In only its second season, "Cristina’s Court" beat TV courtroom warhorses "Judge Judy" (12 seasons), "The People’s Court" (11 seasons), and "Judge Hatchett" (8 seasons) as well as newcomer "Judge David Young" for the first Emmy Award to outstanding legal/courtroom program.

"Judge Judy" was already a nine-time consecutive loser in the special class category. Now it can't even win this category that seemed created just for it to finally take home an Emmy.

Backstage, reporters asked Cristina Perez and producer Peter Brennan: Aren't you afraid to get the last word over Judge Judy?

"I'm scared to death!" roared Brennan.

"It was very progressive of the academy to set up a new category just for court shows," Cristina told us. Will she put the Emmy on the bench with her?

"No," she said. "I think I'll put this next to the trophy my daughter got a few weeks ago for playing tee-ball."