Dirty John

{{About|the podcast|the TV series based on this podcast|Dirty John (TV series){{!}}Dirty John (TV series)}}

{{Infobox podcast

| title = Dirty John

| image = Dirty_John_Podcast_Logo.jpeg

| alt =

| caption =

| host = Christopher Goffard

| language = English

| adaptations = Dirty John (TV series)

| website = {{URL|wondery.com/wondery/shows/dirtyjohn/|Dirty John - Wondery}}

| production = {{hlist|Karen Lowe|Jeffrey Glazer|Hernan Lopez}}

| audio format = Podcast (via streaming or downloadable MP3)

| began = {{Start date|2|10}}

| ended = {{End date|2017|10|8}}

| num_seasons = 2

| num_episodes = 16{{cite web|url=https://rss.art19.com/dirty-john|title=Dirty John|website=rss.art19.com}}

| length =

| genre = {{Unbulleted list

| Investigative

| Serialized audio narrative

| True Crime

}}

| cited_for =

| cited_as =

| provider =

| theme_music_composer =

| endtheme =

}}

Dirty John is a true crime podcast based on the life of serial abuser and nurse John Michael Meehan (1959-2016). The podcast is hosted by Christopher Goffard and was created by Wondery and the Los Angeles Times. The first two chapters were launched on October 2, 2017; the following four chapters were released over the following days. The podcast was downloaded over 10 million times within six weeks of release.{{cite web|url=http://junkee.com/dirty-john-australia-tour/136046 |title= The Creator Of True Crime Podcast 'Dirty John' Is Coming To Australia |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en|website=Junkee|date= 21 November 2017 }}

Title

The title Dirty John is one of the nicknames John Meehan's classmates gave him during his time at the University of Dayton. Other nicknames from this time included "Filthy John" and "Filthy". The exact origin of these nicknames is never divulged during the podcast.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-filthy/#nt=outfit46 |title= Dirty John Part 3: Filthy |work= Los Angeles Times |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en}}

Synopsis

Dirty John is a true crime story focusing on the life and exploits of John Meehan. Los Angeles Times journalist Christopher Goffard first heard of Meehan when he learned that the police were investigating a possible murder in Newport Beach. Upon investigating, Goffard discovered a bizarre web of deceit and abuse.{{cite magazine|first=Amelia|last=McDonell-Parry|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/dirty-john-inside-hit-la-times-true-crime-podcast-w509773 |title= 'Dirty John': Inside Hit 'L.A. Times' Podcast |date=October 26, 2017|access-date=November 23, 2017 |magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en}}

The main focus of the story is Meehan's relationship with businesswoman Debra Newell, whom he met via an Internet dating site and married within months, as well as her immediate and extended family. The podcast deals with themes of abuse and manipulation, as well as the behaviors of those being abused.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/oct/13/dirty-john-your-chilling-new-true-obsession-podcasts-of-the-week |title= Dirty John, your chilling new true crime obsession – podcasts of the week |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en|newspaper=The Guardian |date= October 13, 2017 |last1= Verdier |first1= Hannah |last2= Slaney |first2= Rowan }}

Meehan was killed by Newell's younger daughter, Terra, who acted in self-defense when he tried to abduct her on the rooftop parking lot of her apartment building on August 20, 2016. He was hospitalized and died on August 24.{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-stabbing-20160825-story.html|title=Man dies after being stabbed by woman he assaulted with knife, police say|first=Hannah|last=Fry|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=14 November 2018}} The story was covered by Dateline NBC on January 12, 2018 and included interviews with Goffard.{{cite magazine|first=Carla|last=Sosenko|date=January 11, 2018|url=https://ew.com/tv/2018/01/11/dateline-nbc-dirty-john-episode-clip/|title=See Terra Newell describe her showdown with 'Dirty John' Meehan in exclusive 'Dateline NBC' clip|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=November 14, 2018}}{{cite news|first=Haylee|last=Barber|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/coercive-control-potential-factor-dirty-john-case-psychological-abuse-n837361|title='Coercive control' potential factor in 'Dirty John' case of psychological abuse|work=NBC News|date=January 12, 2018|access-date=November 14, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://archive.org/details/KNTV_20180113_060000_Dateline_NBC|work=Dateline NBC |publisher= KNTV |date= January 9, 2018|title=Dirty John|access-date=14 November 2018|via=Internet Archive}}{{cite web|first=Amelia|last=Robinson|url=https://www.dayton.com/news/local/former-dayton-woman-talk-about-marriage-dirty-john-dateline/tvPMd3uVFi47hFe2oNa1JL/|title=Former Dayton woman to talk about marriage to 'Dirty John' on Dateline|date=January 12, 2018|website=Dayton.com|access-date=November 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-3t6vI8Xwo|title=Dirty John - Christopher Goffard speaks about his story |website= Dirty John Podcast|last=Podcasts Dirty John by Wondery|date=21 January 2018|access-date=14 November 2018|via=YouTube}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVqPWWoFyalOCIwjROCK8yg|title=Podcasts Dirty John by Wondery|website=YouTube|access-date=14 November 2018}}

Individuals involved

Christopher Goffard – the host, a journalist and 2007 Pulitzer Prize finalist in feature writing{{cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2007|title=2007 Pulitzer Prize Winners & Finalists|date=14 November 2018|website=The Pulitzer Prizes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114101749/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:tC3QzgeBRZcJ:https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2007|via=archive.org|access-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live|archive-date=2018-11-14}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2014|title=2014 Pulitzer Prize Winners & Finalists|date=14 November 2018|website=The Pulitzer Prizes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114101755/https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:XiObXdKHNYgJ:https://www.pulitzer.org/prize-winners-by-year/2014|via=archive.org|access-date=14 November 2018|url-status=live|archive-date=2018-11-14}}
John Meehan – the titular "Dirty John"
Debra Newell – a successful businesswoman looking for love online
Jacquelyn Newell – Debra's older daughter
Terra Newell – Debra's younger daughter
Cash – Terra's dog, a miniature Australian Shepherd
Shad Vickers – Debra's nephew, the son of her late sister Cindi
John Dzialo – Attorney
Tonia Sells – John's first wife

Episodes

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="width:100%;"

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! style="background-color: #A62821;" | #

! style="background-color: #A62821;" | Title

! style="background-color: #A62821;" | Length (minutes:seconds)

! style="background-color: #A62821;" | Original release date

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=I

|Title=The Real Thing{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john/ |title=Dirty John Part 1: The Real Thing |work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2017|10|2}}

|Aux1={{Duration|m=40|s=33}}

|ShortSummary= Debra Newell, an interior designer in Southern California, meets John Meehan on an over-50 dating site. His profile looks exciting: anesthesiologist, divorced, Christian. She falls in love fast. But her children dislike him and warn her that his stories don't add up.

|LineColor=A62821

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=II

|Title=Newlyweds{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-newlyweds/ |title=Dirty John Part 2: Newlyweds|work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2017|10|2}}

|Aux1={{Duration|m=36|s=09}}

|ShortSummary= After an intruder appears in John and Debra's livingroom, John insists that they install security cameras. Debra begins to wonder whether he is spying on her. Her nephew, Shad, looks into John's background and confronts him with what he finds. Debra's vision of an idyllic marriage is shattered when she discovers a stash of paperwork in John's home office.

|LineColor=A62821

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=III

|Title=Filthy{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-filthy/|title=Dirty John Part 3: Filthy|work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2017|10|4}}

|Aux1={{Duration|m=46|s=43}}

|ShortSummary= Debra grapples with the question, "Who did I marry?" The story of John's mysterious past unfolds through the eyes of his sisters, his law school housemate, his ex-wife, and an Ohio cop who hunted him. The origins of John's nickname are revealed. Bed-ridden in an Orange County hospital, he pleads with Debra to take him back.

|LineColor=A62821

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=IV

|Title=Forgiveness{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-forgiveness/ |title=Dirty John Part 4: Forgiveness |work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2017|10|5}}

|Aux1={{Duration|m=42|s=20}}

|ShortSummary= Debra is in hiding, living out of hotels and disguising herself with a wig. She fears she will meet the fate of her sister Cindi, who was killed by her husband as she tried to escape a bad marriage. John has explanations for the accusations against him. He weeps and apologizes. Three decades earlier, that had helped Cindi's killer walk out of prison.

|LineColor=A62821

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=V

|Title=Escape{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-escape/ |title=Dirty John Part 5: Escape|work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2017|10|7}}

|Aux1={{Duration|m=47|s=06}}

|ShortSummary= John finds a lawyer and plots to unleash a blizzard of lawsuits against his enemies, with the aim of proving to Debra that he is the victim, in case after case. The lawyer believes Debra's life is in danger. As her painful isolation from her family deepens, Debra secretly plans her escape from the marriage.

|LineColor=A62821

}}

{{Episode list

|EpisodeNumber=VI

|Title=Terra{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-terra/|title=Dirty John Part 6: Terra|work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}

|OriginalAirDate={{Start date|2017|10|8}}

|Aux1={{Duration|m=40|s=35}}

|ShortSummary= Debra's daughters, Jacquelyn and Terra, suspect John has been watching them. But, when Jacquelyn tells Debra that John is in town, her mother believes she is mistaken. Jacquelyn warns Terra to carry her pocket knife and to look out for cars matching John's rental. But Terra is preoccupied by a country music concert, and Jacquelyn's rough description has her watching for the wrong car.

|LineColor=A62821

}}

Reception

Dirty John proved to be very popular with audiences, and spent over three weeks at the top of the US iTunes podcast charts,{{cite web|url=http://www.itunescharts.net/us/artists/podcast/la-times-wondery/podcasts/dirty-john/ |title= L.A. Times - Wondery - 'Dirty John' American iTunes Chart Performance |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en}} whilst also topping the charts in Australia,{{cite web|url=http://www.itunescharts.net/aus/artists/podcast/la-times-wondery/podcasts/dirty-john/ |title= L.A. Times - Wondery - 'Dirty John' Australian iTunes Chart Performance |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en}} Canada,{{cite web |url=http://www.itunescharts.net/can/artists/podcast/la-times-wondery/podcasts/dirty-john// |title=L.A. Times - Wondery - 'Dirty John' Canadian iTunes Chart Performance |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en |archive-date=December 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201041601/http://www.itunescharts.net/can/artists/podcast/la-times-wondery/podcasts/dirty-john// |url-status=dead }} and the UK{{cite web|url=http://www.itunescharts.net/uk/artists/podcast/la-times-wondery/podcasts/dirty-john/ |title= L.A. Times - Wondery - 'Dirty John' British iTunes Chart Performance |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en}} and was downloaded over five million times in three weeks.{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/dirty-john-true-story-behind-hit-podcast-changing-queasy-relationship/ |title= Dirty John: the hit podcast changing our queasy relationship with true crime |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|date=October 23, 2017|last1= Saunders |first1= Tristram Fane }} It was downloaded over 10 million times within six weeks of release,{{cite web|first=Sam|last=Langford|url=http://junkee.com/dirty-john-australia-tour/136046 |title= The Creator Of True Crime Podcast 'Dirty John' Is Coming To Australia |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en|website=Junkee|date= November 21, 2017}} and as of November 23, 2017, is the sixth most downloaded podcasts on iTunes America.{{cite web|url=http://www.itunescharts.net/us/charts/podcasts/2017/11/22 |title=Podcasts Top Entries - Wednesday, 22nd |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en}}

Critical reception was also positive, with the NME calling it "the best true crime podcast since Serial",{{cite magazine|first=Alex|last=Flood|date=18 October 2017|url=https://www.nme.com/blogs/nme-blogs/dirty-john-podcast-2151314 |title=Liked 'Serial'? Try 'Dirty John', your new true crime podcast fix |magazine=NME|access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en}} while The Guardian listed Dirty John as their podcast pick of the week.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2017/oct/13/dirty-john-your-chilling-new-true-obsession-podcasts-of-the-week |title=Dirty John, your chilling new true crime obsession – podcasts of the week |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en|newspaper=The Guardian|date=October 13, 2017|last1=Verdier |first1=Hannah |last2=Slaney |first2=Rowan }} Dirty John also received positive reviews from Mashable,{{cite web|first=Proma|last=Khosla|date=October 10, 2017|url=http://mashable.com/2017/10/10/dirty-john-podcast/#62Pl3pPDFiqW |title=The insane true story of 'Dirty John' is your next podcast obsession |website=Mashable|access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en}} The New Yorker,{{Cite news|first=Sarah|last=Larsen|url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/podcast-dept/dirty-john-journalism-as-noir-entertainment |title="Dirty John": Journalism as Noir Entertainment |newspaper=The New Yorker |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en|date=October 19, 2017 }} Rolling Stone{{cite web|first=Amelia|last=McDonnell-Parry|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/dirty-john-inside-hit-la-times-true-crime-podcast-w509773 |title= 'Dirty John': Inside Hit 'L.A. Times' Podcast|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en|date=October 26, 2017}} and The Daily Telegraph{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/radio/podcasts/dirty-john-true-story-behind-hit-podcast-changing-queasy-relationship/ |title=Dirty John: the hit podcast changing our queasy relationship with true crime |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |date=October 13, 2017 |last1=Saunders |first1=Tristram Fane }} amongst others.

Vulture.com, meanwhile, praised the story as "stunning" but questioned the necessity of using a podcast as a way to share the story.{{cite web|first=Nicholas|last=Quah|url=https://www.vulture.com/2017/10/dirty-john-podcast-review.html |title=Dirty John Is a Stunning Story, But Why Is It a Podcast? |access-date=November 23, 2017 |language=en|date=October 18, 2017|website=Vulture.com }}

TV adaptation

{{main|Dirty John (TV series){{!}}Dirty John (TV series)}}

A limited series based on the podcast debuted on Bravo on November 25, 2018. It was created, produced, and written by Alexandra Cunningham, and stars Connie Britton and Eric Bana.{{cite magazine|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/dirty-john-connie-britton-eric-bana-point-of-view-interview-tca-1202899927/|title='Dirty John' Team Talks Expanding Perspective of Bravo Adaptation|first=Danielle|last=Turchiano|date=August 8, 2018|magazine=Variety|access-date=November 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2018/tv/news/eric-bana-dirty-john-bravo-connie-britton-1202742688/|title=Eric Bana to Star Opposite Connie Britton in Bravo Anthology Series 'Dirty John'|first=Joe|last=Otterson|date=April 3, 2018|magazine=Variety|access-date=November 14, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2018/10/dirty-john-bravo-unveils-new-trailer-premiere-date-1202478642/|title='Dirty John': Bravo Unveils New Trailer & Premiere Date|first=Denise|last=Petski|date=October 8, 2018|website=Deadline Hollywood|access-date=November 14, 2018}}{{cite magazine|first=Jean|last=Bentley|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/bravos-dirty-john-true-crime-series-wants-cast-a-spell-viewers-1133270|title=Bravo's 'Dirty John' True-Crime Series Wants to Cast a Spell on Viewers|date=August 8, 2018|magazine=The Hollywood Reporter|access-date=14 November 2018}}{{cite web|first=Lydia|last=Kennedy|url=https://www.marieclaire.com.au/dirty-john-tv-show-eric-bana-connie-britton|title=Eric Bana scares as John Meehan in Dirty John trailer|website=Marie Claire|date=10 October 2018|access-date=14 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-dirty-john-bravo-tca-20180808-story.html|title=You liked the stories and podcast. Here's what to expect from 'Dirty John' as a Bravo scripted series|first=Yvonne|last=Villarreal|date=August 8, 2018|newspaper=Los Angeles Times|access-date=November 14, 2018}}{{cite web|title=Bring On Dirty John, and the Eric Bana-issance|first=Bridget|last=Read|date=September 18, 2018|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/dirty-john-eric-bana|website=Vogue|access-date=November 14, 2018}}

References

External links

{{cite book|url=http://wondery.com/wondery/shows/dirtyjohn/|title= Dirty John |publisher= Wondery.com}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john/ |title=Dirty John Part 1: The Real Thing |work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-newlyweds/ |title=Dirty John Part 2: Newlyweds|work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-filthy/|title=Dirty John Part 3: Filthy|work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-forgiveness/ |title=Dirty John Part 4: Forgiveness |work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-escape/ |title=Dirty John Part 5: Escape|work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}
{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-dirty-john-terra/|title=Dirty John Part 6: Terra|work= Los Angeles Times|author=Goffard, Christopher |date=October 1, 2017}}