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There are regular true crime podcasts, and then there's "Happy Face," an endlessly disturbing 12-part deep dive into the life of a serial killer -- as told by his own daughter. The podcast from iHeartMedia first debuted in 2018, telling the harrowing story of the years Melissa Moore spent being raised by the man who would eventually become known as The Happy Face Killer. Now, a new Paramount+ series based on the same story is in the works with an intriguing cast and crew and Moore on board as an executive producer.
"Happy Face" will be the first true crime series released via the Paramount-owned streamer since 2020's "Interrogation," and only the second to date. While competing streamers like Peacock have been in the true crime adaptation game from the start (see: "Dr. Death"), Paramount+ has mostly made the "Yellowstone" extended universe its bread and butter up until this point.
"Happy Face" will be the first true crime series released via the Paramount-owned streamer since 2020's "Interrogation," and only the second to date. While competing streamers like Peacock have been in the true crime adaptation game from the start (see: "Dr. Death"), Paramount+ has mostly made the "Yellowstone" extended universe its bread and butter up until this point.
- 3/23/2024
- by Valerie Ettenhofer
- Slash Film
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![Deborah Roberts and David Muir in 20/20 (1978)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/M/MV5BNzc2ZjFlOGQtYjAzOC00MTEwLWIyNzEtNDg3YWNlYzUwNGQ2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODk4Nzg5NjE@._V1_QL75_UY207_CR8,0,140,207_.jpg)
ABC’s ‘20/20‘ brings viewers a gripping account of how a bizarre false confession led authorities astray in the investigation of the first murder committed by Keith Hunter Jesperson, infamously known as the “Happy Face Killer.” This two-hour program, airing on Friday, August 25 from 9:01 to 11:00 p.m. Edt, delves into the chilling story of how Laverne Pavlinac’s fabricated confession diverted attention from Jesperson, enabling him to remain at large and claim the lives of at least seven more women before his eventual arrest.
The False Confession That Derailed the Investigation
In 1990, after the discovery of Taunja Bennett’s body in the Columbia Gorge, 57-year-old Laverne Pavlinac confessed to police that she and her boyfriend, John Sosnovske, had committed the crime. Her detailed and convincing account led to their convictions and life sentences. However, Pavlinac’s confession turned out to be a web of lies concocted to escape an abusive relationship with Sosnovske.
The False Confession That Derailed the Investigation
In 1990, after the discovery of Taunja Bennett’s body in the Columbia Gorge, 57-year-old Laverne Pavlinac confessed to police that she and her boyfriend, John Sosnovske, had committed the crime. Her detailed and convincing account led to their convictions and life sentences. However, Pavlinac’s confession turned out to be a web of lies concocted to escape an abusive relationship with Sosnovske.
- 8/24/2023
- by Alex Matthews
- TV Regular
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Photo: ‘Catching Killers Season 2’ There is plenty to unpack in Netflix’s Catching Killers Season 2. The series follows investigative teams uncovering the brevity of some of our nation’s most violent and gruesome crimes against humanity. Despite the graphic and gory details, all of you true-crime sleuths will find this gripping series somehow soothing. In the first web of killers, the series covers Seattle’s Green River Killer, the controversial Aileen Wuornos, and Keith Hunter Jesperson famously known as “The Happy Face Killer.” Related article: An Open Letter: Hollywood Needs to Stop Glamorizing Serial Killers The second series starts off strong with an in-depth investigation to uncover the identity of Btk, and covers a new gang of serial killers akin— Phoenix Serial Shooter and two episodes on the Toronto Village Killer. So, if you’re deciding whether to start streaming, we should warn you, ‘Catching Killers’ is not for the faint of heart.
- 2/14/2022
- by Gina Michele Yaniz
- Hollywood Insider - Substance & Meaningful Entertainment
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Paramount+ has handed a series order to Happy Face, a crime drama series, based on a hit podcast, that tells the story of a notorious serial killer who was infamous for drawing smiley faces on letters to the media and prosecutors.
The project, which had previously been in development at Paramount+ precursor CBS All Access, comes from Your Honor writer Jennifer Cacicio and The Good Fight’s Robert and Michelle King.
Happy Face is based on the eponymous iHeartMedia podcast, which tells the story of Melissa Jesperson-Moore, a contributor to the Dr. Oz show, who at age 15 discovered that her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, was the serial murderer, known as the Happy Face Killer. As an adult, Melissa changed her name, guarded her secret, and cut off all ties to her father, who is currently serving life in prison.
The scripted series will tell Melissa’s true-life story and will...
The project, which had previously been in development at Paramount+ precursor CBS All Access, comes from Your Honor writer Jennifer Cacicio and The Good Fight’s Robert and Michelle King.
Happy Face is based on the eponymous iHeartMedia podcast, which tells the story of Melissa Jesperson-Moore, a contributor to the Dr. Oz show, who at age 15 discovered that her father, Keith Hunter Jesperson, was the serial murderer, known as the Happy Face Killer. As an adult, Melissa changed her name, guarded her secret, and cut off all ties to her father, who is currently serving life in prison.
The scripted series will tell Melissa’s true-life story and will...
- 11/10/2021
- by Peter White
- Deadline Film + TV
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