RTFA: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7836854.st…

Australian writer Harry Nicolaides has been sentenced to three years in a Thai jail for insulting the monarchy.

Nicolaides wrote a novel four years ago, which contained a brief passage referring to an unnamed crown prince. It sold just seven copies.

He admitted the charge of insulting the royal family, but said he was unaware he was committing an offence.

Thailand’s monarchy is sheltered from public debate by some of the world’s most stringent “lese-majeste” laws.

It looks like the Thai Monarch is itching for some good ole fashion American satire… any takers?

RTFA: http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/CA6474409…

Other scenarios include a fake fashion shoot where the subject thinks he is about to become a supermodel and another in which the mark becomes an auto racer, a set-up which ends when a police car comes up behind him on a race track to pull him over.

“If it were a regular person you’d feel bad for them, but they are all wanted by the law,” Darnell says. “It’s Cops as comedy and no one’s ever tried it before.”

According to Darnell, all of the marks are non-violent criminals. Darnell adds that set-ups are a common way for law officers to pull in law-breakers with warrants. However, most sting operations tend to be much smaller scale, such as tricking them into thinking they won tickets to a major sporting event.

Darnell envisions the show as an hour-long format. It was shot without a host, but would have someone providing narration.

Other titles under consideration are Now That’s Just Criminal and It’s Just Criminal.

Is it the bottom of the barrel yet?

…I mean, the bottom has to be somewhere.

I’m almost afraid to suggest it, but why don’t we just lock criminals in the middle of town and throw rotten fruit at them?