document_title: Judge Judy

question_text: how many episodes does judge judy do a year

question_tokens: how many episodes does judge judy do a year

text: Judge Judy

text: Court show background[edit]

text: Origins[edit]

text: Sheindlin's pre-court show reputation as one of the toughest family court judges in the country was the topic of a Los Angeles Times article in February 1993.[17][18] On May 21, 1993, Joseph Wapner was released from The People's Court. Sheindlin called up the program and said, "You know, if he doesn't want to do this show any more, I can do it." The receptionist snapped, "Are you crazy, lady?" and hung up.[19] The Los Angeles Times article on Sheindlin caught the attention of 60 Minutes, which aired a segment on her on October 24, 1993.[20] The segment brought her national recognition and first led to an offer for her to write her own book. Sheindlin accepted the book offer, writing Don't Pee On My Leg and Tell Me It's Raining.

text: In 1995 two former People's Court producers, Kaye Switzer and Sandi Spreckman, asked Sheindlin if she would like to preside over her own courtroom series,[21] and she was interested.[21] Sheindlin and her producers originally wanted the show title to be "Her Honor" but the production company, Big Ticket Television, decided on calling it "Hot Bench",[22][23] even promoting the show as "Hot Bench With Judge Judy" for some time prior to the show's début.[24] However, Big Ticket ultimately decided on "Judge Judy".[25]

text: Petri Hawkins-Byrd, the court show's bailiff, was also Sheindlin's bailiff throughout her career in the Manhattan Family Court system. When Byrd found out about Sheindlin's show, he sent her a congratulatory letter, stating, "If you ever need a bailiff, I still look good in uniform." She phoned Byrd at his home in California to accept his offer and he has been the show's bailiff since its début. Byrd is the longest-running bailiff in courtroom programming history. Sheindlin has stated that the show's producers desired different individuals for the role, but she refused.

text: Sheindlin appeared again on 60 Minutes on April 30, 2003. During the interview, Sheindlin stated:

text: I have a contract with the company to do the program through the 2006 season. At that point, we will have produced this program for 10 years. Right now, I would be satisfied with a good 10-year run. I think that would really be phenomenal. It would be lovely if we could end on a high note and for me to say "10 years and I still had people watching and I had a second career that was a blast."[22]

text: On September 14, 2015, Sheindlin began celebrating her 20th season anniversary presiding on Judge Judy. The program is the first in the court show genre to make it to 20 seasons without cancellation as well as the first to make it to this extent under one arbitrator. Her distinction as television's longest serving judge or arbitrator rewarded Sheindlin a place in the Guinness World Records on September 14, 2015.[26]

text: On-air format[edit]

text: Each episode of Judge Judy begins with an introductory preview of the main case, sensationalizing various moments of the case with dramatic music, voice-over commentary, graphics, etc. This is followed by the show's opening music video. At the beginning of each court proceeding, information regarding who is suing whom and what for is revealed originally by voice-over artist Michael Stull, who was later replaced by the show's current voice-over artist Jerry Bishop. Sheindlin typically begins each case by questioning the parties as to dates, times, locations and other facts central to the lawsuit. Monopolizing the discourse throughout the cases, Sheindlin will sometimes only listen to bits and pieces of each of the testimonies as she is quick to reply and tends to disallow responses that are not concise or made during her desire to speak.[27] Sometimes, however, Sheindlin will allow one or both of the opposing litigants to recount the entirety of their testimony. While delivering their testimony, litigants are not allowed to hesitate and must maintain fixed eye contact with Sheindlin at all times. Further, litigants are not allowed to speak out of turn or talk to each other. Small children who do not testify are usually removed from the court room at the start of the litigation, and unruly co-litigants and witnesses (and once an observer who was using his cell phone) are ejected for disobeying the judge.

text: Like most modern court shows, cases on Judge Judy imitate small claims court cases in which civil trials (non-criminal cases) are heard and ruled on. Typically Sheindlin handles cases among former lovers, disputing neighbors, or family and friend relations.[28] Disputes generally revolve around issues such as broken engagements, unpaid personal loans, contract breaches, personal injuries from other litigants or their pets, minor property damages (e.g., fender benders, carpet stains, etc.), the fate of jointly purchased household appliances and rightful ownership of property.[28] As is standard practice in small claims court and most reality court shows alike, Judge Judy proceedings operate in the form of a bench trial (as opposed to its more common counterpart, the jury trial). Moreover, lawyers are not present and litigants must defend themselves.[29]

text: When the show goes into the first two commercial breaks, the voice-over sounds, stating "Judge Judy continues in a moment", followed by a preview of the remainder of the ongoing case, sometimes along with the following case, is typically shown. When the show comes out of the first two commercial breaks, the voice-over sounds, stating "Real cases, Real people, Judge Judy", followed by a verbal recap of the ongoing case. When the show comes out of the last commercial break, the voice-over sounds again, this time providing the show's telephone number and website to submit cases.[4] Generally each show presents two cases, but infrequently, an episode will present a single long case, three shorter ones, or even four shorter ones.

text: After expressing her views of the circumstances and behaviors of the litigants with regards to their testimonies, Sheindlin renders the judgment either by finding for the plaintiff (typically with the statement, "Judgment for the plaintiff in the amount of x dollars. That's all."), by dismissing the case, or by dismissing the case specifically without prejudice. Any counterclaims filed are handled similarly to this. Counterclaims are handled subsequently in the same segment, though often cursorily by Sheindlin as many counterclaims on the program have been filed out of vindictiveness as opposed to legitimacy. At the end of each case, there is typically an afterthoughts segment for the litigants. In these segments, the plaintiff(s), the defendant(s), and sometimes their witnesses deliver a monologue, expressing their feelings regarding the case directly to the viewers at home by speaking into the camcorder. Sometimes, however, these segments are omitted, especially after cases involving resentful litigants, too upset over the circumstances to remain in the studio and provide comment.[30]

text: Inner workings[edit]

text: In order to ensure a full audience, the producers of Judge Judy hire extras from an audience service who compose the entire gallery. Most of these paid extras are aspiring actors.[18] Though tickets are not offered for the show, arrangements can sometimes be made with Sheindlin's production staff to allow fans of the show into the audience. The extras must not dress casually, and no logos or brand names may be visible on their clothing. Extras are also instructed to appear as if they are having discussions with each other before and after each case, so the bailiff may make such announcements as "Order! All rise."[31] They are not to make any noises during the proceedings and, unlike other court shows, may not applaud the judge or rightful litigant upon praiseworthy remarks; although on some occasions when Sheindlin delivers a crushing remark for a particularly egregious or ludicrous act, the audience is seen laughing or applauding without Sheindlin silencing them. For the most part, however, Sheindlin is seen bringing the audience to order (with a fountain pen; she never uses a gavel) and admonishing them for engaging in any such noise throughout the cases.

text: To acquire cases, the show generally uses one of the following three options:

text:
Its 60 to 65 researchers, spread out across the country, enter small claims courts and photocopy numerous cases. These photocopied cases are then sent to Judge Judy producers, who review them all in search of lawsuits they believe will make for good television. According to the show's producers, only 3% of the photocopied cases are worthy enough for television.[18]
Its telephone number posting/announcement presented on each episode for interested individuals to call in with lawsuits.
Its website whereby lawsuits can be written out and submitted into the show.[32]

text: After one of these three processes, if the producers are interested, their employees will then call both parties and ask them questions relating to their lawsuit, making sure they're suitable for Judge Judy. If the parties agree to be on the show and sign a waiver, agreeing that arbitration in Sheindlin's court is final and cannot be pursued elsewhere (unless Sheindlin dismisses the lawsuit without prejudice), their case will air on Judge Judy.[33]

text: The award limit on Judge Judy, as on most "syndi-court" shows (and most small claims courts in the U.S.), is $5,000. The award for each judgment is paid by the producers of the show from a fund reserved for the purpose.[34] Sheindlin rules by either A.) issuing a verdict of a specific dollar amount (not always in the full amount of what is requested and rarely if ever in excess of what is requested even if she believes complainants are deserving of more) or B.) by dismissing the lawsuit altogether. When ruled on in these manners, cases cannot be refiled or retried elsewhere. However, if Sheindlin specifically dismisses the lawsuit "without prejudice", that lawsuit may be refiled and retried in another forum. In some instances, Sheindlin has dismissed cases without prejudice deliberately so that complainants pursue defendants in an actual court of law so that the defendants themselves are held financially accountable, this as opposed to the show. In such cases, Sheindlin has expressed particular aversion to the defendants in question.[35] Further, Sheindlin has dismissed cases without prejudice when she has suspected both the plaintiff(s) and defendant(s) of conspiring together just to gain monetary rewards from the program.[35]

text: Both the plaintiff(s) and the defendant(s) also receive an appearance fee. The appearance fee amount has varied as between different litigants of the show: certain litigants have reported receiving a $500 appearance fee while others have reported receiving $100, and others $250.[36][37] In addition to the appearance fee amount, litigants are paid $35 a day by the show.[37] The litigants' stay lasts for the number of days that the show does taping for that week, which is two or three days.[citation needed] In addition, the airfare (or other means of travel) and hotel expenses of the litigants and their witnesses are covered by the show, and the experience is generally treated as an all-expense-paid vacation outside of the actual court case.[37] If there is an exchange of property, Sheindlin signs an order, and a sheriff or marshal oversees the exchange.[38] Sheindlin sees only a half-page complaint and a defense response prior to the taping of the cases, sometimes only moments before.[39] Most of the cases, not including any footage deleted to meet the time constraints of the show, usually last anywhere from twelve to forty-five minutes.[40][41]

text: Judge Judy, like most court programs, is inexpensive to produce and thus creates considerable income. A budget for a week's worth of Judge Judy episodes is half the cost of a single network sitcom episode.[42]

text: Recordings and airings[edit]

text: Three days every other week (two weeks a month), Sheindlin and her producers tape the court show.[25] They usually produce ten to twelve cases for each day they tape the show. This makes for about a week's worth of episodes, all done within one day. Anywhere from thirty to thirty-six cases are taped over three days during the week. Sheindlin appeared as a guest on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on September 13, 2011. When asked by Kimmel how many days a month she works, Sheindlin replied, "Five days."[citation needed] Sheindlin and her producers sometimes tape only five cases per day and two days per week.[12][43] The show has fifty-two taping days a year.[44] For each season, some 650 claims are brought to the set to be "presided" over by Judge Judy.[12] This means approximately 8,450 claims have been brought to Judy Sheindlin's Hollywood set as of the end of its thirteenth season (2008–09).

text: For the most part, cases are taped all throughout the year except for two breaks Sheindlin and all of the staff members of her show have for the year. One of the two breaks includes an extra week off in December, as the show is only taped one week out of that month because of the holidays. The other break is from mid-July (only taping one week in July) and all through August. According to members of the show, the reason for this break is that people are more interested in taking vacations than in filing lawsuits around that time.[45] When the show premieres in September, only the best episodes of the ones taped before Sheindlin's break are selected to begin out the season. Thus, the first few weeks (the first week in particular) will consist of what the show feels to be its best episodes. In Sheindlin's words, "It's like drinking wine. You don't serve the really good bottle of wine third."[46]

text: Altogether, there are 260 new episodes each season. There is at least one new episode for every weekday, with the exception of a few hiatuses during most of the summer and a couple of holidays.[47] The cases are all pre-recorded for editing purposes and will usually air one to three months after being taped. The cases are mixed up and not shown in order of when they were recorded.[48] While the cases taped in March end the seasons, the cases taped throughout April, May, June, and July start out each season in September and last through October.[49] Throughout the very beginning of each season, two new Judge Judy episodes air per day. After two weeks, this is reduced to one new airing a day, followed by a repeat. There are also various other moments throughout the year where two new episodes are shown for a few weeks. This has sometimes included January when the show returns from its winter hiatus. Two new episodes are also shown daily during the "sweeps" months of November, February, and May. Unlike other television programs, the Judge Judy season finale does not air in April or May; rather, it airs in June, July, or August. When the season finale is extended to July or August, most of the summer episodes preceding it are repeats with new episodes that are few and far in-between.

text: Two DVDs, featuring "memorable cases," have been released by the show: the first in 2007, "Judge Judy: Justice Served," and the second in 2008, "Judge Judy: Second To None."[50]

text: Location[edit]

text: Judge Judy tapes at the Sunset Bronson Studios on Sunset Boulevard in Los Angeles, California.[51] In alternating weeks, Sheindlin, who owns a home in New York among other cities/states, flies out on her private jet to tape Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.[25]

text: As of 2014, the Judge Judy set is located directly beside the set of the courtroom series Sheindlin created and produces, Hot Bench. Both shows are taped in the same studio. Previous to that, the space directly beside Sheindlin's set was used for the courtroom series Paternity Court for the 2013-14 season.[52] Prior to that, the space was used for Judge Judy's long-running former sister show Judge Joe Brown; that is, until Judge Joe Brown's 2013 cancellation. Like Judge Judy was and still is, Judge Joe Brown was also produced by Big Ticket Entertainment until its cancellation.[40] The two shows alternated taping weeks. Despite the show being taped primarily in California, it displays various images of New York City upon returning from commercial breaks, including a subway train and official signs bearing "State of New York" and "Family Court" (Sheindlin was previously a New York family court judge)[53] within the letterbox-like graphics used going to and from breaks since the ninth season. The set features a New York state flag behind Sheindlin's seat.

text: Remodeling[edit]

text: Over its existence, the show has changed very little from season to season.[54] Most modifications to the program have been done in minute detail, such as to the show's book shelf display seen near the courtroom entrance. Aesthetically, the show's theme song, graphics, and color scheme are the only aspects that have changed repeatedly over its past eighteen years.[55] The ninth season (2004–05) is one of few seasons in which the show underwent major remodeling when music for the show's opening, closing, and to/from commercial portions were modified. A modern version of a melody from Beethoven's 5th Symphony was then adopted as the show's opening theme song. This arrangement was composed by Non-Stop Music Productions.[56] For its scenes, Sheindlin is shown in a different courtroom from her own (part of a proposed renovation to the courtroom that was rejected by Sheindlin for being too dark), approaching the camera, followed by folding her arms and smiling at the camera. This is followed by showing various scenes of her presiding over different cases. As part of these modifications, the show's introductory previews, graphics, and images all began showing up in falu red.

text: Prior to the ninth season, the show used an original tune for its theme song composed by Bill Bodine. From the show's debut through its eighth season, various versions of this original tune were used, the show making moderate modifications to the tune every few seasons, as shown. The actual full-length version of this original musical, which never played during the show's intro, played during the lengthier litigant-afterthought-segments as shown (full-length musical used for 1999-00, 2000-01, 2001-02). From seasons four through eight, the opening music video commenced with an approaching scene towards a computer animated courthouse display up until that scene entered into the courthouse. From there, several shots of Sheindlin gesticulating from her bench—as though presiding over various cases—were displayed in motion. These motioning images eventually developed into the courthouse logo that represents the program (the logo always displayed within the letter "D" in "Judy") by the end of this opening music video. The music video in seasons prior to this used relatively similar music with disparities in scenes, images, instrumental sound type and theme song length.

text: Further, early seasons of the show used graphics and images that were sea green and saffron. Blue and saffron then came to represent multiple seasons of the show before the show's current color scheme. By the show's sixth season (2001–02), music and graphics used in the introductory previews no longer resembled the rest of the program as they had previously, but instead used a high blue color scheme and a different song for each episode/intro preview. While the introductory preview's inconstant tunes have continued to the present season, the color scheme in the introductory previews began resembling the color scheme used in the rest of the program (falu red) once again by the ninth season.

text: Each opening music video consists of Voice-Over Artist Jerry Bishop stating: "You are about to enter the courtroom of Judge Judith Sheindlin. The people are real. The cases are real. The rulings are final. This is Judge Judy."[57] Originally between the statements "The rulings are final" and "This is Judge Judy" was the statement, "This is her courtroom."[58] This was removed in 2004. Beginning in September 2012, the show made a switch to high definition with its 17th season. The bumpers between commercials are also in HD, although most on-screen graphics such as plaintiff and defendant descriptions are framed to fit a 4:3 aspect ratio.[59]

text: By the 20th season beginning in September 2015, the show began using a shortened, scanty version of the same intro it had been using for 10 years since its 9th season. Both the Beethoven remix and lyrics have been curtailed. The present lyrics state only "You are about to enter the courtroom of Judge Judith Sheindlin. This is Judge Judy." In addition to not using much of an intro theme any longer, a "20th anniversary" caption is depicted above the "Judge Judy" logo in the intro. These are the only two updates for season 20.

text: Episode specials[edit]

text: On May 20, 2014, CBS aired a one-hour special called Judge Judy Primetime which aired at 8 p.m. ET/PT. The special was a combination of reshown clips from the 1993 60 Minutes Special on Sheindlin, as well as a few never-previously-seen cases. The special marked Judge Judy's first airing in primetime, a landmark for court shows which are typically limited to daytime or late night hours.[60][61] Although the special didn't rank nearly as high as Dancing with the Stars (14.86 million) and The Voice (11.57 million), it brought in 5.66 million viewers, enough to make it the night's top rated show on CBS. In addition, the special came in just behind American Idol, which brought in 6.61 million viewers.[62]

text: Contrived cases[edit]

text: At least some of the cases on the series have been circumstances that were allegedly contrived by the litigants just to receive monetary payment from the program.

text: In April 2013, former litigants from a 2010 airing of the show revealed they conspired together in fabricating a lawsuit in which the logical outcome would be to grant payment to the plaintiff. The operation, devised by musicians Kate Levitt and Jonathan Coward, was successful: Sheindlin awarded the plaintiff (Levitt) $1,250. The litigants involved also walked away with an appearance fee of $250 each and an all expense paid vacation to Hollywood, California. In reality, all the litigants in question—plaintiffs and defendants alike—were friends who split the earnings up among each other. It was also reported that the show's producers were in on the sham and knew of the contrivance all along but went along with it. The lawsuit was over the fictitious death of a cat as a result of a television crushing it.[63][64]

text: Judge Judy Sheindlin[edit]

text: Judge Judy was born on October 21, 1942, in Brooklyn, New York, to German-Jewish parents Murray and Ethel Blum. Sheindlin described her father, a dentist, as "the greatest thing since sliced bread" and her mother as "a meat-and-potatoes kind of gal." It was reported in October 2012 that Sheindlin had a $45 million yearly contract with CBS Television Distribution, in effect until 2015 and up $20 million from 2007.[65] It was later reported in October 2013 that Sheindlin is the highest paid TV star, earning $47 million per year for Judge Judy, which translates into just over $900,000 per workday (she works 52 days per year).[66]

text: Judy has gained a reputation as a judge in both the family court and on television for her no-nonsense fact-finding, brusque management, and incisive decision-making.[67][68] In line with these attributes, her program has been touted as "a show where justice is dispensed at the speed of light." Moreover, resolute in her rulings, arguments and excuses are often to no avail under Sheindlin.[69]

text: Strict in her management of the proceedings,[70] Sheindlin coerces precise compliance of rules and is very quick to scold or even punish what she perceives as disobedience, misbehavior or even annoyance. And as result of her gruff disposition,[71] volatile temper,[72] and frequent saucy treatment,[73] taglines such as "Justice with an Attitude" have been used to characterize the program.[74] As examples of this, Sheindlin has regularly made such remarks as:

text: "Baloney!", "Do I have 'stupid' written over my forehead?",[75] "I'm here because I'm smart, not because I'm young and gorgeous, although I am",[75] "If you live to be 100, you will never be as smart as I am, sir",[75] "Clearly you are not wrapped too tight",[76] "Where did you think you were coming to today, a tea party?!",[77] "I'm speaking!",[77] "If you interrupt again madam, your case is dismissed, and I'm throwing you out. Do we understand each other?",[77] "I've been in this business for over 40 years",[77] "Do I look like I need help from you?",[77] "That's a lot of who shot John",[78] "This is my playpen",[77] etc.

text: Spawning from her "Judge Judy: Justice Served" DVD, Sheindlin's regular phrases on the program have become known as "Judyisms".[79] Some of these Judyisms are intended to provide a lesson, such as "A good deed never goes unpunished", "Beauty fades, dumb is forever", "If It doesn't make sense, it's not true", "Do you know when teenagers are lying? When their mouths move."[77] Sheindlin has used the position of television arbitrator to impart guidance, direction, and life lessons not only to her litigants but her viewers and public at large. An example of guidance often stressed by Sheindlin is to be independent through employment, especially so as to not live off the government where unwarranted or other people directly where oppression from or friction with the provider may eventuate. In the former, Sheindlin can often be quoted as stating, "No, you aren't supporting yourself. Byrd and I are supporting you."[80][81] Sheindlin has stated that the main message she wants viewers to take from her program is that people must take responsibility for their actions and do the right thing.[47][82]

text: Reception[edit]

text: Ratings by season[edit]

text: Judge Judy went on the air in September 1996. By the end of October of that year, the show was averaging only a 1.5 rating, putting it in the mid-rank of the 159 syndicated shows on the air. At that time, it was never expected that the show's ratings would ever compete with highly successful daytime TV shows of the time, such as The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Rosie O'Donnell Show and The Jerry Springer Show.[47] According to Biography's documentary film on Sheindlin, "Judge Judy: Sitting in Judgment" (aired February 21, 2000),[83] producers of Judge Judy were disappointed that the show was barely making it on the radar. However, it did not take long for the court show to pick up momentum as Judge Judy rose to a 2.1 rating by the end of that first season. By its 2nd season (1997–98), the court show had already risen into the 4 ratings ranges, averaging a 4.3.[84]

text: The 3rd season (1998–99) of Judge Judy was the show's first season as the highest-rated program in daytime television, having surpassed the highly rated Jerry Springer Show and even then daytime powerhouse The Oprah Winfrey Show for the first time[85] (King World Productions which launched Oprah was a corporate sibling of CBS Television Studios, which distributed Judge Judy): the program's ratings more than doubled to a 5.6 for that season, marking Judge Judy as an early success.[86]

text: It was due, in part, to this early success that daytime television began to feature more court programming, such as a revival of The People's Court that re-debuted in fall 1997. In 1999, Judge Judy moved from Worldvision Enterprises to Paramount Domestic Television, which also distributed her stablemate Judge Joe Brown and eventually Judge Mills Lane. Many other retired judges were given their own court shows in syndication due in large part to Sheindlin's popularity. These include Greg Mathis, Glenda Hatchett, Alex Ferrer, Maria Lopez, Karen Mills-Frances, Cristina Perez, David Young, and many others. In addition, the series helped to spawn various nontraditional court programs. These include the reality-based revival of Divorce Court, which was originally presided over by Mablean Ephriam and now helmed by Lynn Toler; the short-lived Power of Attorney, capturing various high-profile attorneys arguing cases for litigants in front of Andrew Napolitano; Street Court, which took litigation outside of the courtroom; Jury Duty, featuring an all-celebrity jury hearing cases presided over by Bruce Cutler; etc. Furthermore, the role of Judge Judy in the rise in popularity of daytime court shows enabled several other non-real life judges to preside over courts, such as Nancy Grace, Jeanine Pirro, and Gloria Allred.

text: Also, partly due to Sheindlin's popularity, the producers of The People's Court decided to replace Ed Koch with Sheindlin's husband, Jerry Sheindlin, as their presiding judge during The People's Court's 3rd present life season/15th overall season (1999–2000); this meant that husband and wife would be either part of the same afternoon lineup or competing for ratings against each other. This experiment, however, did not last long as midway through The People's Court's fourth season, Sheindlin was replaced by the show's current judge, Marilyn Milian.[86][87]

text: For its 4th season (1999–00), Judy's ratings exploded to their highest to date, peaking at a 9.3 rating. At this point, Sheindlin's courtroom series was still more than ever the highest rated program in daytime. It was also at this point that Judge Judy held a record of increasing its ratings for each successive season since its debut. Because of the program's success, Judge Judy began airing at better time periods.[86]

text: It was by the show's 5th season (2000–01) that Judy's streak of growing in ratings from season to season since its debut had ceased. However, the court show still remained the highest-rated program in daytime that season with a 5.6 rating.[55] By the 6th season (2001–02), Judy was no longer the highest-rated program in daytime, beaten out by The Oprah Winfrey Show. The court show averaged a 5.0 rating that season.[55] Likewise, for her 7th season (2002–03), she also averaged a 5.0.[55] For her 8th season (2003–04), Sheindlin finally reversed the season-to-season downward turn in her ratings by averaging a 7.1.[88] Of the seven running court shows during the 2004–05 season, most of them earned a 3.63 rating; however, Judge Judy pulled in a 7.5 rating for that season (the show's 9th).[86] For her 10th season (2005–06), Judge Judy averaged a 4.8 rating.[89] Judge Judy averaged 4.6 rating for her 11th season (2006–07). Meanwhile, other programs in the genre were trailing Sheindlin from a vast distance (as has been the case since the debut of Judge Judy): Judge Joe Brown averaged a 2.9 rating; The People's Court averaged a 2.7; Judge Mathis averaged a 2.4; Divorce Court averaged a 2.0; Judge Alex averaged 1.9; Judge Hatchett averaged a 1.5; rookies--Cristina's Court averaged a 1.4, and Judge Maria Lopez came in last, averaging a 1.0 rating.[90]

text: For its 12th season (2007–08), Judge Judy averaged a 4.8 rating (4.8 HH AA%/7.4 HH GAA% rating) and 9.9 million average daily viewers.[50] Judy was the only first-run syndication program to increase in ratings for that season from the previous, leading CBS to immediately extend her contract through the 2012–13 season.[91] For its 13th season (2008–09), the show averaged a 4.2 rating (4.2 HH AA%/6.5 HH GAA% rating) and 9.02 million average daily viewers.[92] Its 14th season (2009–10) marked the first season in nearly a decade since the 2000–01 season that any daytime television program had been able to surpass The Oprah Winfrey Show's ratings (Judge Judy is also the show in question that during the 2000–01 television season surpassed The Oprah Winfrey Show in daytime TV ratings): Judy broke Winfrey's near decade-long streak with a 4.4 rating (4.4 HH AA%/6.9 HH GAA% rating) and 9.6 million average daily viewers.[93] It was also at that point that Sheindlin's courtroom series became the highest rated show in all of daytime television programming.[94] Judy secured this title in its 15th season (2010–11) as the program remained ahead of Oprah in her [Oprah] final season and the highest-rated daytime television offering, averaging a 5.11 rating[95] and 9.6 million viewers.[96] During this season, Judy also became the highest rated show in first-run syndication.[97] Late that same season in May 2011, as a result of continued high ratings, CBS again extended Sheindlin's contract, this time through the 2014–15 season (the show's 19th).[98]

text: In the first post-Oprah television season, the court show continued its reign as the most dominant show in daytime and also became the top-rated show in syndication, its 16th season (2011–12) racking up a 7.0 rating and 9.29 million average daily viewers.[99] As the top-rated show in all of syndication at this point, Sheindlin defeated not only first-run syndication programs but also off-network syndication programs (rerun episodes of programs off their original network).[100] The title of overall syndication leader was previously held by off-network syndicated program Two and a Half Men (2010–11) and before that, first-run syndicated program Wheel of Fortune (2009–10).[101][102]

text: For its 17th season (2012–13), Judge Judy once again pulled in a 7.0 household rating.[97][104] The series delivered 9.63 million average daily viewers that season, growing by +32,000 viewers over the prior season.[105] Despite this, Judy lost its 1st place spot as the ratings leader in all of syndication that season, descending to 2nd place, only a tad behind The Big Bang Theory (off-network syndicate) which took home a 7.1 for that season. Still and all, this was the 3rd season in a row that Judy earned the title of ratings leader in all of first-run syndication.[97] Moreover, this was the 4th consecutive season that Judy was the ratings leader in all of daytime television programming.[106] For the 18th season (2013–14), Judy rose to a 7.2 household rating and brought in 9.94 million viewers, gaining 8% over its prior season. Also for this season, the show reclaimed the title as highest rated program in all of daytime (5th consecutive time, 8th time overall) and all of syndication (3rd time).[107][108] The show's 19th season (2014–15) pulled in a 7.0 household rating and remained the highest rated program in both daytime television as well as all of syndication.[109] The 20th season (2015–16) was Judy's 3rd consecutive year as syndication's top strip, the court show averaging a 7.0 full-season household rating.[110]

text: For its 21st season (2016-17), Judge Judy trounced all of its competitors in daytime and all of syndication. The court show scored a 6.8 household rating for its 21st season.[111][112]

text: Preeminence and success in struggling genre[edit]

text: The success of Judge Judy is particularly noteworthy in that, generally speaking, courtroom programming has a very limited shelf life. The shows in this genre are lucky to make it past a few seasons. In addition, most of the programs in this genre do not score very highly in ratings. The annual Forbes magazine Celebrity 100 for 2015 lists Judge Judy Sheindlin at number 43, along with Vin Diesel, with estimated earnings last year of $47 million.

text: Of the long list of court shows, the only programs still existent in the genre originating in the 1990s or prior are Divorce Court (1957), The People's Court (1981), Judge Judy (1996) and Judge Mathis (1999). Of those four, only Judge Judy and Judge Mathis have not suffered a temporary cancellation in their series run before a revival. Also of the four, Sheindlin and Mathis are the only two to have hosted their program for their entire run. This makes Sheindlin the genre's longest serving courtroom arbitrator. Greg Mathis is the second longest serving court show arbitrator, trailing Sheindlin by three seasons. As Divorce Court and The People's Court have both suffered temporary cancellation(s), Judge Judy has had the longest individual life of any court show followed by Judge Mathis.

text: Judge Judy producer Randy Douthit has stated that "they are guilty of cannibalizing each other. Most of these court shows are lucky to get above a 1 rating today."[113]

text: Addressing the subject in a September 2015 interview, Sheindlin stated: "It's clearly not the format since there are many court shows. So it has to be the message and the messenger and some excellent directing, which is why the show looks so good. The message is a simple one: it's your life, take responsibility for it, say you're sorry and fess up when you do something wrong. That has to be delivered in an entertaining way and, fortunately, I don't have to act. I don't have a script. It is what it is."[114]

text: Audience makeup[edit]

text: Judge Judy's daytime audience is composed of approximately seventy-five percent women and twenty-five percent men.[45] In February 2014, it was reported that Judge Judy's audience is mostly composed of older women, blacks, and Latinos.[115]

text: Criticism – Sheindlin vs. Joseph Wapner[edit]

text: Despite her widespread popularity, Sheindlin's behavior and treatment of the parties that have appeared before her has often been the subject of criticism. Regular viewers of the program have also been criticized as sadistic for their delight in watching Sheindlin engage in her typical behaviors.[116] One such example of criticism has come from the first star of arbitration-based reality court shows, Joseph Wapner. Wapner, who presided over The People's Court from 1981 to 1993, is a long-time critic of Sheindlin. On November 26, 2002, Wapner criticized Judge Judy's courtroom behavior, stating "She is not portraying a judge as I view a judge should act. Judge Judy is discourteous, and she's abrasive. She's not slightly insulting. She's insulting in capital letters."

text: Judge Judy replied through her publicist, stating, "I refuse to engage in similar mud slinging. I don't know where or by whom Judge Wapner was raised. But my parents taught me when you don't have something nice to say about someone, say nothing. Clearly, Judge Wapner was absent on the day that lesson was taught."

text: Since then, Wapner has stated, "She is a disgrace to the profession. She does things I don't think a judge should do. She tells people to shut up. She's rude. She's arrogant. She demeans people. If she does this on purpose, then that's even worse. Judges need to observe certain standards of conduct. She just doesn't do it and I resent that. The public is apt to gain the impression that this is how actual judges conduct themselves. It says 'judge' on the nameplate on the bench and she's wearing a robe."[117]

text: Sheindlin has since stated, "As a young person, when I had watched The People's Court. . . I said 'you know what, I could do that.' And at least as well because while Joe Wapner is a very good judge, didn't have much of a sense of humor. And I always knew from a very practical perspective that you have to marry those two things in order to be successful in entertainment."[21]

text: In a November 2013 interview with Larry King, Sheindlin was asked whether she enjoyed watching Wapner on The People's Court. She replied, "Meh! Oatmeal!" Following this, King asked her what if any other television judges then did she enjoy, to which Sheindlin answered "Mills Lane" of Judge Mills Lane.[118]

text: Acclaim[edit]

text: In a September 2014 Rickey Smiley Morning Show interview, Judge Mathis was asked what 3 other court show judges he'd most enjoy sharing a meal with. For his first choice, he answered (laughing) "Are you kidding?! It would be Judge Judy at the head of the table. Oh my goodness, that Judge Judy is something else." His second choice was Judge Marilyn Milian, and third Judge Mills Lane.[119]

text: In August, 2010, rapper, singer and songwriter Nicki Minaj stated that she has an obsession with Judge Judy and that all of her free time is spent watching the program.[120]

text: In February 2013, then head Football coach for the San Francisco 49ers, Jim Harbaugh, was asked about the importance of truthfulness and enthusiastically remarked, "Somebody that's not truthful? That's big to me. I'm a big fan of the "Judge Judy" show. When you lie in Judge Judy's courtroom, it's over. Your credibility is completely lost, and you stand no chance of winning that case. So I learned that from her. It's very powerful and true. If somebody lies to you, how can you trust anything they ever say after that?"[121][122][123][124]

text: A couple months later, Harbaugh would even attend tapings of Judge Judy along with his father as audience members. As part of the experience, Harbaugh and his father had lunch with Sheindlin and visited with her both before and after tapings. After meeting Sheindlin and seeing cases in person, Harbaugh stated, "I've never seen Judy adjudicate one improperly. She is so smart. She is so good. I could sit there and watch those cases all day. I really could. It's fun to watch somebody that does their job well. I could watch Judge Judy do cases all day. I could watch people play football who do their job really well. People who direct traffic. I get a real kick out of watching people who direct traffic do it. I've done it for hours. I like football the most, but Judge Judy is right up there. She's the best."[121][122]

text: Brad Adgate, senior vice president of research for Horizon Media, said "Judge Judy is the new Oprah of daytime TV-actually, she was [already] beating Oprah while Oprah was still on."[14]

text: President and CEO of CBS, Leslie Moonves, stated "Over the last few decades, there have been very few shows that have achieved the remarkable success that she has. Not only has Judy sustained that success year after year, how many shows grow in their 15th or 16th year in syndication? She started as a fresh voice and she's been a remarkable presence in daytime television ever since."[125]

text: Many regular viewers and supporters of Judge Judy have defended Sheindlin's treatment of the parties that have appeared before her by describing the parties as an "endless parade of idiots" that Sheindlin has had to put up with.[126][127][128]

text: Lawsuits involving Sheindlin, executive producer, Big Ticket, and CBS[edit]

text: Judge Judy executive producer Randy Douthit has been sued twice by former staff members of the Judge Judy program for alleged wrongful termination, discriminatory practice, and mismanagement while on the job.

text: Racism termination lawsuit[edit]

text: In December 2007, Jonathan Sebastien, a former producer of the Judge Judy show of 7 years, filed a lawsuit against the production company in L.A. County Superior Court for wrongful termination. Sebastien claimed that when he proposed certain cases for the show involving black litigants, Douthit turned them down with his alleged reasons being he didn't want to see any more black people; their behaviors were too ghetto and more suited for former television jurist, Joe Brown; and they needed more pretty, upscale white people. Sebastien claimed that in January 2007, he objected to the alleged discrimination in a meeting and was verbally abused by Douthit. Three months later on March 30, Sebastien stated he was fired with the reason given that rating numbers were down. Sebastien claimed that the real reason he was fired was because he opposed his boss's alleged "discriminatory selection process."[129][130]

text: Ageism lawsuit[edit]

text: That same day in December 2007, the show's former associate producer Karen Needle was also fired. She later sued Douthit, claiming that she was wrongfully terminated because she was too old, 64 at the time. Sheindlin was not named as a defendant. Needle, who helped book audiences for the program, stated the reason she was given for being fired was "unspecified conflict from her audience work." Needle said she began suffering from back pain, sometimes even resorting to lying on the ground in pain, and when she asked her bosses for a new chair, nothing was done. According to the complaint, two weeks before Needle was fired, she took off four days to assist her ailing 88-year-old mother. Needle stated, "There is a lot of terrible stuff going on if two people file separate lawsuits. It's a toxic situation over there. This is supposed to be Judge Judy, the voice of justice, and yet her own staff isn't treated well. What is she getting paid all that money for if her own staff is treated with such little decency?"[130]

text: Conspiracy/fraud allegations[edit]

text: In March 2013, a lawsuit was filed against Sheindlin by Patric Jones, the estranged wife of Douthit. Jones alleged Douthit and Sheindlin had conspired to permit Sheindlin to buy Christofle fine china and Marley cutlery owned by Jones. She said Sheindlin had paid Douthit $50,815 for the items without her knowledge to deprive her of her valuables,[131] and she sought $514,421 from Sheindlin. The suit ended after Sheindlin returned the tableware to Douthit and Jones agreed to pay her $12,500 and have the tableware handed back to her.[132]

text: Lawsuit by production against YouTube user[edit]

text: On October 17, 2013, Big Ticket Television and producers of Judge Judy filed a lawsuit against Ignacio De Los Angeles. The suit was made against the individual for posting an episode of Judge Judy on YouTube. According to the suit, Big Ticket directed Ignacio to remove the 2006 episode of Judge Judy that he had posted. Ignacio ignored the command.[133][134]

text: Copyright lawsuit filed by Judy Sheindlin[edit]

text: On Wednesday, March 12, 2014, Sheindlin filed a lawsuit of her own for the first time in her life. The suit was filed against Hartford, Connecticut, personal injury lawyer John Haymond and his law firm. In the lawsuit, Sheindlin accused Haymond and his firm of using her television image without consent in advertisements that falsely suggested she endorsed him and his firm. In March 2013, Sheindlin's producer allegedly told the firm that the use of her image was not permitted, but ads continued. The lawsuit filed in federal court sought more than $75,000 in damages. Sheindlin said in her statement that any money she wins through the lawsuit will go toward college scholarships through the Her Honor Mentoring Program. Sheindlin described the unauthorized use of her name as "outrageous", stating, "Mr. Haymond is a lawyer and should know better."[135][136][137] Haymond later filed a countersuit for punitive damages and attorney's fees, alleging defamation of him and his firm by Sheindlin.[138] Haymond insisted that local affiliates asked him to appear in Judge Judy promos to promote Sheindlin for which he obliged.[139][140] On August 8, 2014, it was reported that the case between Sheindlin and Haymond settled out of court in a resolution that favored Sheindlin. Haymond will be donating money to Sheindlin's charity, Her Honor Mentoring Program.[141]

text: Lawsuit by Rebel Entertainment aimed at CBS and Sheindlin's salary[edit]

text: On March 14, 2016, talent agency Rebel Entertainment and its president, Richard Lawrence, filed a multimillion-dollar lawsuit against CBS Television, claiming the media giant failed to pay the agency millions of dollars in profits. Rebel claims they are profits owed and contractually agreed to for their contributions to launching the program and discovering Sheindlin. The lawsuit alleges CBS hasn’t paid Rebel for the past six years because CBS told them the net profits that go to “Judge Judy” have been wiped out due to Sheindlin’s annual salary boost to $45 and then $47 million. The lawsuit goes on to attack Sheindlin's salary as being far too high. Rebel described it as "exorbitant" and "grossly inconsistent with customary practice in the television industry," that similarly successful talk show hosts aren't paid nearly as much. Further, Rebel claims they were to be consulted before any spin-offs of the show were produced, but were not when Hot Bench (another courtroom arbitrated show launched by Sheindlin and her producers) was created.[142][143] In response to the lawsuit, Sheindlin has stated:


document_title: Ford F-Series

question_text: when did ford come out with the f150

question_tokens: when did ford come out with the f150

root

text: Ford F-Series

text: First generation (1948–1952)[edit]

text: The first-generation F-Series pickup (known as the Ford Bonus-Built) was introduced in 1948 as a replacement for the previous car-based pickup line introduced in 1942. The F-Series was sold in eight different weight ratings, with pickup, panel truck, cab-over engine (COE), conventional truck, and school bus chassis body styles.

tag: p

text: Second generation (1953–1956)[edit]

text: For the 1953 model year, an all-new version of the F-Series made its debut. Increased dimensions, improved engines, and an updated chassis were features of the second generation.

text: Additionally, a change to the F-Series naming scheme would remain in place to the present day. The half-ton F-1 became the F-100 (partially influenced by the North American F-100 Super Sabre); the F-2 and F-3 were combined into the F-250 while the F-4 became the F-350. Conventional F-Series trucks were F-500 to F-900; COE chassis were C-Series trucks.

text: Third generation (1957–1960)[edit]

text: Introduced in 1957, the third generation F-series was a significant modernization and redesign. Front fenders became integrated into the body, and the new Styleside bed continued the smooth lines to the rear of the pickup.

text: The cab-over F-Series was discontinued, having been replaced by the tilt-cab C-Series.

text: In 1959, Ford began in-house production of four-wheel-drive pickups.

text: Fourth generation (1961–1966)[edit]

text: Ford introduced a dramatically new style of pickup in 1961 with the fourth generation F-Series. Longer and lower than its predecessors, these trucks had increased dimensions and new engine and gearbox choices. Additionally, the 1961–1963 models were constructed as a unibody design with the cab and bed integrated. This proved unpopular and Ford reverted to the traditional separate cab/bed design in 1964.

text: In 1965, the F-Series was given a significant mid-cycle redesign. A completely new platform, including the "Twin I-Beam" front suspension, was introduced that would be used until 1996 on the F-150 and until 2016 on the F-250/350 4x2. Additionally that year, the Ranger name made its first appearance on a Ford pickup; previously a base model of the Edsel, it was now used to denote a high-level styling package for F-Series pickups.[5]

text: Fifth generation (1967–1972)[edit]

text: Introduced in 1967, the fifth generation F-series pickup was built on the same platform as the 1965 revision of the fourth generation. Dimensions and greenhouse glass were increased, engine options expanded, and plusher trim levels became available during the fifth generation's production run.

text: Suspension components from all 1969 F-Series models are completely interchangeable.

text: A variant of the fifth generation F-series was produced until 1992 in Brazil for the South American market.

text: Sixth generation (1973–1979)[edit]

text: The sixth generation F-series was introduced in 1973. This version of the F-series continued to be built on the 1965 fourth generation's revised platform, but with significant modernizations and refinements. Front disc brakes, increased cabin dimensions, gas tank relocated outside the cab and under the bed, significantly improved heating and air conditioning, full double wall bed construction, increased use of galvanized steel, SuperCab was introduced in the sixth generation pickup.

text: The FE engine series was discontinued in 1976 after a nearly 20-year run, replaced by the more modern 351 series (Modified) and 400 series engines.

text: In 1975, the F-150 was introduced in between the F-100 and the F-250 in order to avoid certain emission control restrictions. For 1978, square headlights replaced the previous models' round ones on higher trim package models, such as Lariat and Ranger, and in 1979 became standard equipment. Also for 1978, the Ford Bronco was redesigned into a variant of the F-series pickup. 1979 was the last year that the 460 big block engine was available in a half ton truck.

text: Seventh generation (1980–1986)[edit]

text: The 1980 F-Series was redesigned with an all-new chassis and larger body; this was the first ground-up redesign since 1965. The exterior styling of the truck was redone to improve aerodynamics and fuel economy. Medium-duty F-Series (F600-F900) were also redesigned; although they shared the cabin of the smaller pickup trucks, the largest version of F-Series now wore a bonnet with separate front wings (like the L-Series). Medium duty Ford F-Series would carry the 1980–1986 interior design until 2000 (though pickups were restyled again in 1987 and 1992), with very subtle changes such as window glass and electronics.

text: In a move towards fuel efficiency, Ford dropped the M-Series engines (the 5.8 Liter 351M and 6.6 Liter 400 cu in V8s) in 1981, replacing them with the 4.2 Liter 255 C.I. and 5.8 Liter 351 C.I. Windsor V8 engines from the Panther platform. The 255 V8 was simply a 5.0L, 302 V8 with a smaller bore, built specifically for better fuel economy, but was dropped for the 1982 model year due to being underpowered and having limited demand. For 1982 and 1983, the 3.8L, 232 C.I. Essex V6 was the base engine but was quickly dropped for the 1984 model year. In 1983, Ford added Diesel power to the F-Series through a partnership with International Harvester (later Navistar). The 6.9L, 420 C.I. IDI V8 produced similar power output as the gasoline 351 Windsor V8, with the fuel economy of the 4.9L, 300 I6. From this point on (1983-present), the heavier duty f-series trucks (F-350 and above) were usually equipped with the Diesel engines as standard horsepower. 1985 was the first year of electronic fuel injection on the 5.0L V8, all other engines following suit in 1988. There was a new "high output" version of the 5.8L Windsor beginning in 1984.

text: A noticeable change was made to the F-Series in 1982 as the Ford "Blue Oval" was added to the center of the grill, also the Ranger and Custom trims were no longer available. The Ranger name had been shifted onto the all-new compact pickup developed as a replacement for the Courier. The new trim levels were a no-badge base model (essentially the new Custom), XL, a very rare XLS, and XLT Lariat.

text: 1983 marked the final year of the F-100, making the F-150 the lightest pickup available on the market. F-100s and F-150s were virtually identical with the exception of smaller brakes and a 5x4.5 bolt pattern on the F-100 axles, as opposed to 5x5.5 on the F-150. F-100s over a certain GVWR and/or without power brakes did use the F-150 axles. Also, the 1980–1983 F-100 was never offered with four-wheel-drive.

text: 1986 marked the final year that the F-150 was available with a 3-speed manual gearbox that shifted via a steering column lever (3-on-the-tree). Incidentally, this was the second-last vehicle in the United States that offered this set up. 1986 was also the last year the Explorer package was available.

text: This is the first generation of trucks to incorporate amenities such as power mirrors, power windows, and power door locks.

text: Eighth generation (1987–1991)[edit]

text: The 1987 F-Series carried over the same body style from the seventh generation, yet sported a new rounded front clip that improved aerodynamics, as well as the softening of body lines around the rear of the bed and fender arches around the wheel wells. The interior was also completely redesigned in 1987. The transmissions available on SuperCab models were a four-or five-speed manual; regular cab models were also available with automatic transmission. The Custom trim made a comeback for the eighth generation. In 1988, the 4.9 Liter inline-six, 5.8 Liter V8, and 7.5 Liter V8 engines gained electronic fuel injection. International Navistar also increased the displacement of their 6.9 Liter V8 in the same year, resulting in the new 7.3 Liter unit. This was also the first year of a five-speed manual overdrive transmission, which included the Mazda M5OD in the F-150s and the heavy-duty ZF5 in the F-250s and F-350s. Four-speed manuals were dropped as standard equipment after 1987, but were available as a customer-ordered option until 1989. In 1989, the C6 three-speed automatic was replaced as the base automatic transmission with the E4OD, a four-speed electronically controlled automatic overdrive unit, though the C6 was still available as an option, mostly in F-250s and F-350s, until 1997. Heavy-Duty models included F-250s and F-350s (along with F-Super Dutys) that were classified as incomplete vehicles only that were produced with no bed, but appeared as tow trucks, box trucks (notably U-Haul), flatbed trucks, dump trucks and other models. Although the F-250s, F-250 HDs (heavy duty), and F-350s were built as a Chassis cab models only from 1987 to 1997, owners can convert the models to pickup trucks. However General Pacheco, Argentina and São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil assemblies were the only places F-250, F-250 HD, and F-350 were built and sold as pickup trucks models. Despite being produced only in General Pacheco, Argentina and São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil assemblies (located in South America) F-250s, F-250 HDs, and F-350s were shipped from South America to the United States as imports from 1987 to 1997.

text: Ninth generation (1992–1997)[edit]

text: For the 1992 model year, the body-shell of the 1980 F-Series was given another major upgrade. To further improve its aerodynamics, the forward bodywork was given a slightly lower hoodline, rounding the front fenders and grille; in addition, the changes matched the F-Series with the design of the newly introduced Explorer and redesigned E-Series and Ranger. Along with the exterior updates, the interior received a complete redesign.

text: Dormant since 1987, the FlareSide bed made its return as an option for 1992. To increase its appeal for younger buyers, the bed bodywork was redesigned, borrowing the sides of the F-350 dual-rear wheel bed (fitted to the narrower F-150 single-wheel chassis). To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the first Ford factory-produced truck (the 1917 Ford Model TT), Ford offered a 75th anniversary package on its 1992 F-series, consisting of a stripe package, an argent colored step bumper, and special 75th anniversary logos. In 1993, the 240 hp SVT Lightning was introduced as a specially-tuned performance truck; over 11,000 were built from 1993 to 1995.

text: In a trim shift, the XLT Lariat was dropped and combined with the XLT; the XL took over for the Custom trim after 1993 (marking the last usage of the Custom nameplate by Ford). In 1995, the Eddie Bauer trim made its return.

text: In 1995, the medium-duty Ford F-Series (F-600 through F-800 and all Ford B-Series) were given their first update since 1980. All versions (except severe-service) received a hood redesign which enlarged the grille and moved the turn signal indicators to the outside of the front headlights.

text: During the second half of 1997, the F-250 HD (heavy duty) was in the same series as the F-350. The body style stayed the same until the end of 1997. The only change of the F-250 HD and F-350 was that they no longer has classic style tailgates, with the stainless steel cap on them which read FORD. Instead the tailgate had the F-250 Heavy Duty/F-350 nameplate labeled on its left side, while Ford's blue oval was labeled on The right side (similarly styled like the 1997 Ford F-150 around this same time). The F-250 HD also had some minor changes in trim location, and options available. The 1997 F-250 HD with the 7.3 Powerstroke Diesel is also the rarest and most desirable of ninth generation Fords.

text: Following the introduction of the tenth-generation F-150, the F-250 and F-350 continued into production into the 1998 model year, becoming part of the Ford F-Series Super Duty line as they were replaced in 1999.

text: Tenth generation (1997–2003)[edit]

text: For 1997, Ford Motor Company made a major change to its F-Series family of trucks as the F-Series pickup line was essentially split in two. During the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, buyers of pickup trucks had increasingly purchased the vehicles for the purposes of personal use over work use. To further increase its growing market share, Ford sought to develop vehicles for both types of buyers. In its ultimate decision, the company decided to make the F-150 as a contemporary vehicle for personal use, while the F-250 and F-350 would be designed more conservatively for work-based customers.

text: Introduced in early 1996 as a 1997 model, the F-150 was a completely new vehicle in comparison from its predecessor. Similar to the original Ford Taurus of 1986, the 1997 F-150 was developed with a radically streamlined body. Dispensing with the traditional Twin I-Beam for a fully independent front suspension, the all-new chassis shared only the transmissions with the previous generation. In a major change, the long-running 4.9L inline-6 was replaced by a V6 engine as standard. The 4.6L Modular V8 shared with the Panther cars was optional (with a 5.4L version added in mid-1997); originally developed for use in the F-Series, the Modular/Triton V8 was the first overhead-cam engine ever fitted to a full-size pickup truck.

text: To improve rear-seat access for SuperCab models, a rear-hinged (curb-side) door was added to all versions. Following its popularity, the SuperCab gained a fourth door for 1999. In 2001, the F-150 became the first pickup truck in its size segment to become available with four full-size doors. Sharing the length of a standard-bed SuperCab, the F-150 SuperCrew was produced with a slightly shortened bed.

text: During the second half of the 1997 model year, Ford introduced a heavier GVWR version (8800 GVW), bearing the F-250 name. It was distinguished by seven-lug nut wheels. At the same time, the F-250 HD (heavy duty) was in the same series as the F-350 (same body style as the 1992 to 1997 model years; it was still built in South America only). Following the introduction of the Super Duty for 1999, it was quietly dropped.

text: In 1999, the SVT Lightning made its return, with output expanded to 360 hp; over 28,000 were produced from 1999 to 2003. For 2002, Lincoln-Mercury gained its first full-size pickup truck since 1968 with the introduction of the Lincoln Blackwood, the first Lincoln pickup. Sharing the front bodywork of the Lincoln Navigator SUV, the Blackwood was designed with a model-exclusive bed and was sold only in black. Due to very poor sales, the Blackwood was discontinued after 2002.

text: In 1998, the F-250 and F-350 pickups were introduced as the 1999 Ford F-Series Super Duty model line. While remaining part of the F-Series, the Super Duty trucks use a different platform architecture, powertrain, and design language, primarily as they are intended for heavy-duty work use. Designed in a joint venture with Navistar International, the medium-duty F-650/F-750 Super Duty were introduced in 2000.

text: Eleventh generation (2004–2008)[edit]

text: For the 2004 model year, the F-150 was redesigned on an all-new platform. Externally, the eleventh-generation model was different from its predecessor, with sharper-edged styling; a major change was the adoption of the stepped driver's window from the Super Duty trucks. Regardless of cab type, all F-150s were given four doors, with the rear doors on the regular cab providing access to behind-the-seat storage. Ford also introduced the Triton engines in the variants of the F-150. Due to declining sales, the Flareside beds were dropped; this marked the first time in 56 years of F-Series production that Flareside beds were not available.

text: From 2005 to 2008, Lincoln-Mercury dealers sold this version of the F-150 as the Lincoln Mark LT, replacing the Blackwood.

text: In late 2006, the Super Duty trucks were also given an all-new platform. While using the same bed and cabin as before, these are distinguished from their predecessors by an all-new interior and a much larger grille and head lamps. Previously available only as a chassis-cab model, the F-450 now was available as a pickup directly from Ford.[6]

text: From 2004 to 2006 offered a different bed style as well.

text: Twelfth generation (2009–2014)[edit]

text: The twelfth generation F-150 was introduced for the 2009 model year as an update of the Ford full-size truck platform. Similar to its predecessor, these trucks are distinguished by their Super Duty-style grilles and head lamps; standard cab models again have two-doors instead of four. The FlareSide bed was continued until 2010, dropped along with the manual gearbox; outside of Mexico, the Lincoln Mark LT was replaced by the F-150 Platinum. A new model for 2010 included the SVT Raptor, a dedicated off-road pickup.

text: As part of a major focus on fuel economy, the entire engine lineup for the F-150 was updated for the 2011 model year. Along with two new V8 engines, the F-150 gained a new 3.7 Liter base V6 engine, and a powerful twin-turbocharged 3.5 Liter V6, dubbed EcoBoost by Ford. An automatic transmission is the only option. Other modifications include the addition of a Nexteer Automotive Electric Power Steering (EPS) system on most models.

text: A recent study conducted by iSeeCars.com and published on the Ford Motor Company Web site listed Ford F-250 Super Duty as the top longest-lasting vehicle and Expedition, Explorer and F-150 in the top 20 longest-lasting vehicle.[7]

text: Thirteenth generation (2015–present)[edit]

text: For the 2015 model year, Ford Motor Company introduced the thirteenth-generation F-150. Without physically changing any dimensions from its predecessor, in the interest of fuel economy, designers reduced curb weight by nearly 750 pounds. In a radical change for a mass-market vehicle, much of the weight reduction stems the change from steel to aluminum in its body structure (the majority of the frame itself remains high-strength steel).[8][9] With the lone exception of the firewall, all sheet metal used for the F-150 body is aluminum.[9][10]

text: Largely previewed by the Ford Atlas concept vehicle at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show, the styling introduced a completely new design language for the Ford F-Series; only the stepped window from the Super Duty was carried over. To prove the durability of the aluminum-intensive design, camouflaged prototypes were entered in the Baja 1000 endurance race, in which the vehicles finished.

text: To further increase fuel economy, a 3.5L V6 became the base engine with the introduction of a 2.7L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6 alongside the 3.5L version; the 5.0L V8 remained available. The 2015 F-150 is the first pickup truck with adaptive cruise control, which uses radar sensors on the front of the vehicle to maintain a set following distance between it and the vehicle ahead of it, decreasing speed if necessary.

text: Ford has made several changes to their engine lineup for the 2018 model-year pickup, which Ford has confirmed will be a member of the thirteenth generation.[11][12][13] The 3.5L base engine has been replaced with a more efficient 3.3L V6 that boasts the same power as the outgoing 3.5, but promises better mileage.[14] The new 3.3L V6 will be mated to the existing 6-speed transmission. The 2.7L and 3.5L EcoBoost engines, as well as the 5.0L V8 have had minor upgrades and improvements towards power and efficiency. The 3.5L EcoBoost will be mated to the new 10-speed transmission, while the 2.7L EcoBoost and 5.0L V8 will continue to use the 6-speed transmission. These 3 engines will also all feature the stop/start technology which was previously only available with the 2.7L, further improving mileage across the board.[15]

text: Ford is also introducing its first Diesel engine in an F-150, which they're calling the "Power Stroke" engine. The Diesel engine is a twin turbocharged 3.0L V6 from the "Lion" lineup of engines shared by PSA Peugot Citroën and Jaguar Land Rover. The engine will produce 440 lb-ft of torque and be mated to the new 10-speed transmission, and also feature the stop/start technology.[15][16][17]

text: Outside of new engine features, Ford has stopped offering the Sony stereo system as an option and replaced it with B&O PLAY, a sound system designed by Danish audio system manufacturer Bang & Olufsen.[15]

text: Exact mileage improvements have not been announced yet. This model will be expected to launch in the Fall of 2017, and will be American built at both the Dearborn Truck Plant in Michigan, and the Kansas City Assembly Plant in Claycomo, Missouri.[16] The F-150 is assembled at a speed of one per minute.[18]

text: Special models[edit]

text: Throughout its production, variants of the Ford F-Series has been produced to attract buyers. While these variants primarily consist of trim packages, others are high-performance versions while other variants were designed with various means of improving functionality.

text: Unibody F-Series[edit]

text: For 1961 into part of the 1963 model year, Ford offered the F-Series with a pickup bed integrated with the cab (similar to the Ford Ranchero). While still produced on a separate frame, the design simplified assembly and streamlined the exterior design of the pickup

text: Specials[edit]

text: Introduced in 1961, the Camper Special was an option package for F-Series trucks; designed for owners of slide-in truck campers, the Camper Special featured pre-wiring for the camper, heavy-duty transmission and engine cooling, and a larger alternator. Introduced for 1968, the Contractor's Special and Farm and Ranch Special featured toolboxes and heavy-duty suspension; the Explorer Special was a lower-priced version of the Ranger trim level.

text: During the 1980 redesign of the F-Series, these options were no longer continued as part of the F-Series.

text: F-150 Nite[edit]

text: Sold from 1991 to 1992 on the Ford F-150 XLT Lariat, the Nite special edition was an monochromatic option package, featuring black paint and trim with a multicolor accent stripe. For 1991, it was exclusive to the regular-cab F-150; for 1992, it was available on all bodystyles of the F-150 and introduced on the Ford Bronco.

text: The Nite edition was available with two-wheel drive or four-wheel drive with either the 5.0L or 5.8L V8; it also included a sport suspension and alloy wheels on 235/75R15 white-letter tires.

text: Eddie Bauer[edit]

text: For 1994, Ford introduced the Eddie Bauer trim level for the F-150. In a fashion similar to the same trim packages on the Aerostar, Bronco, and Explorer/Bronco II, it consisted of outdoors-themed interior trim with two-tone exterior paint.

text: SVT Lightning[edit]

text: Introduced as a 1993 model, the Ford SVT Lightning is a high-performance version of the F-150 produced by the Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT).

text: Intended as a competitor for the Chevrolet 454SS, the SVT Lightning shared much of its structure with the F-150, but extensive modifications were made to the suspension and frame in order to improve the handling. Powered by a 240 hp version of the 5.8L V8, the Lightning used the 4-speed automatic transmission from the F-350 (normally paired with the 7.5L or Diesel V8s).

text: Though being 3 seconds slower in the 0-60 than the discontinued GMC Syclone, the Lightning retained much of the towing and payload capacity of its F-150 counterpart.

text: The Lightning was produced from 1993 to 1995; it was discontinued as Ford began design work on the 1997 F-150.

text: For 1999, the SVT Lightning returned after a three-year hiatus. As with its 1993-1995 predecessor, the design of the Lightning used the F-150 as a basis with a number of suspension modifications. Instead of a model-specific engine, the Lightning now used the 5.4L engine from the F-150; fitted with a supercharger, it produced 360 hp (increased to 380 hp in 2001). As before, the transmission was borrowed from the F-350 Diesel pickups.

text: In 2004, the Lightning was discontinued, as it was not included in the redesigned F-150 model line.

text: Harley-Davidson Edition[edit]

text: From 2000 to 2012, the Harley-Davidson Edition was an option package available on the F-150 (also the F-250/F-350 from 2004-2011). Primarily an appearance package featuring monochromatic black trim, from 2002 to 2003, the edition included a slightly detuned version of the supercharged 5.4L V8 engine from the SVT Lightning. In 2003, a 100th Anniversary Edition was produced on F-150 SuperCrews.

text: After 2008, the option package adopted many of the options featured from the Platinum trim level, featuring leather seating produced from materials reserved for Harley-Davidson biker jackets.[19] For 2012, the Harley-Davidson Edition was replaced by the Limited trim level.

text: SVT Raptor[edit]

text: For 2010, Ford introduced its second high-performance truck, the SVT Raptor. In sharp contrast to the SVT Lightning, the Raptor is based on Ford's 1000 baja truck, with modifications designed to improve its on-road performance while still including standard Fox suspension, and the most capable off-road, mass-produced vehicle available. For the 2010 model year, the base engine was a 5.4 Liter V8 producing 310 hp (230 kW), the 6.2 Liter V8 was an option added mid year. Between 2011 and 2014, a 411 hp (306 kW), 6.2 Liter V8, both were paired with a six-speed automatic was available. The Raptor features a model-exclusive suspension with long-travel springs and shocks. To make room for its larger tires, the Raptor shares only the cab with a standard F-150; the pickup bed, hood and front fenders are wider and exclusive to the model. Initially available only as a SuperCab, a SuperCrew cab was added in late 2010.

text: For the first time on a Ford in North America since 1983, the word "Ford" was spelled on the grille of the SVT Raptor in place of the Ford Blue Oval badge.

text: In late 2016, the second-generation Ford Raptor (dropping the SVT prefix) returned as a 2017 model. The 2017 Ford Raptor is based on the aluminum-body Ford F-150 introduced for 2015. In a major change, the powertrain sourced from the Ford Super Duty is replaced by a re-engineered 3.5 Liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V6 paired with an all-new 10-speed automatic transmission.[20]

text: F-150 Platinum[edit]

text: Following the 2008 discontinuation of the Lincoln Mark LT in the United States and Canada,[21] the truck remained in production in Mexico until 2014.

text: For 2009, to replace the Mark LT, Ford moved into the luxury pickup truck segment with the Platinum trim level. Combining much of the content and luxury features of the Mark LT with more subdued styling, the F-150 Platinum saw more success than either the Lincoln Blackwood or Lincoln Mark LT. In 2013, the Platinum trim level was expanded to the F-250 and F-350 Super Duty pickup trucks.

text: F-150 Tremor[edit]

text: For the 2014 model year, Ford introduced the Tremor model of the F-150. The Tremor was released as high-performance sport truck for street truck enthusiasts. The regular-cab Tremor is based on the style of the FX Appearance Package with the 3.5 Liter EcoBoost engine and a 4.10 rear axle. The interior uses a console-mounted shifter, custom bucket seats and a flow-through center console not found in any other F-150. The Tremor is available in both 4x2 and 4x4. Both options feature an electronic locking rear differential and customized suspension. There were 2,230 Tremors built.[citation needed]

text: Motorsports[edit]

text: The truck won the San Felipe 250 eight times between 1999 and 2007.

text: Greg Biffle won the 2000 NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series.

text: Drivers such as Roger Norman and Larry Roeseler won the Primm 300 in 2003, 2007 and 2008.

text: In 2008, Ford announced its entrance into the Baja 1000 class-eight race for moderately modified, full-size pickups. The driver of record was Steve Oligos, supported by co-drivers Randy Merritt, Greg Foutz, and Bud Brutsman.[22] The vehicle was built with collaboration between the Ford Special Vehicle Team (SVT), Ford Racing, and Foutz Motorsports, Inc. The Ford F-150 SVT Raptor R completed the 2008 41st Tecate SCORE Baja 1000 race in 25.28:10,[23] and ranked third in its class.[24] Tavo Vildosola and Gus Vildosola won the event in 2010.

text: In the Best in the Desert race series, an F-150 SVT Raptor R completed the "Terrible's 250" race, placing second overall in the class 8000.[25]

text: In January 2010, a single Raptor SVT (No. 439), driven by Chilean driver Javier Campillay, competed in the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally. However, the pickup was unable to finish due to a catch-up crash with another car in the middle of the road during stage seven. In January 2011, two Raptors started in the Argentina-Chile Dakar Rally in Buenos Aires, with Campillay driving the more reliable Raptor (No. 375), and American female driver Sue Mead driving a T2 Raptor (No. 374). Mead crossed the finish line in Buenos Aires and won the "super production" class, the first North American class win in Dakar history. Campillay was unable to finish the 12th stage after losing time due to mechanical failure during the 11th stage, which led to his disqualification for failing to reach the race camp by the designated deadline.

text: Awards and recognition[edit]

text: The Ford F-150 has won numerous awards; in 2009 alone, it received:[26]

text:
Motor Trend 2009 Truck of the Year Award
2009 Best Redesigned Vehicle from Kelley Blue Book's kbb.com
Top honors as the "truck of Texas" as well as the "best luxury pickup" for the 2009 F-150 King Ranch from Texas Auto Writers Association
Automotive Excellence Award in the Workhorse Category from Popular Mechanics
"Top safety pick" from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety for its standard safety technology: safety canopy side curtain air bags and AdvanceTrac with roll stability control
Residual Value Award from Automotive Leasing Guide (ALG) for retaining the highest percentage of its original price among 2009 full-size light-duty pickups at the end of a conventional three-year lease, based on ALG projections
Motor Trend's Truck Trend Top 5 Pickups from Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) for 2009 Ford F-150 Heavy Duty DeWalt Contractor Concept
Accessory-Friendly Pickup Design Award from SEMA
"Best overall half-ton pickup" from PickupTrucks.com

tag: ul

text: Sales[edit]

text: Quantities of Ford F-Series sold.

text:
Calendar Year
United States
Canada

1997
746,111[27]

1998
836,629

1999[28]
869,001

2000
876,716

2001[29]
911,597

2002[30]
813,701

2003
845,586
68,375

2004[31]
939,511
71,790

2005
901,463
69,549

2006[32]
796,039
72,128

2007
690,589
73,618

2008[33]
515,513
67,749

2009[34]
413,625
81,396

2010[35]
528,349
97,913[36]

2011
584,917
96,325

2012
645,316
106,358[37]

2013
763,402[38]
122,325

2014
753,851[39]
126,277[40]

2015
780,354[41]
118,837

2016
820,799[42]
145,409[43]

2017
896,764
155,290

tag: table

text: Variants[edit]

text: Medium-duty trucks[edit]

text: For most of its production, the F-Series was sold in a medium-duty conventional truck configuration alongside the traditional pickup trucks. Beginning in 1948 with the 1½ ton F-5 (later F-500), the medium-duty trucks ranged up to the F-8 (F-800). Prior to the 1957 introduction of the Ford C-Series tilt-cab, the medium-duty range was offered as both a conventional and in a COE (cabover) configuration.

text: Following the introduction of the fifth-generation F-Series in 1967, the medium-duty trucks were designed separately from the pickup truck range. Although remaining part of the F-Series range, the medium-duty trucks shared only the cab and interior with the F-Series pickup trucks. Since 1967, the cab design has changed only in 1980 and in 2000. Redesigned on an all-new chassis, the 2017 F-Series medium-duty trucks retain an updated version of the 2000-2016 F-650/F750 cab.

text: The medium-duty F-Series served as the donor platform for the B-Series cowled bus chassis produced from 1948 to 1998. Produced primarily for school bus bodies, the B-Series was discontinued as part of the sale of the Ford heavy-truck line to Freightliner in 1996.

text: Heavy-duty trucks[edit]

text: Above its medium-duty truck ranges, the Ford F-Series was used as a heavy-truck chassis during its early production. In 1951, Ford debuted its "Big Job" line, denoting the F-8 conventional.[44] In 1958, the "Super Duty" and "Extra Heavy Duty" replaced the Big Job trucks, marking the debut of the Super Duty V8 engine line.[45] In 1963, the N-Series became the first short-hood conventional built by Ford, replacing the F-900 Super Duty/Extra Heavy Duty. Although based on an all-new chassis and separate bodywork, the cab was sourced from the F-Series.

text: In 1970, Ford introduced the L-Series "Louisville" line of conventional trucks, moving all heavy truck development away from the F-Series. The L-Series/Aeromax would remain in production through 1998, as Ford exited the heavy-truck segment.

text: Vans[edit]

text: From 1948 until 1960, Ford manufactured the F-Series in a panel van configuration, largely replacing it with the Econoline in 1961. In contrast to General Motors, the panel van was never produced in a passenger "carryall" variant, such as the Chevrolet/GMC Suburban.

text: For much of its production life, the Ford E-Series vans shared a high degree of mechanical commonality with the F-Series; in the late 1970s, some body components were shared. Since the 1990s, this changed somewhat, as Ford updated the F-Series several times since 1992 while the E-Series continued on with very few changes; no powertrains were shared as of 2016.

text: Export[edit]

text: As of 2015, outside of the United States, Canada, and Mexico, the Ford F-150 is officially sold in most Caribbean countries (except Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Kitts and Nevis and Cuba), Suriname, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, the Middle East, Iceland, Nigeria, the Dutch territories of Aruba, Curaçao, Saint Maarten and the British overseas territory of the Cayman Islands. The SVT Raptor is sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the Middle East, Ecuador, Chile and Peru. Both are available in LHD only.

text: In Mexico, the F-150 (XLT and higher trim levels) is called the "Ford Lobo" while the F-150 SVT Raptor is called the "Ford Lobo Raptor". The F-150 XL is called F-150 XL.

text: There is a strong grey market presence of Ford F-Series trucks around the world, most notably in Europe, China, and Australia, and usually driven by wealthy car enthusiasts, as the higher end trim models are the most sought-after versions.

text: In Bolivia, Ford F-series truck are imported from the United States. F-150 single, super cab and crew cab are available with short and long bed. F-series Heavy Duty like F-250, F-350 are available in Super Cab and Crew cab with long bed, but the F-450 is available only in a chassis version. The F-150 Raptor is available, too.

text: In Australia, Ford F-series trucks are imported and converted to right-hand drive by several Australian importers, mostly by the Harrison Motoring Group, which as become the largest importer of F-Series vehicles in the Southern Hemisphere. Harrison F-Trucks have become Australia's number one converter and supplier of the famous Ford F-Series badges.

text: In the United Kingdom, most imported Ford F-Series trucks are the F-150 model, and usually the higher-end four door versions.

text: Right-hand drive versions of the F-Series for the United Kingdom and Australia are manufactured in Brazil.

text: In Argentina and Brazil, the petrol engines are often converted to also run with alternative fuels, E-96h (Brazilian-spec ethanol) and compressed natural gas (CNG). Biodiesel also is used in Diesel engines.[citation needed]


document_title: Heart (symbol)

question_text: where did the symbol of a heart come from

text: Heart (symbol)

text: History[edit]

text: Origins of symbol[edit]

text: Greek. In the 6th-5th century BC, the heart shape was used to represent the heart-shaped fruit of the plant Silphium,[1] a plant possibly used as a contraceptive [2] Many species in the parsley family have estrogenic properties, and some, such as wild carrot, were used to induce abortion.[3] Silver coins from Cyrene of the 6–5th BC bear a similar design, sometimes accompanied by a silphium plant and is understood to represent its seed or fruit.[4]

text: Earliest use[edit]

text: The combination of the heart shape and its use within the heart metaphor developed at the end of the Middle Ages, although the shape has been used in many ancient epigraphy monuments and texts.  With possible early examples or direct predecessors in the 13th to 14th century, the familiar symbol of the heart representing love developed in the 15th century, and became popular in Europe during the 16th.[5]  Before the 14th century, the heart shape was not associated with the meaning of the heart metaphor. The geometric shape itself is found in much earlier sources, but in such instances does not depict a heart, but typically foliage: in examples from antiquity fig leaves, and in medieval iconography and heraldry typically the leaves of ivy and of the water-lily. One possible early use in the 11th century could be found in the manuscript, Al-Maqamat written by Al Hariri of Basra. The manuscript includes an illustration of a farewell greeting between two men while astride their camels, with the heart shape seen prominently over their heads.[6]

text: The first known depiction of a heart as a symbol of romantic love dates to the 1250s. It occurs in a miniature decorating a capital 'S' in a manuscript of the French Roman de la poire (National Library FR MS. 2086, plate 12). In the miniature a kneeling lover (or more precisely, an allegory of the lover's "sweet gaze" or douz regart) offers his heart to a damsel.  The heart here resembles a pine cone (held "upside down", the point facing upward), in accord with medieval anatomical descriptions. However, in this miniature what suggests a heart shape is only the result of a lover's finger superimposed on an object; the full shape outline of the object is partly hidden, and therefore unknown. Moreover, the French title of the manuscript that features the miniature translates into "Novel Of The Pear" in English. Thus the heart shaped object would be a pear; the conclusion that a pear represents a heart is dubious. Opinions therefore differ over this being the first depiction of a heart as symbol of romantic love.[7] Giotto in his 1305 painting in the Scrovegni Chapel (Padua) shows an allegory of charity (caritas) handing her heart to Jesus Christ. This heart is also depicted in the pine cone shape based on anatomical descriptions of the day (still held "upside down"). Giotto's painting exerted considerable influence on later painters, and the motive of Caritas offering a heart is shown by Taddeo Gaddi in Santa Croce, by Andrea Pisano on the bronze door of the south porch of the Baptisterium in Florence (c. 1337), by Ambrogio Lorenzetti in the Palazzo Publico in Siena (c. 1340) and by Andrea da Firenze in Santa Maria Novella in Florence (c. 1365). The convention of showing the heart point upward switches in the late 14th century and becomes rare in the first half of the 15th century.[7]

text: The "scalloped" shape of the now-familiar heart symbol, with a dent in its base, arises in the early 14th century, at first only lightly dented, as in the miniatures in Francesco Barberino's Documenti d'amore (before 1320). A slightly later example with a more pronounced dent is found in a manuscript from the Cistercian monastery in Brussels (MS 4459–70, fol 192v. Royal Library of Belgium). The convention of showing a dent at the base of the heart thus spread at about the same time as the convention of showing the heart with its point downward.[8] The modern indented red heart has been used on playing cards since the late 15th century.[9]

text: Various hypotheses attempted to connect the "heart shape" as it evolved in the Late Middle Ages with instances of the geometric shape in antiquity.[10] Such theories are modern, proposed from the 1960s onward, and they remain speculative, as no continuity between the supposed ancient predecessors and the late medieval tradition can be shown.  Specific suggestions include: the shape of the seed of the silphium plant, used in ancient times as an herbal contraceptive,[10][11] and stylized depictions of features of the human female body, such as the female's breasts, buttocks, pubic mound, or spread vulva.[12]

text: Renaissance and early modern[edit]

text: Heart shapes can be seen on the Bible Jesus holds in the Empress Zoë mosaic in the Hagia Sophia in Istanbul, but a reference to the organ was probably not intened.  It probably dates from 1239.

text: Likewise, heart shapes can be seen on various stucco reliefs and wall panels excavated from the ruins of Ctesiphon, the Persian capital (circa 90 BC – 637 AD).[13][14][15]

text: The Luther rose was the seal that was designed for Martin Luther at the behest of Prince John Frederick, in 1530, while Luther was staying at the Coburg Fortress during the Diet of Augsburg. Luther wrote an explanation of the symbol to Lazarus Spengler: "a black cross in a heart, which retains its natural color, so that I myself would be reminded that faith in the Crucified saves us. 'For one who believes from the heart will be justified' (Romans 10:10)."[16]

text: The aorta remains visible, as a protrusion at the top centered between the two "chambers" indicated in the symbol, in some depictions of the Sacred Heart well into the 18th century, and is partly still shown today (although mostly obscured by elements such as a crown, flames, rays, or a cross) but the "hearts" suit did not have this element since the 15th century.

text: The heart symbol reached Japan with the Nanban trade of 1543 to 1614, as evidenced by an Edo period Samurai helmet (dated c. 1630), which includes both the rounded and indented forms of the heart symbol, representing the heart of Marishiten, goddess of archers.[17]

text:
The chanson Belle, Bonne, Sage by Baude Cordier, written in the shape of a heart, in the Chantilly Codex. This is one of two dedicatory pieces placed at the beginning of the older (late 14th century) corpus, probably to replace the original first fascicle, which is missing.

Early depiction of the Heart of Jesus in the context of the Five Wounds (the wounded heart here depicting Christ's wound inflicted by the Lance of Longinus) in a 15th-century manuscript (Cologne Mn Kn 28-1181 fol. 116)

1486 depiction of the Five Wounds

Miniature from the Petit Livre d'Amour (c. 1500), showing the author Pierre Sala (fr) depositing his heart in a marguerite flower (symbolizing his mistress, who was called Marguerite). Also worth mentioning is the miniature on fol. 13r, showing two women catching winged hearts in a net.

The Luther rose, 1706 print after the 1530 design.

Hearts suit in a 1540s German deck of playing cards

The Danish "Heart Book", a heart-shaped manuscript of love ballads from the 1550s.

Augustine of Hippo holding a heart in his hand which is set alight by a ray emanating from divine Truth (Veritas), painting by Philippe de Champaigne, ca. 1650.

Allegorical painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The central heart radiates hearts gathered up by Putti. By Robert la Longe, ca. 1705.

Leaden heart of Raesfeld chapel (funerary casket containing the heart of Christoph Otto von Velen, d. 1733)

18th-century depiction of the Sacred Heart from the vision of Marguerite Marie Alacoque (d. 1690). The heart is both "heart shaped" and drawn anatomically correct, with both the aorta and the pulmonary artery  visible, with the crucifix placed inside the aorta.

Another anatomically correct Sacred Heart, painted in c. 1770 by José de Páez.

text: Modern[edit]

text: Since the 19th century, the symbol has often been used on Valentine's Day cards, candy boxes, and similar popular culture artifacts as a symbol of romantic love.

text: The use of the heart symbol as a logograph for the English verb "to love" derives from the use in "I ♥ NY," introduced in 1977.[18]

text: Heart symbols were used to symbolize "health" or "lives" in video games; influentially so in The Legend of Zelda (1986). Super Mario Bros. 2 (1987, 1988) had a "life bar" composed of hexagons, but in 1990s remakes of these games, the hexagons were replaced by heart shapes. Since the 1990s, the heart symbol has also been used as an ideogram indicating health outside of the video gaming context, e.g. its use by restaurants to indicate heart-healthy nutrient content claim (e.g. "low in cholesterol"). A copyrighted "heart-check" symbol to indicate heart-healthy food was introduced by the American Heart Association in 1995.[19]

text:
A heart-shaped "Map of Woman's Heart" (1830s)

Two burning hearts, coloured pink, illustration on a Victorian-era Valentine's Day card.

A "Vinegar Valentine" card from the 1870s, with a red heart symbol pierced by six arrows.

The traditional "heart shape" appears on a 1910 Valentine's Day card.

Sheet music cover of "Look in His Eyes", from the musical Have a Heart (1913).

Wedding ring of groom and a bride with shadow in form of heart - symbolic sense of love

text: Heraldry[edit]

text: The earliest heart-shaped charges in heraldry appear in the 12th century; the hearts in the coat of arms of Denmark go back to the royal banner of the kings of Denmark, in turn based on a seal used as early as the 1190s. However, while the charges are clearly heart-shaped, they did not in origin depict hearts, or symbolize any idea related to love. Instead they are assumed to have depicted the leaves of the water-lily. Early heraldic heart-shaped charges depicting the leaves of water-lilies are found in various other designs related to territories close to rivers or a coastline (e.g. Flags of Frisia).

text: Inverted heart symbols have been used in heraldry as stylized testicles (coglioni in Italian) as in the canting arms of the Colleoni family of Milan.[21]

text: A seal attributed to William, Lord of Douglas (of 1333) shows a heart shape, identified as the heart of Robert the Bruce. The authenticity of this seal is "very questionable",[22] i.e. it could possibly date to the late 14th or even the 15th century.[23]

text: Heraldic charges actually representing hearts became more common in the early modern period, with the Sacred Heart depicted in ecclesiastical heraldry, and hearts representing love appearing in bourgeois coats of arms. Hearts also later became popular elements in municipal coats of arms.

text: Botanical symbolism[edit]

text: There has been some conjecture regarding the link between the traditional heart symbol and images of the fruit of Silphium, a (probably) extinct plant known to classical antiquity and belonging to the genus Ferula, used as a condiment and medicine, (the medicinal properties including contraceptive and abortifacient activity, linking the plant to sexuality and love).[24] Silver coins from the ancient Libya of the 6th - 5th BC bear images strongly reminiscent of the heart symbol, sometimes accompanied by images of the Silphium plant.[25][26] The related Ferula species Asafoetida - which was actually used as an inferior substitute for Silphium - is regarded as an aphrodisiac in Tibet and India, suggesting yet a third amatory association relating to Silphium.[27]

text:
Ancient silver coin from Cyrene, Libya depicting the heart-shaped 'seed' (actually fruit) of Silphium.

Example of a heart-shaped mericarp fruit in a plant (Heracleum sphondylium) belonging, like the unidentified Silphium, to the Parsley family, Apiaceae.

Ferula assa-foetida a species of Giant Fennel belonging to the same genus as the ancient Silphium and regarded as having similar properties, while being an inferior substitute for the plant.

Ferula tingitana : a possible identity for Silphium.

text: Encoding[edit]

text: This section contains special characters. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols.

text: A common emoticon for the heart is <3. In Unicode several heart symbols are available:

text:
Glyph

Description

HTML code

Alt codes

♡

U+2661 WHITE HEART SUIT

♡ or ♡

♥

U+2665 BLACK HEART SUIT

♥ or ♥ or ♥

Alt + 3

❤

U+2764 HEAVY BLACK HEART

❤ or ❤

❥

U+2765 ROTATED HEAVY BLACK HEART BULLET

❥ or ❥

❣

U+2763 HEAVY HEART EXCLAMATION MARK ORNAMENT

❣ or ❣

text: And from the Miscellaneous Symbols and Pictographs range associated with emoji:

text:
Glyph

Description

HTML code

🎔

U+1F394 HEART WITH TIP ON THE LEFT

🎔

💑

U+1F491 COUPLE WITH HEART

💑

💓

U+1F493 BEATING HEART

💓

💔

U+1F494 BROKEN HEART

💔

💕

U+1F495 TWO HEARTS

💕

💖

U+1F496 SPARKLING HEART

💖

💗

U+1F497 GROWING HEART

💗

💘

U+1F498 HEART WITH ARROW

💘

💙

U+1F499 BLUE HEART

💙

💚

U+1F49A GREEN HEART

💚

💛

U+1F49B YELLOW HEART

💛

💜

U+1F49C PURPLE HEART

💜

💝

U+1F49D HEART WITH RIBBON

💝

💞

U+1F49E REVOLVING HEARTS

💞

💟

U+1F49F HEART DECORATION

💟

text: In Code page 437, the original character set of the IBM PC, the value of 3 (hexadecimal 03) represents the heart symbol. This value is shared with the non-printing ETX control character, which overrides the glyph in many contexts.

text: The Unicode character of the letter ghan of the Georgian alphabet (ღ) has seen some use as a surrogate heart symbol in online communication.[according to whom?][year needed]

text: Parametrisation[edit]

text:
A number of parametrisations of approximately heart-shaped curves have been described.
The best-known of these is the cardioid, which is an epicycloid with one cusp;[28] though as the cardioid lacks the point, it may be seen as a stylized water-lily leaf, a so-called seeblatt, rather than a heart. Other curves, such as the implicit curve (x2+y2−1)3−x2y3=0, may produce better approximations of the heart shape.[29]

text:
heart curve on ti-89 graphics calculator

parametric equation of heart curve on ti-89 graphics calculator