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INVESTIGATION DISCOVERY ACQUIRES CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED DOCUMENTARY FILM “THE JOE SHOW” – PRESENTING AN UNFILTERED LOOK AT AMERICA’S MOST CONTROVERSIAL SHERIFF, JOE ARPAIO

Director & Executive Producer Randy Murray Granted Exclusive Access to Sheriff Arpaio for Nine Years to Make THE JOE SHOW; Film to Premiere on Investigation Discovery in 4Q 2014

July 9, 2014

Contact - Reenie Kuhlman
Sr. Director, Communications
240-463-5068

(Beverly Hills, Cal.) - Investigation Discovery (ID) announced today that it has acquired the critically acclaimed feature-length documentary film THE JOE SHOW from Randy Murray Productions. Almost a decade in the making, THE JOE SHOW is a shocking and wildly entertaining project about America's most controversial sheriff, Joe Arpaio, and the ringmaster approach he takes to modern media, politics, and law enforcement. For more than 20 years, Arpaio has used fear, crime and his role as sheriff in Maricopa County, Ariz., to make himself the most famous law enforcement officer in the world. Racism, sex crimes, illegal immigration, first amendment rights and multiple deaths at the hands of his employees are all issues Arpaio faces and spins. He's famous, he's outrageous, he may be dangerous... and it's all just part of THE JOE SHOW, a tragic, yet uniquely American tale of historic significance. THE JOE SHOW will premiere on Investigation Discovery as part of the ID FILMS strand in 4Q 2014, following the documentary's film festival and theatrical run, including a recent appearance at Hot Docs Film Festival.

"In today's world of instant fame, politicians need their time in the spotlight - and Joe loves the spotlight," said Henry Schleiff, Group President, Investigation Discovery, Destination America, American Heroes Channel and Discovery Fit & Health. "Joe's desire for fame corrupts everything he stands for, but the voters cheer. The shocking images and facts presented in this documentary compounded with reasons for Joe's popularity shed light on the complexities of his power. ID FILMS is the perfect television home for this film, and it is our hope that viewers are left not with confirmation or condemnation of their prior beliefs, but with questions that they did not have before watching the film."

"I decided to use the story of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and his incredible successes as a case study that shows how the mutual dependency between democracy and the media has deteriorated to a point where neither is serving the public good," said Randy Murray, Director and Executive Producer, Randy Murray Productions. "Instead of simply making the portrait of a man, I chose to create a film that asks:  Can democracy survive when entertaining the public becomes more important than protecting them? And we are thrilled to partner with Investigation Discovery to bring this story to the American viewing audience."                                                    

 

THE JOE SHOW is produced for Investigation Discovery by Randy Murray Productions with Randy Murray as director and executive producer and Theresa Murray as executive producer. For Investigation Discovery, Ron Simon is executive producer, Sara Kozak is senior vice president of production, Kevin Bennett is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, Destination America, American Heroes Channel, and Discovery Fit & Health.

 

About Randy Murray

Randy Murray's career began when the Phoenix ABC affiliate signed a barter deal with him to turn one of his school projects into a weekly rock-n-roll TV show. He worked at two additional TV stations before becoming a commercial director at the largest production facility in the Southwest. In 1991, Randy and his wife, Theresa, formed Randy Murray Productions (RMP), a creative film and video boutique with a social obligation to use the power-of-story to advance the good in our world. With a balance of original content and production services, clients have ranged from United Way and University of Phoenix to CBS and BBC. Recently, RMP provided production services for the BAFTA-winning feature documentary, The Imposter, two episodes of 'The Amazing Race' and the upcoming Investigation Discovery series, LOVE THE WAY YOU LIE. Original RMP projects include six one-hour episodes of 'Edge of War' with General Wesley Clark for Discovery Communications' Military Channel, and the award-winning documentary Mitchell 20, which was released theatrically across the nation in 2011.