Catching Predators: Good Ratings Trump Bad Journalism?

To Catch a Predator was riveting TV when it first came out, but recently Chris Hansen's international fraud ID theft series has been much better. ABC 20/20 is now investigating "Predator" and may find that there was a very cozy relationship between Dateline's producer[s] and law-enforcement & On-Line Crimestoppers. Or Both.

I for one believe that online entrapment is GOOD when it concerns catching child molesters, but like any procedure, is itself in danger of being overdone. Still, it does give me some guilty pleasure to see the monotonously similar statements made by the same silly goof-ball losers when they get caught.

"This is the first time I ever tried this."

[When caught with condoms and booze] "I didn't come here to have sex, only companionship...."

"This will ruin my career, family life, reputation, [pick one or more]"

And the rabbi who was nabbed did show a bit of spunk, but then ruined it by afterwards actually threatened Hansen, perjured himself and got a much longer sentence, or so Hansen says. Couldn't have happened to a nicer guy!