Primetime

Lance oppenheim

audrey notsch

“To Catch a Predator” premiered in 2004 and ran until 2007 with a total of 20 episodes. What surprises me is the cultural impact this show had despite having only a 20-episode run—it was so culturally significant that Robert Pattison went on to play Chris Hansen over 20 years after it was initially released, in the dramatized biopic “Primetime.”

I use the term “biopic” very loosely here, because Oppenheim chose to focus on the psyche of Chris Hansen, rather than giving an exact rundown of his life on the show. By choosing to focus on the psychological aspects surrounding “To Catch a Predator,” “Primetime” gives us a very compelling, nuanced depiction of Chris Hansen—someone doing the right thing for all the wrong reasons. Robert Pattinson portrays a sense of extreme obsession and compulsion in Hansen; someone who seems to be almost swallowed whole by his desire to make “To Catch a Predator” the biggest television show. Rather than being fueled by doing the right thing, “Primetime” captures the era of post-9/11 media being fueled by sensationalism and a strong sense of “justness.”

The characters working on the show convince themselves, in some way or another, that what they’re doing is the right thing; but as soon as the pressure for views and good ratings starts to be pushed by the network, they panic and focus intently on choosing which predators will get them good reviews and ratings. “Primetime” was an excellent portrayal of ethical collapse and poses the question: in the end, was it all worth it?