“The Affluenza Teen,” “Crimes of Scott Peterson,” “Downfall of the Chicago Mob” and “Real Stories of Law Enforcement” Make Up January 2022 Premieres

REELZ today announced January 2022 premieres with new original stories about the real lives intertwined with infamous crimes led by new The Friends Speak original specials about the controversial affluenza teen saga and the shocking story of Scott Peterson’s barbaric crimes. Also new in January is the documentary special The Chicago Mob: Deadly Associates about an epic real story of crime, murder, family, and justice that spans 30 years. The January lineup also features four back-to-back episodes of the original hit series COPS making their REELZ premieres with the unscripted action from the front lines of law enforcement in America.

“Driving our January premiers are the raw and deeply personal experiences of people whose lives were changed after devastating events,” said Steve Cheskin, SVP of Programming at REELZ. “The affluenza teen and Peterson stories elicit strong reactions from people and our Friends Speak specials illuminate the real lives of those impacted by Ethan Couch and Scott Peterson. We also look forward to showing viewers the powerful real story of a man who got himself stuck between the mob and federal authorities and whose death triggered a lifelong journey for justice by his son.”

The January 2022 lineup begins Friday, January 7 with four back-to-back episodes of the original COPS starting @ 7PM ET/ 4PM PT. The original reality ride-along series follows police officers and sheriff deputies during patrols and various police activities by embedding camera crews with their units to give viewers a real look at being in the line of duty.

Then it’s back-to-back nights of new The Friends Speak original specials starting on Saturday, January 8 @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT with Affluenza Teen: The Friends Speak. Kevin McConnell was first on the scene of the horrific 2013 drunk driving crash caused by Ethan Couch. McConnell recalls the scene looked like an airline disaster with carnage stretching more than a quarter of a mile. McConnell along with his son Sheldon and Tim Williams who were also at the scene all share their experiences grappling with the lives lost and the shocking aftermath of Couch’s trial.

Then on Sunday, January 9 @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT it’s Scott Peterson: The Friends Speak with six people sharing their personal stories of the tragic case in which pregnant Laci Peterson disappeared on Christmas Day and was murdered along with her unborn son by her husband Scott Peterson. Modesto Detective Jon Buehler who worked on the case shares intimate details about his time with Scott Peterson during the investigation while Peterson family friend Debbie Wolski reveals her experience being a witness in the murder trial and Peterson neighbor Mika Anderson recalls the jarring effect of news crews descending on their neighborhood.

Wrapping January 2022 premieres is The Chicago Mob: Deadly Associates on Saturday, January 29 @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT about Chicago street kid turned businessman Danny Seifert whose ambitions led him to dangerous dealings with ruthless members of the Chicago mob. Seifert would become the target of a hit and the murder was witnessed by his then young son Joey. The event seared into Joey’s heart and put him on a collision course with those responsible.

Below is January 2022 programming listed by premiere date and time. Full synopses for every show follow this list.

Friday, January 7

COPS four back-to-back episodes start @ 7PM ET/ 4PM PT

Saturday, January 8

*NEW* Affluenza Teen: The Friends Speak @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT

Sunday, January 9

*NEW* Scott Peterson: The Friends Speak @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT

Saturday, January 29

*NEW* The Chicago Mob: Deadly Associates @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT

Below are detailed descriptions for January 2022 programming listed by premiere date and time:

Affluenza Teen: The Friends Speak premieres on Saturday, January 8 @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT. From birth Ethan Couch was raised in a bubble of wealth, privilege and lack of consequences. His reckless teenage behavior escalated out of control in a series of incidents that culminated in Couch driving drunk and killing four people while also severely injuring nine more. During his trial and sentencing a radical defense of “affluenza” was presented and became a self-fulfilling prophecy. Couch received a lenient sentence when a jury agreed that he had been sheltered by wealth his entire life and did not develop a sense of consequences and morals. Now in Affluenza Teen: The Friends Speak people intimately connected to the story sit down to share their experiences including Kevin McConnell who was first on the scene of the crash which also injured his son Lucas. Joining him are his other son Sheldon and Tim Williams who were both at the scene and whose friend and youth pastor Brian “BJ” Williams died in the crash. Together they discuss processing the horrors of the scene, that dubious probation only sentence, the role of Couch’s parents in the tragedy, and why Tim decided to meet with Couch in jail. Also interviewed are investigative journalist Mark Ebner discussing the public outcry surrounding the case and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Eric Bender who discusses the “affluenza” defense from a clinical perspective. The Friends Speak is produced by Kinetic Content and Pyramid Productions.

Scott Peterson: The Friends Speak premieres on Sunday, January 9 @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT. Scott Peterson met Laci while frequenting a local diner and it was love at first sight. But their storybook love quickly wilted behind the scenes with Scott’s multiple affairs none of which Laci knew about. With his pro-golf career ambitions gone Scott set about creating a new life with Laci in the suburbs of Modesto California and start their idyllic family story. But for him, the dream was more of a nightmare and he wanted out. On Christmas Day in 2002 pregnant 27-year-old Laci disappeared from their home. The investigation into her disappearance turned into a major media spectacle and later spawned countless magazine cover stories, TV movies, and books. A few months later the bodies of Laci and her unborn son were found washed ashore in an area Scott said he went fishing the day Laci went missing. All signs pointed to Scott who was sentenced to death and is now serving life in prison despite his continuous pleas of innocence. Now in Scott Peterson: The Friends Speak six people involved with the story share their experiences including Laci’s friends Debbie Wolski and Mika Anderson, Scott’s college coach Hugh Gerhardt, reporter Julia Prodis Sulek who covered the story, and Modesto Detective Jon Buehler and FBI Dive Team leader Bobby Chacon who both worked on the Peterson case. The Friends Speak is produced by Kinetic Content and Pyramid Productions.

The Chicago Mob: Deadly Associates premieres on Saturday, January 29 @ 8PM ET/ 5PM PT. On September 27, 1974, federal informant and businessman Danny Seifert was gunned down in broad daylight. The crime wasn’t so surprising at the time since, after all, this was life in the mob circles of Chicago and Seifert was in deep with the organized crime outfit that controlled the city. What was surprising was that the gunmen left two living witnesses in Danny’s wife Emma and their young son Joey. Together, Emma and Joey began a 30-year quest for justice that stretched from the mean streets of Chicago to the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas. As Joey grew older he began to ask questions. Who killed his father? Why was no one ever brought to justice? Is anyone still looking for the killers? These questions consumed him. By day Joey was a loving father and hardworking family man but like his father he led a double life. If nobody was going to bring his father’s killers to justice Joey was prepared to take the law into his own hands. This is a story of ambition, betrayal, and revenge but most of all it’s the story of how one family did the impossible in helping to bring down the venerable Chicago mob. The Chicago Mob: Deadly Associates is produced by Octane Rich Films and FlashRock Films.