Randy Douthit is not a household name but has made his mark in the TV news world. At 23, Douthit went from mowing the lawn at a Portland, OR, TV station to being a morning show director.
Douthit attributes his success in TV to having a dedication to getting the job done. A lesson he learned early in his career was that working as efficiently as possible ensures success the first time.
The new director would go on to produce and direct “Seattle Today.” However, Douthit’s most significant break would come after his work on CNN’s “Capital Gang,” “Crossfire,” and “Larry King Live.”
Douthit relied on those he worked the most closely with as mentors. Some of the most important insights he has received have come from heads of programming, production managers, and others with low-profile positions.
Meeting Judith Sheindlin, known as Judge Judy, opened new doors for Randy Douthit. As a “Judy Justice” director and producer, he oversaw the program’s move to the Amazon-owned Freevee.
This program quickly became one of the highest-rated programs on the streaming service. The experience would help Douthit expand his horizons during one of the industry’s most challenging times.
As with others in the industry, this experienced executive needed to adjust to changes required by the COVID-19 pandemic. Costs for production increased because of the time needed for safety and testing procedures.
Many shows switched to a remote format during the pandemic. Sheindlin remotely presided over the cases on her show, using technology standard in other court settings.
The 25th and final season of “Judge Judy” wrapped in 2021, with “Judy Justice” production picking up shortly afterward. Producing episodes during the pandemic provided a practical framework for creating episodes for the new program in less time.