production cycle. The 1997–present reincarnation has vastly outlasted the program's original version, which ran 12 seasons. The show's second incarnation has been headed by three judges since its debut. When The People's Court returned to the airwaves on September 8, 1997, the show expanded from a 30-minute to a 60-minute broadcast where former New York Newscaster Carol Martin (1997–98) of WCBS-TV hosted from a studio. Harvey Levin (1997–present) was also added to the show cast in a role that was added to reflect the court show's title People's Court: returning from breaks, Levin acting as a field reporter, is shown at an external public place taking questions and opinions from people about the case, and then, returning to the studio at the end of the show for a wrap-up. Curt Chaplin (1997–present) replaced Jack Harrell as the show's announcer and appeared on camera as the court reporter with the addition of a litigant-final-thoughts interviewer, known for snippily interviewing the program's litigants following the conclusion of each case. Beginning with the 2016-17 season, Doug Llewellyn from the first incarnation of The People's Court took over this litigant interviewing role. Chaplin, however, maintains his voice-over role in the series. In this role, Chaplin narrates the court show in a manner that pokes fun at the cases with melodramatic and exaggerated vocal expressions and verbiage. Ed Koch era (1997–1999) Former New York City Mayor Ed Koch presided over the court from September 8, 1997, to June 25, 1999, with reruns airing until September 10. In 1998, Carol Martin left the show, with Levin becoming the sole host. The studio segments were done away with and Levin hosted the entire episodes from the viewing area, which eventually moved from the Manhattan Mall to the Times Square visitors' center. Since Levin is now based in Los Angeles with TMZ, the viewing area has moved to the Third Street Promenade in Santa Monica, California, while production of The People's Court has moved to Connecticut. The opening outlines of the taped cases are shown to people in the outdoor viewing area on a monitor. Their responses are edited into the program. Judge Jerry Sheindlin era (1999 – March 2001) Judge Jerry Sheindlin (husband of Judge Judy Sheindlin, the presiding judge over the court show Judge Judy) sat on the bench from September 13, 1999, to March 9, 2001, and ratings on the show lagged. The bailiff for