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| “ | Why don't you have a seat over there? | „ |
| ~ Chris' greeting catchphrase |
| “ | I'm Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC, and we are conducting an investigation on sexual predators trying to meet kids online. | „ |
| ~ Another one of Chris' most iconic catchphrases |
Christopher Edward "Chris" Hansen is the main protagonist and host of the reality television crime series "To Catch a Predator", "Hansen vs Predator", and "Takedown with Chris Hansen". He portrays himself in which he catches adult men arriving at a sting house to have sex with a minor and typically being arrested as a result.
Early Life[]
Chris Hansen was born on September 13, 1959, in Chicago, Illinois. He was raised in the northern Detroit suburbs of West Bloomfield and Birmingham. He attended Brother Rice High School in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. According to an interview with the Lansing City Pulse, Hansen was inspired to become a journalist at the age of fourteen after witnessing the FBI and police investigate the disappearance of Jimmy Hoffa. He graduated from Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts and Sciences in 1981 with a bachelor's degree in telecommunications and was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity.
Early Career[]
Chris Hansen began his journalism career in 1981 at WILX, an NBC news affiliate in Michigan. He then reported for WFLA in Tampa, Florida, as well as various newspapers and radio stations in Michigan. His career progressed to WXYZ in Detroit, and in 1988, he became an investigative reporter and anchor at WDIV in Detroit. In 1993, Hansen joined Dateline NBC, where his early work included covering significant events such as the Unabomber case, the Columbine Massacre, the Oklahoma City Bombing, and the 9/11 terrorist attacks. He also led an investigation into child sex trafficking in Cambodia involving Europeans and Americans.
To Catch a Predator[]
In "To Catch a Predator," Chris Hansen typically introduces himself after the decoy leaves the room or when he deems it appropriate to engage with the suspect, often starting with a phrase like "Just take a seat right there." He then questions the suspect about their intentions for being at the sting house, usually eliciting excuses ranging from mentoring to seeking a job. Hansen reads from the chat logs, which often contain explicit sexual content, and questions the suspect about bringing condoms, to which they usually respond affirmatively, claiming they carry them regularly. Hansen maintains his identity ambiguous to keep the suspect talking. When asked about his identity, he replies, "I'll get to that in a minute" and continues his questioning.
Once he finishes questioning, Hansen reveals his identity, saying, "I'm Chris Hansen with Dateline NBC, and we are conducting an investigation on sexual predators trying to meet kids online." The suspect is then free to leave, often only to be arrested outside by hidden police officers.
Hansen vs. Predator[]
In 2015, Hansen launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund a new investigation series, "Hansen vs. Predator," intended as a web series with perks for backers, such as promotional merchandise and behind-the-scenes footage. Although the Kickstarter goal was not met, the rights were sold to Crime Watch Daily, which aired the series. Hansen’s tone in this series was more severe, labeling the suspects harshly. During a sting operation in Fairfield, Connecticut, ten men were confronted, with nine episodes aired. The tenth man, Vincent Ambrosio, was not shown due to concerns for his mental health. A subsequent sting in DeKalb County, Georgia, focused on men soliciting child prostitutes, resulting in the arrests of Jermaine Howard and Federeco Mendez on sex trafficking charges. As of 2023, footage from this operation has not been released.
Takedown with Chris Hansen[]
Takedown with Chris Hansen is the third and latest in the line of Chris Hansen's predator investigation television programs, and the first since Hansen vs. Predator five years earlier.
External Links[]
- Chris Hansen on the To Catch a Predator wiki
- Chris Hansen on Wikipedia