Story perspectives

Daniel Stern Exits ABC Pilot After Solicitation Charge

1/17/2026

Summary

Stern Exits ABC Pilot

Daniel Stern exits the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) pilot 'Do You Want Kids?' after a misdemeanor charge of soliciting prostitution.
Stern's arraignment was set for January 13 and postponed to February 6.
ABC and 20th Television will recast the role and move forward with the project.
The project is directed by Trent O'Donnell and co-written by Rachel Bloom and Dan Gregor.

Summary

Stern Charged, Exits

Daniel Stern, the Home Alone actor, has been removed from the ABC pilot 'Do You Want Kids?' after being charged with soliciting prostitution on December 10 in Camarillo, California.
He will be recast as Freddy, the patriarch, in the comedy.
The court schedules Stern's February 6 arraignment, and he faces jail time and fines.
Stern revealed he has left Hollywood to live on a farm, where he grows tangerines and makes sculptures.

History

Historical Context

The Mann Act, enacted in 1910, aimed to combat human trafficking by criminalizing the interstate transport of women for immoral purposes, including prostitution. Initially intended to protect women, its vague language led to the prosecution of consensual relationships and political persecution. Daniel Stern's recent misdemeanor charge for soliciting prostitution reflects ongoing legal and societal challenges surrounding sex work, echoing the Act's controversial legacy.

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Stern Exits ABC Pilot

Daniel Stern exits the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) pilot 'Do You Want Kids?' after a misdemeanor charge of soliciting prostitution.
Stern's arraignment was set for January 13 and postponed to February 6.
ABC and 20th Television will recast the role and move forward with the project.
The project is directed by Trent O'Donnell and co-written by Rachel Bloom and Dan Gregor.

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