I am really thinking about buying a big screen, high-definition television, one of those monster things that illuminate the better part of the house, one that you see on display in the store and your breath catches in your throat, one that you can nickname “The Monolith”. Sure, watching football would be fantastic. I purchased the NFL package so that I could watch all the Green Bay games, so a HD would almost be a logical acquisition. I imagine that things like The History Channel would look great in HD. An archaeologist unearths a rare artifact that has not seen the light of day for thousands of years, and in HD, I would see ever little details, almost as if I was side-by-side with this world-renowned scientist in the ancient ruins. No, neither of those are the reason. There is one show that I believe warrants the cost of high-definition, repainting the walls of the room a neutral color, and creating stadium seating. That show is Dateline. The portion of this newsprogram that is HD worthy, To Catch a Predator.

The entire premise of the program is to catch grown men that attempt to arrange sexual liaisons with underage girls. BEFORE WE GO FURTHER, PLEASE READ THE DISCLAIMER.

Disclaimer: Sex with minors is wrong. Under no circumstances should a grown man have sex with a young girl. I am not condoning the actions of online predators. Such behavior is unacceptable and wrong.

We clear? If you’re not sure, read the disclaimer again.

We’re on the same page now? Is your outrage in check? Are you ready to continue?

To Catch a Predator goes around the country and invites these predators to a house where they believe they will be meeting a young girl alone for the purposes of sexual activity. (If your blood pressure is rising, read the Disclaimer again.) The young girl is a “decoy” who invites them inside the house has them sit down, relax, and after a few minutes of conversation Chris Hansen appears.

The look on the faces of these guys is priceless. That’s why I want a HD set. Then the litany of crap that these guys spew, and the look on their faces as they try to explain away the unexplainable… priceless. Some guys recognize Hansen immediately and fall apart. Some guys try to freeze their face and talk to this strange guy who has just entered the room.

Sometimes, Chris Hansen looks like he is trying to restrain himself from leaping across the room and strangling the perpetrator.

After Hansen has gone through a few questions, he lets the men leave. Outside is a squad of police. Supposedly, sex offenders have a few hard time in prison. Let’s face it, everyone has a mother, some have sisters, aunts, cousins, daughters, etc… No one likes someone who would take advantage of their loved ones. Well, the police usually look ready as all hell for an excuse to kick the ever-living crap out the guys leaving the house. Quite frankly, I couldn’t imagine what it would look like if Dateline cameras were not there filming. We’re not talking about guys who are going to get much “benefit of the doubt”.

OK. Maybe I’m mental, but this is television at its best. I could watch this crap all day. I’m sorry, but watching scumbags stutter and stammer and try to talk their way out of the situation… DAMN!!! Have you every just watched someone lying to you? Don’t you just stare in amazement, thinking to yourself, “Do they actually think that this line of shit their feeding me would fool anyone? I’m getting stupider listening to this.”

I wonder if they could ever bring in guest hosts. Imagine Mr. T hosting.

Additional Links
Predators by the Pool
Predators with some video modifications
Predators and Pool Tables
Twice Busted Predator
The Predator with No Face