to catch an episode ofTo Catch is Predatoris on YouTube or DailyMotion. These tend to be low-quality streams, often with sections missing, but it’s the best those interested in the series can hope for at the moment.
