Segment called FBI alert

[justins5256]

It has recently come to my attention that UM used to have a segment called "FBI Alert" in which dangerous criminals on the F.B.I.'s 10 Most Wanted list were profiled. The first such segment aired on September 27, 1989, and FBI director William Sessions (sp?) made an appearance and presented three wanted fugitives from the list. One of them, a rapist named Brian Denny, was subsequently captured according to an update.

Is anyone aware of any other "FBI Alerts"? I had never seen this segment before, but it appears to be a precursor to the "special alert" type segments that would come later.

The particular segment I saw was edited out and not shown on the Lifetime version of the episode in question.

[crystaldawn]

Well the drug dealer one I've sent you in the past off of NBC was an FBI Special Alert. They had Oliver Revell, Asst. Deputy Director of the FBI on that one.

[justins5256]

Well the drug dealer one I've sent you in the past off of NBC was an FBI Special Alert. They had Oliver Revell, Asst. Deputy Director of the FBI on that one.

Very good. I'll have to watch it again. I had mis-remembered it as a "special alert".

[DarkDante]

I'm thinking that when "Lifetime" got their hands on the episodes they might have just chosen to call all of the alerts "Special Alerts" - William Sessions was also present on the segment featuring Ken Stanton.

[justins5256]

I'm thinking that when "Lifetime" got their hands on the episodes they might have just chosen to call all of the alerts "Special Alerts" - William Sessions was also present on the segment featuring Ken Stanton.

It never ceases to amaze me how many "alerts" never made it to Lifetime at all. I remember seeing the segments in question nearly every other week on NBC, but you almost never see them on Lifetime.

[justins5256]

Not to split hairs, but "FBI Alert" and "Special Alert" are two different animals. I just recenty came across an episode in which Stack introduces a "new" segment called "Special Alert". The airdate is 9/25/91; the second episode in the fourth season. The story profiled was that of child molester Art Silva. I don't recall seeing any of the original "FBI Alerts" on Lifetime reruns.

[crystaldawn]

The story profiled was that of child molester Art Silva.

First off was that sleaze ever captured?

Secondly I think a reason why they wouldn't want the FBI Alerts re-aired were they were very timely cases. Maybe they were apprehended soon after they were shown on UM and the FBI didn't want to be deluged with all these possible phone calls of tips years later of people thinking they spotted the fugitives when the cases may have already been resolved one way or the other. Just a thought.

[wiseguy182]

Crystaldawn had a good theory about the alerts getting edited out of the LIfetime broadcasts due to the timely nature of the cases.

I have another theory: The alerts, from what I remember, tended to be shorter segments, were they not? The ones I've seen ran about the same timeframe as the updates. So maybe Lifetime edited out the alerts to make room for the updates.

[justins5256]

I'm sure the FBI Alerts were edited out to keep the total episode running time under 44 minutes with new updates in some cases. Uncut NBC versions are closer to 49-50 minutes without commercials.

[justins5256]

First off was that sleaze ever captured?


Yes. I don't have the update on video, but I did find some articles on Newsbank about his capture. Unfortunately, some red tape prevents me from accessing the full text of articles from the San Diego Tribune.

[NDAlum2003]

I remember an FBI Alert for a child molester that was on the top 10 list back in 90-91 or so. It was in the Alabama/Mississippi area. Can't remember the guy's name offhand but he was captured. I have it on one of my tapes. But as I recall it was called "Special Alert" or something along those lines. It was taped off Lifetime like three years ago.