Judge Wapner returning to The People's Court... for a day

There's something sweet about birthday reunion celebration, and on Friday, November 13 -- defying all superstitions about Friday the 13th -- The People's Court will honor the original judge, Judge Wapner, on the show. Judge Marilyn Milian will move aside and the distinguished, no-nonsense Wapner will pick up the gavel one more time. Will Dustin Hoffman make a guest appearance? Gosh, I hope so.

Actually, it's Judge Wapner 90th birthday and he's getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (on November 12), so it just seemed appropriate to bring it full circle.

Perhaps some people don't remember the Wapner era. When he ruled the bench, he was the man. He was there before all these other court shows and he was the original. As Jackie wrote in a feature about court shows here on TV Squad: "He was the original judge in the genre. He didn't need no steenkin' shtick."

There was some shtick that grew around the Judge, however, thanks to the Oscar-winning film Rain Man. In that film, Raymond, an autistic man -- and savant -- played by Dustin Hoffman, was addicted to watching The People's Court every day. When Raymond wanted to see the show, he pestered his brother with the line, "It's time for Wapner."

On November 13, it'll be time for Wapner once again.