Unaired episodes have been shot of the controversial sex-sting show, MSNBC's To Catch a Predator, Kentucky police have announced. The hidden-camera show -- a cult favorite so unusual it spawned a parody on FX's It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia -- busts sexual "predators": men who meet underage girls online. Predator's newest operation was based in Louisville and Bowling Green, Ky., two of 13 cities where the show was filmed. No air dates yet, but they are expected to hit airwaves during November sweeps.
Predator, part of Dateline NBC, has been attacked by critics, including an NBC producer who was fired in 2006 after voicing ethical concerns about the show's practices. Esquire, Rolling Stone and 20/20 have called for its cancellation; advertisers have been spooked, reportedly. Some have whispered the show will be cancelled.
According to tax documents obtained last week by The Smoking Gun, NBC's hired agency that lures potential "predators," Perverted Justice, was paid $803,000 by the network in 2006 for eight sting operations.
Until then, check out Predator repeats every Monday at 7 and 10 p.m. EST, on MSNBC.
