It is no secret that, as humans, we crave the thrill of seeing justice served. For three years in the early 2000s, Chris Hansen gave viewers this adrenaline rush with the TV series “To Catch a Predator” on Dateline NBC.
He conducted televised sting operations to catch child predators and turn them over to law enforcement. The recently released A24 movie “Primetime,” starring Robert Pattinson, portrays a fictionalized version of Hansen and demonstrates the effectiveness of the online predator-catching space, showing viewers it is necessary to be cautious when blending journalism and entertainment.
The climax of the new movie “Primetime” showed viewers a version of the 2006 “To Catch a Predator” incident which ended in the death of Louis W. Conradt Jr., also known as “Bill,” a chief felony assistant district attorney.
On Nov. 5, 2006, after much success on the TV network, Murphy, Texas police partnered with the “To Catch a Predator” team to confront predators in the area. Bill, who exchanged sexually explicit messages and planned to meet with someone he thought was a 13-year-old boy, did not arrive at the sting house. So, the team went to his house, where they witnessed him take his own life.
Although the operation to catch Bill ended in a disturbing turn of events, the partnership with Murphy police allowed for two dozen child predators to be arrested in only four days.
According to NBC, “To Catch a Predator” investigations led to 200 indictments and 120 convictions of child predators. Shows such as “To Catch a Predator” proved to have significant tangible legal outcomes. Not only were child predators being actively caught, but “To Catch a Predator” was showing predators the real-world humiliating consequences of those crimes on national television. The series served as a shocking warning to all predators, shattering the delusional mindset of predators thinking they were untouchable.
Pattinson’s portrayal of Hansen in “Primetime” did not highlight the heroic actions of real-world Hansen, who is still catching predators today. Instead, “Primetime” portrayed Hansen as an ego-driven TV star whose corrupted mindset eventually was the cause of fatality.
A24 combined this version of Hansen with the completely fictionalized character Andie Bender. Andie was included in the film to symbolize the pressure Hansen was facing from the network. Andie was a cynical producer who focused more on ratings than justice. This character shows the obsession networks have with securing jaw-dropping content no matter the expense. The combination of these personalities brought the morals of Hansen into question.
Although blurring the line between journalism and entertainment presents serious ethical dilemmas, the role “To Catch a Predator” had in raising public awareness is undeniable. The adrenaline rush and compelling nature of the show brought viewers in, but the awareness made viewers keep coming back.
When “To Catch a Predator” was on air, the internet was new and seen as a place for learning and socializing. This ideal was completely unveiled when the show aired, and parents finally began to realize the dangers of children using the internet.
The show changed parents' perspectives on stranger danger. Before the show, many parents pictured child predators as suspicious individuals lurking around children. But this show revealed predators are not always strangers. They can be religious leaders, medical professionals, law enforcement officers or anyone you know. Not only was the stranger danger ideal transformed in daily lives, but parents were forced to recognize strangers are online too and connect with children through secret online chat rooms.
While the true intentions of every team member are debatable, the fusing of journalism and entertainment is a necessary compromise to foster awareness and effectively educate parents because not everyone reads the news, but everyone watches TV.
“Primetime” is compelling because the audience is set up to consider the morals and ethics of predator-catching shows. NBC’s “To Catch a Predator” is compelling because it forces the audience to confront the reality of the hidden child predator epidemic and forces parents to realize the dangers their kids may face, while also educating them to prevent these horrors.
As Athens residents flock to The Athena Cinema to watch the new film, it is important to remember “Primetime” is not a factual biography;z it is a stylized work of fiction. We should remember Hansen is not the only one catching predators.
The local Athens County Sheriff’s Office and Athens Police Department are also working tirelessly to keep Athens safe. The Athens Sheriff's Office and Police Department participated in a statewide human trafficking operation resulting in 1,065 arrests since 2019. As fans stand up for Hansen, we should also remember to praise our local law enforcement for their determination in ensuring our safety.
Heidi Bartolone is a junior studying communication and journalism at Ohio University. Please note the opinions expressed in this column do not represent those of The Post. Want to talk to Heidi about their column? Email them at hb963023@ohio.edu. @heidibartolone
