Powerful 9/11 Tribute to Be Televised on September 12th as 'Judge Hatchett' Series Commences Sixth Year

On Monday, September 12, 2005, a touching tribute to the thousands of 9/11 victims survived by impressionable teenagers will be televised, when Sony Pictures Television's syndicated courtroom series "Judge Hatchett" airs a compelling intervention between two teens at Ground Zero. (Check local listings for station and time).

When an angry teenager, Ashley Wilson of Atlanta, Georgia, was brought before Judge Glenda Hatchett's bench, the Judge employed the help of brave 16-year-old Melody Salcedo to facilitate a crucial 9/11 intervention. Melody has slowly begun to put the pieces of her life back together after the tragic loss of her beloved father, Esmerlin Salcedo, who perished in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center. Embodying the spirit of survival, Melody, who refers to herself as "daddy's girl," has turned the loss of her father, a security guard who managed the elevators in the South Tower, into an important lesson for other teens in communicating with and appreciating their parents. She explains that her father was her "hero," because he died trying to save others. The NY Times reported, "Esmerlin Salcedo's co-worker, Roselyn Braud, praised him for leading her to safety before disappearing back into the building to help others."

After hearing about Ashley Wilson's "explosive" anger problem -- she hates her parents and wants to be adopted by another family -- Judge Hatchett executes her trademark brand of creative sentencing by pairing Ashley with Melody at Ground Zero.

"This episode of 'Judge Hatchett' not only honors those who perished on 9/11, but it illustrates the strength of their surviving children who in turn became victims of the terrorist attacks," commented Executive Producer Michael Rourke. "Each year, we produce a variety of hard-hitting, socially relevant teenage interventions, and this episode is indicative of the depth, breadth and caliber of the interventions that viewers can expect to see during our sixth season."

Melody explains to Ashley the absolute loss she feels every day since her father's untimely death, and reminds Ashley that she should appreciate what she has -- concerned, loving parents. Melody's young words of wisdom do not fall on deaf ears. Upon her return to the courtroom from Ground Zero, Ashley shows remorse for her bad behavior and expresses her gratitude to Judge Hatchett, and especially to Melody, for the emotional 9/11 intervention.

About Judge Glenda Hatchett:

Judge Glenda Hatchett served as a judge for nine years in Georgia's juvenile court system. During her tenure on the bench, Judge Hatchett pioneered an effective method for communicating with truants through intervention, thus modernizing the state's juvenile court sentencing procedures. Today, by incorporating this program into her self-titled series, in which litigants "do time" with community leaders and others who have found success in the professional work force, the arts, social activism, public service and athletics, she sentences litigants to positive, life-altering experiences, which also impact the lives of her viewers.

Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry's leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment for network and cable television, as well as first-run and off-network series for syndication. With more than 25 programs on the air, SPT boasts a program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. Sony Pictures Television, Advertiser Sales, is one of the premiere national advertising sales companies, handling the commercial inventory in SPT syndicated series and for high definition channels INHD and INHD2. Together, the Sony and MGM film and television libraries constitute the largest collection of its kind in the world. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.

SOURCE: Sony Pictures Television

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