To Catch a Predator is an American reality television series that features hidden camera investigations by the television newsmagazine program Dateline NBC. It was devoted to impersonating underage people and detaining male adults who contacted them over the Internet for sexual liaisons. People were lured to meet with a decoy under the pretense of sexual contact and then confronted. Show host Chris Hansen clarified in an interview with NPR News that these subjects should be labeled as potential sexual predators, and not pedophiles. "Pedophiles have a very specific definition, people who are interested in prepubescent sex," he stated.
The series premiered in November 2004, and featured 12 investigations in total held across the United States. The investigations were conducted as undercover sting operations with the help of on-line watchdog group Perverted-Justice. Since the third installment, law enforcement and other officials were also involved, leading to the arrests of most individuals caught. No new episodes have aired since December 2007.
NBC affiliates WTMJ in Milwaukee, KSHB in Kansas City and WBRE have also done local versions of To Catch a Predator. Various spin-offs have aired in the same format, including To Catch a Con Man, To Catch an ID Thief, To Catch a Car Thief and To Catch an i-Jacker, which featured iPod thieves. To Catch a Predator is also aired on FX and Crime & Investigation Network in the United Kingdom, the Crime & Investigation Network in Australia and New Zealand and FOX Crime in Portugal.
Best Episodes of To Catch a Predator
Ocean County, New Jersey, Part 2
S1 Ep19
8.7
25th Jul 2007
The conclusion of Chris Hansen's investigation of alleged Internet predators in Ocean County, N.J.
Murphy, Texas, Part 1
S1 Ep14
8.5
13th Feb 2007
Chris Hansen presents a hidden-camera report on alleged Internet predators based in Murphy, Texas.
Fortson, Georgia, Part 2
S1 Ep9
8.1
22nd Sep 2006
Chris Hansen presents the second part of his hidden-camera report on alleged Internet predators. His investigation is based in Harris County, Ga.
Flagler Beach, Florida, Part 2
S1 Ep17
8.0
6th Mar 2007
The conclusion of Chris Hansen's two-part investigation into alleged Internet predators based in Flagler Beach, Fla.
Murphy, Texas, Part 2
S1 Ep15
8.0
20th Feb 2007
The conclusion of correspondent Chris Hansen's two-part investigation into alleged Internet predators based in Murphy, Texas.
Worst Episodes of To Catch a Predator
Greenville, Ohio, Part 1
S1 Ep4
6.6
26th Apr 2006
Chris Hansen travels to Ohio and Florida to file the first in a new series of hidden-camera reports on alleged online sexual predators as part of the ongoing “To Catch a Predator” series.
Washington, D.C. Suburb (Herndon, Fairfax County, Virginia)
S1 Ep2
6.8
4th Nov 2005
Chris Hansen's report on the dangers of Internet chat rooms for kids includes a hidden-camera investigation and suggestions on how to protect children from online predators.
Fort Meyers, Florida, Part 2
S1 Ep7
7.3
17th May 2006
Correspondent Chris Hansen's “To Catch a Predator” report on Florida raps up.
Ocean County, New Jersey, Part 1
S1 Ep18
7.3
18th Jul 2007
Chris Hansen investigates alleged Internet predators in a hidden-camera report from Ocean County, N.J.
Long Beach, California, Part 2
S1 Ep13
7.3
6th Feb 2007
Chris Hansen presents Part 2 of his hidden-camera report on alleged Internet predators in Long Beach, Cal.
To Catch a Predator Episode Guide
Washington, D.C. Suburb (Herndon, Fairfax County, Virginia)
S1 Ep2
6.8
4th Nov 2005
Chris Hansen's report on the dangers of Internet chat rooms for kids includes a hidden-camera investigation and suggestions on how to protect children from online predators.
Southern California (Mira Loma, Riverside County, California)
S1 Ep3
7.6
3rd Feb 2006
Chris Hansen offers a second update to his investigation into online predators and the hazards of Internet chat rooms for children.
Greenville, Ohio, Part 1
S1 Ep4
6.6
26th Apr 2006
Chris Hansen travels to Ohio and Florida to file the first in a new series of hidden-camera reports on alleged online sexual predators as part of the ongoing “To Catch a Predator” series.
Fort Meyers, Florida, Part 1
S1 Ep6
7.7
10th May 2006
Chris Hansen's investigation into alleged Internet predators continues.
Fort Meyers, Florida, Part 2
S1 Ep7
7.3
17th May 2006
Correspondent Chris Hansen's “To Catch a Predator” report on Florida raps up.
Fortson, Georgia, Part 1
S1 Ep8
7.8
13th Sep 2006
Chris Hansen journeys to Harris County, Ga., to investigate alleged Internet predators.
Fortson, Georgia, Part 2
S1 Ep9
8.1
22nd Sep 2006
Chris Hansen presents the second part of his hidden-camera report on alleged Internet predators. His investigation is based in Harris County, Ga.
Petaluma, California, Part 1
S1 Ep10
7.6
29th Sep 2006
Chris Hansen journeys to Petaluma, Cal., to continue his hidden-camera investigation into alleged Internet predators.
Petaluma, California, Part 2
S1 Ep11
7.6
6th Oct 2006
Chris Hansen's hidden-camera investigation into alleged Internet predators continues in Petaluma, Cal.
Long Beach, California, Part 1
S1 Ep12
7.4
30th Jan 2007
Chris Hansen reports on alleged Internet predators in Long Beach, Cal., in Part 1 of his latest “To Catch a Predator” series.
Long Beach, California, Part 2
S1 Ep13
7.3
6th Feb 2007
Chris Hansen presents Part 2 of his hidden-camera report on alleged Internet predators in Long Beach, Cal.
Murphy, Texas, Part 1
S1 Ep14
8.5
13th Feb 2007
Chris Hansen presents a hidden-camera report on alleged Internet predators based in Murphy, Texas.
Murphy, Texas, Part 2
S1 Ep15
8.0
20th Feb 2007
The conclusion of correspondent Chris Hansen's two-part investigation into alleged Internet predators based in Murphy, Texas.
Flagler Beach, Florida, Part 1
S1 Ep16
7.8
27th Feb 2007
Chris Hansen investigates alleged Internet predators in a hidden-camera report from Flagler Beach, Fla.
Flagler Beach, Florida, Part 2
S1 Ep17
8.0
6th Mar 2007
The conclusion of Chris Hansen's two-part investigation into alleged Internet predators based in Flagler Beach, Fla.
Ocean County, New Jersey, Part 1
S1 Ep18
7.3
18th Jul 2007
Chris Hansen investigates alleged Internet predators in a hidden-camera report from Ocean County, N.J.
Ocean County, New Jersey, Part 2
S1 Ep19
8.7
25th Jul 2007
The conclusion of Chris Hansen's investigation of alleged Internet predators in Ocean County, N.J.
Bowling Green, Kentucky
S1 Ep20
7.3
28th Dec 2007
Chris Hansen corners alleged Internet stalkers in Bowling Green, Ky., in the 12th edition of "To Catch a Predator.
