When John Masterson devised the original camera-in-court concept in 1975, he first pitched it to Monty Hall, the producer and host of the game show Let's Make a Deal, and his partner, producer-writer Stefan Hatos.

John Masterson, whom many consider a pioneer and originator of "reality TV" also created Bride and Groom and Queen for a Day.

[5] Before The People's Court, the vast majority of TV courtroom shows used actors, and recreated or fictional cases (as did radio before that).

The show's first life was presided over solely by former Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Joseph Wapner.

When the show debuted as a half-hour program on September 14, 1981, litigants could not sue for more than US$1,500, which was the limit for small-claims court at the time in California.

Researchers for the show examined small-claims filings in Southern California and approached the plaintiff and defendant in interesting cases.

Instead (as is stated in the disclaimer at the end of each show), both parties are paid from a fund (set up by Ralph Edwards-Stu Billett Productions).

There may have been a later period when The People's Court paid the judgment, plus expenses and only a modest appearance fee to each litigant.

The show's producers wished to revamp the series, but they did not notify him of that decision, which he eventually learned of from his brother-in-law, who read about it in the San Francisco Chronicle.

However, although the show had a good run ratings-wise, the ratings had dropped to an all-time low at around the time The People's Court was canceled.

He also stated that he was not notified when the producers decided to revamp the series and that he held no opinions on The People's Court judges who succeeded him as he never watched the program.

[14] In 2009, he returned to The People's Court during the Marilyn Milian era to preside over a case in honor of his 90th birthday.

The new The People's Court expanded from the original version's 30-minute length to a 60-minute broadcast where former New York Newscaster Carol Martin (1997–98) of WCBS-TV hosted from a studio.

Beginning with the 2016-17 season, Doug Llewelyn from the first incarnation of The People's Court took over this litigant interviewing role.

In this role, Chaplin narrated the court show in a manner that poked fun at the cases with melodramatic and exaggerated vocal expressions and verbiage.

The studio segments were done away with and Levin hosted the entire episodes from the viewing area, which eventually moved from the Manhattan Mall to the Times Square visitors' center.

In 2008, The People's Court, under Milian's reign, was nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award under a new Courtroom/Legal Show category created by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

For Llewelyn's first show back, Judge Milian welcomed him "home" and handed him his suit jacket and microphone.

Variety reported that the cancelation was due to a broader decline in advertising revenue for syndicated daytime shows, leading television stations to prioritize spending money on local news, rather than acquiring other programming.

This also ends a 26-year relationship with Harvey Levin and Telepictures which sold TMZ to Fox Corporation in 2021 while continuing the final two years doing The People's Court.

When The People's Court premiered on September 14, 1981, as a half-hour show, the first opening disclaimer was used during the first five seasons of the Wapner run, and was narrated by Jack Harrell:What you are about to witness is real.

They are the actual people who have already either filed suit or been served a summons to appear in a California Municipal Court.

On September 13, 1999, when Jerry Sheindlin replaced Ed Koch as the judge, the opening disclaimer by Curt Chaplin was changed:What you are witnessing is real.

Both sides have agreed to settle their dispute here in Judge Jerry Sheindlin's forum...The People's Court.

When Marilyn Milian replaced Jerry Sheindlin as the final judge on March 12, 2001, the opening disclaimer was changed:What you are witnessing is real.

[citation needed] In a talk-show appearance, Judge Wapner gave a few more specifics as to how compensation was typically calculated.

"[26] The 1981–93 life of the show was initially taped at Golden West Broadcasters and, later, Metromedia Square in Los Angeles, before moving to The Production Group.

[citation needed] When The People's Court resumed production for the 2020–21 season, there were several protocols put in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States earlier in the year.

Bailiff Douglas McIntosh was present in the courtroom area to swear in the litigants, while Doug Llewelyn still conducted the post-case interviews while stationed in the corridor.

Jerome Lynch and Rhonda Anderson served as judges, with Carol Smillie as the court reporter.