TVSquad

I've never understood the term "guilty pleasure." I figure that if I enjoy something -- a song, a TV show, a movie, etc, I shouldn't feel guilty about it. Yeah, so I have a couple REO Speedwagon songs on my iPod, what of it?

The only TV show that kinda falls into the "guilty pleasure" category for me is Cops. I never make a point of watching it, but when it's on, I can't turn it off. Still, the whole time that tiny angel sits on my shoulder telling me I really shouldn't get my entertainment through the misery of others.

And so, it's with the utmost hypocrisy that I tell you how much I dislike the idea behind the new FOX series, Smile, You're Under Arrest. The series will trick individuals with outstanding warrants into thinking they're being awarded with prizes or money when in fact the police are waiting to arrest them. The concept comes from the brain of producer Scott Satin (Who Wants to Be a Superhero?), who is working with the (in)famous Joe Arpaio, the Maricopa County Sheriff (Arizona) whose tough stance on criminals has garnered him scorn from some and accolades from others.

The series will not focus on violent criminals, but rather those allegedly guilty of petty crimes. In one instance, individuals with outstanding warrants are lured out with promises of being extras in a movie shoot. As Variety points out, this may be a new idea for a reality series, but it's not a new concept for many law enforcement agencies that have been using these techniques for a long time: Fresno authorities once captured fugitives by telling them they had won a lottery.

I think the main difference between this series and Cops is that Cops isn't trying to be a comedy. Yes, there are unintentionally funny moments in almost every episode of Cops, but the purpose of that series is to offer a firsthand account of what it's like to work in law enforcement, not to create some police version of Candid Camera.

What do you guys think?