First off, let me state I do not feel UM ever Jumped The Shark. because of its format, it could never jump in the way a sitcom might. Now there were plenty of ridiculous segments (Magic Rock, Busby's Chair, Gold Foil Katie, etc.) but those were few and far between. Those segments were also presented in such a way that they were entertaining.

However, the UM downfall for me was the move to CBS in 1997. It actually started a couple seasons prior to that (1995 or so). I preferred the gritty look and feel of the early NBC seasons (For my money, nothing beats UM from 1988 - 1992). The the reenactments, Stack's narration, etc made for an edgier show (when the show's budget was lower). Once the production values went up and the segments developed a "cleaner" look, the show lost some appeal to me. This is especially true towards the end of the show's run when Stack's voice was weak. This is still my all-time fave show and there were some great segments in the later seasons. However, the early run on NBC was "it" for me.

What are your thoughts?

I'd say the death of Robert Stack. *rimshot*

I would agree his death didn't help, but the show was taken off new episodes before then. I have to agree that the move didn't help it, and I wish it would be resurrected in any format. It needs to be on a major network...TruTV would be the best bet but I wish it would return to one of the big three, since not everyone has cable or satellite and it would reach the most people this way.

I think a big downfall was when they started adding people to the show to help. Of course I'm talking about Keely Shaye Smith and then they actually thought someone else needed to help share narration with Virginia Madsen. As if Robert Stack needed any help! That was definitely a stupid move imo.

I think a big downfall was when they started adding people to the show to help. Of course I'm talking about Keely Shaye Smith and then they actually thought someone else needed to help share narration with Virginia Madsen. As if Robert Stack needed any help! That was definitely a stupid move imo.


I have to agree, CD. Even when Stack's voice started to go late in the show's run (there is a very noticable difference in the strength of his voice), he didn't need help. BTW, CD who is the rather lovely lady in your avatar?

I'd say the death of Robert Stack. *rimshot*

Funny, but in poor taste. The show was over before Stack bought the farm.

I have to agree, CD. Even when Stack's voice started to go late in the show's run (there is a very noticable difference in the strength of his voice), he didn't need help. BTW, CD who is the rather lovely lady in your avatar?

The lady in my avatar is Marilu Geri. It was one of those rarely shown UM segments but Spike did air it. She was murdered and her husband was a suspect. Very interesting case. Here's more info:

http://www.unsolved.com/murder.html

(Not sure if thats a direct link but if not you'll see her listed and just click on it).

Yes, I would say where UM started changing the format it lost its edge. UM was a top 20 show for the first several years it was on the air. The last season it was in the top 20 was 1992-1993. I do believe in 1993 or 1994 the show actually changed its graphics and switched the way they shot the scenes so yeah I would say by 1995 or or 1996 it was not even in the top 40. NBC cancelled the show in 1997 and then it moved over to CBS for their brief run over there, then it was off to lifetime. Yes by 2000, 2001, Stack's voice was cracking and getting weaker but I think that was due not only to his being in his early 80's by that time but he was undergoing treatment for cancer at the time, his hair just did not fall out.

Okay, my poor taste joke aside, I agree it was when they changed the story format...it was more like narration with crap acting than the good dramatic scenes it had before. Oh and when they quit using the ultra-creepy music during the acting scenes.

I actually did not like the newer graphics, really either package. The CBS graphics were the worst (and that theme, ugh). The newer lifetime graphics were fair, and the update sound was scary, especially in surround. Stack's age started to show in his voice, i agree. Besides that, it was how Lifetime aired the episodes. While I was happy to be able to watch it everyday, the fact that they were showing Resurrection Mary so often and the Fertility Statues was silly. With all those segments from so many seasons, it's strange they wouldn't have more to choose from. Maybe C/M only licensed certain ones.

...when it moved to Spike TV... :mad:

I have mixed feelings.

I totally agree with marlins (and the basic consensus on the board) that the BEST episodes were from the early years when it had the movielike quality, boxy 80s graphics and Stack was the most involved. The creepiest, most dramatic stories seem to be from then.

I can kinda see why some people didn't like Keely Shame Smith joining, and how it got a major modernizing facelift around 1994 with the newer graphics (even NOW it doesn't look that old), camcorder style filming and more casual stories slipped in. I like that era, I think it still had enough of the "classic UM" feel left... in a way it was the perfect mix of both, even if some people didn't like Keely, I personally did. That was when they started doing the redundant stuff though, like resurrection Mary, fertility statues and the Cokeville school bomb.

I think it started going downhill in the late 90s, not sure exactly when, but probably when Virginia Madsen started co hosting... although as long as it was on in its original incarnation, there were SOME good segments as late as 2001, it just became less and less frequent as time went on. They never totally abandoned their roots until it was picked up by Spike. :(

I tend to feel the term "jump the shark" is overused these days.

I personally think UM was still a good show and had good segments well up to it's last years.

Heck some of the most talked about cases on this site are from the later years.

Most shows that run this long are bound to have a few weak episodes and weak seasons here and there. But I usually find that when a show has a good format and structure like UM these shows usually last forever and are very consistent.

I honestly don't feel that UM jumped the shark.

I don;t even think that the change from film to video hurt the mood of the show either. Some of those later video segments are just as scary as the earlier ones.

Sure Stack's voice got weaker, but a weakened Stack is better than no Stack at all IMHO.

The last year was pretty weak, but I think that may have more to do with the lack of budget that was assigned to the show.

Don't know if there was ever an official jumping of the shark, but the Elvis and Kurt Cobain segments were clearly an aeffort to broaden their fanbase.
Wasn't there a hiphop one too?

Don't know if there was ever an official jumping of the shark, but the Elvis and Kurt Cobain segments were clearly an aeffort to broaden their fanbase.
Wasn't there a hiphop one too?

Actually I think a lot of people consider the Elvis Last Night episode to be one of UMs best and creepiest segments.

The Kurt Cobain segment I thought was pretty interesting in how they presented all the possible evidence.

They did a few segments on hip hop murders. Tupac's segment i felt was indeed warranted.

UM was always interested in celebrity and musician murders as far back as the beginning so I don't think they were straying too far in doing those segments.

I don't think UM ever really jumped the shark during the Stack years.

Actually I think a lot of people consider the Elvis Last Night episode to be one of UMs best and creepiest segments.

The Kurt Cobain segment I thought was pretty interesting in how they presented all the possible evidence.

They did a few segments on hip hop murders. Tupac's segment i felt was indeed warranted.

UM was always interested in celebrity and musician murders as far back as the beginning so I don't think they were straying too far in doing those segments.

Yeah, I think those type of segments might have expanded their fanbse (the combination of regular people, as well as celeb cases), but that wasn't why they did it. Personally I'm a huge music fan too, so I like those too.

The c. 1994 makeover probably got more people into the show too, even if it was with segments like the fertility statues, lol. Maybe someone who saw it then, would've gone back and watched the earlier ones as well. I've done that with tv shows and bands among other things.

Re: Stack's voice - I agree it's a little sad hearing his voice weakening toward the very end of the show, but that seemed to be just around 2001 or 02. Even up until then, he basically sounded the same.

There were many other programs devoting their energy towards discussing
celebrities deaths so I felt that UM was wasting their time when they should have been covering cases that other programs would not.

All musician and celebrity death cases were great IMO. I stated in my opening post that UM never jumped the shark. But I do feel there was a very slight decline in the show (as described). Every season of UM is much better than a majority of stuff aired on tv (now or ever).

Every season of UM is much better than a majority of stuff aired on tv (now or ever).

AGREE! AGREE! AGREE!

(too much enthusiasm there? lol)

Throughout the years, I've not been bothered by any of the different things UM did regarding bringing on Keely Smith, Virginia Madsen, changing their filming techniques, switching networks, etc.

I didn't particularly like some of those things, but it never interfered with my enjoyment of the show.

But here I am, complaining about the same thing I've been complaining about for a year.... The Spike Incarnation. It almost completely ruined the show for me, but still, I would watch it if they'd ever get around to airing it.

I think it's time that the fans stage a Hostile Takeover of UM from CM! lol We love it more than they do, and have more insight about how to make the re-runs and even a new UM series entertaining to viewers and useful as a crime solving tool.

Such a pity that the show's fate is in the hands of people who seem to only being trying to make a buck, instead of producing a great show like UM.

I think it's time that the fans stage a Hostile Takeover of UM from CM! lol We love it more than they do, and have more insight about how to make the re-runs and even a new UM series entertaining to viewers and useful as a crime solving tool.

Such a pity that the show's fate is in the hands of people who seem to only being trying to make a buck, instead of producing a great show like UM.

I'm with you there!!!! :wave: :wave:

When they added people to the show doing voiceovers like during the UPDATE segment.

Only the actors and Stack should have graced UM screens.

There were many other programs devoting their energy towards discussing
celebrities deaths so I felt that UM was wasting their time when they should have been covering cases that other programs would not.

keep in mind

1. UM needed cases like celebrity deaths, UFOs and strange legends in order to keep it's ratings up. Those cases paid for and allowed UM to do wanted, lost love, murder and missing persons cases. UM could not survive without the UFO, strange legends and celebrity cases.

2. With cases such as Mia Zapata, Tupac and the other rapper, the people that committed those murders most likely have killed before AND MAY KILL AGAIN. As an act of crime prevention, I think it is highly important that the murders be caught to save more lives or close other investigations.

3. Let's be honest. As much as their is a community service aspect to UM, we all pretty much watch it for the fun of watching mysteries. So regardless whether it is a celebrity or layperson, I always find those bizarre murders interesting.:)

It needs to be on a major network...TruTV would be the best bet

I agree and I would settle for A&E or Bravo just as long as they bring it back.

Don't know if there was ever an official jumping of the shark,
but the Elvis and Kurt Cobain segments were clearly an aeffort to broaden their fanbase.
Wasn't there a hiphop one too?

No It didn't jump the shark and yes there was a hiphop episode which was a hiphop artists girlfriend or wife was murdered and their baby was kidnapped I believe

I agree with the show being in it's peak from 88-92, I prefer the cheaper production values of those earlier seasons. A lot of them creeped me out where from the later seasons it just wasnt the same for me but still overall a good show. There was a time when I thought the show was going to be on LifeTime forever and we wouldnt have to worry about not seeing it again. I even got digitial cable and DVR so I could get the LifeTime Real Women station when they moved the show from regular Lifetime.

I just couldnt get into the way Spike TV re-did the show, hopefully the original airings can come back someday to any station that will air it.

I agree with the show being in it's peak from 88-92, I prefer the cheaper production values of those earlier seasons. A lot of them creeped me out where from the later seasons it just wasnt the same...

I totally agree with you on that one. Goes to show that expensive doesn't always mean better. The earlier seasons had a higher creepiness feel to them, as I know a majority of you will agree with me on that one.

But doesn't it cost more money to film something (as opposed to video taping something)?
I was always of the thought that the production values went DOWN as the years progressed.
The early segments were shot on film -- like a movie. Some of them were done beautifully (like the whole Agatha Christie segment... and others that I'm forgetting).

The earlier episodes looked expensive, not the later ones!

The late 1980s/early 1990s was my favorite UM era. But the show never jumped the shark, even with the on the cheap Lifetime stories....;)

I also don't feel as though UM ever, in essence, jumped the shark--although like the majority of the fans on this board I prefer the format of the pre-series specials/Seasons 1-5. That doesn't mean I abhor the later seasons, their stories, or the formats. Just a preference.

I didn't even really at all dislike the '93-'96 era. I feel a noticeable unfavorable change occured about the time it moved to CBS, but there were definitely still some good, solid stories up until the end. I didn't even really mind KSS and VM, honestly.

Not to divert into a music caveat, but there are definitely some final season segments that still incorporate music from the show's earliest years. By then, the compositions were well over a decade old, but it just goes to show how effective they were. :cool:

What are your thoughts?

As long as they kept the same cool spooky music and cool graphics and got a pretty good host like the Forensic Files guy or the lady who did Autopsy on HBO they would've been fine.

But Spike did such a drastic change that it's not the same show anymore.

Most importantly they need NEW episodes. People would watch regardless if they had NEW episodes!

Sorta off topic:

An acquaintance gave me a bunch of his old UM eppies that he had on DVD. I've been watching them for the last couple days.

In one segment, Robert Stack says that they receive tons of calls from law enforcement agencies all over the US asking them to do a Special Alert (I think that's what it's called) when they have emergency cases where time is of the essence.

That just proves to me that LE agencies considered UM to be a good way to get information on unsolved crimes out to the public, all across the country, quickly.

CM needs to see that this show was beneficial in so many ways. And with the current popularity of true crime shows, crime dramas based on real life cases, and other similar programs, a well done UM series would fit right into today's TV fare, maybe even better than it did back when fewer people were into the true crime stuff.

But doesn't it cost more money to film something (as opposed to video taping something)?
I was always of the thought that the production values went DOWN as the years progressed.
The early segments were shot on film -- like a movie. Some of them were done beautifully (like the whole Agatha Christie segment... and others that I'm forgetting).

The earlier episodes looked expensive, not the later ones!

You are quite correct, Opal. Early seasons were shot on film, later ones on video tape, for cost reasons. However, they must have used a cheaper-than-35mm film stock for the filmed segments, especially in early seasons, to give it that grainy sort of look. Even that, however, is more expensive than shooting on videotape, so there you are.

The show's production values dropped significantly over the years - especially during those sort-of-new episodes on Lifetime - but the essential element of the show - the mysteriousness of whatever event being chronicled - can never "jump the shark," "nuke the fridge," or what have you. As long as new episodes are produced, there will always be something of value in the format - that's why AMW has gone on for so long.

I am very surprised that the UM format hasn't been picked up for this reason, especially in the days of reality TV, etc. The best segments were always missing person/unexplained death segments, so I'm very surprised - with all the crime dramas out there - that they haven't been able to tie a UM revival, on the basis of those segments alone, to all the reality TV/crime drama out there, especially since interest in forensic science has become so mainstream.

I am very surprised that the UM format hasn't been picked up for this reason, especially in the days of reality TV, etc. The best segments were always missing person/unexplained death segments, so I'm very surprised - with all the crime dramas out there - that they haven't been able to tie a UM revival, on the basis of those segments alone, to all the reality TV/crime drama out there, especially since interest in forensic science has become so mainstream.

It has.

Forensic Files, American Justice and Cold Case.

It has.

Forensic Files, American Justice and Cold Case.

At best those show one or two case per episode. UM could have fit in four or five in the hour it had... They are still good shows in the own right though, as I used to watch them when I had cable.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

On topic, I think the show never went down hill. I actually enjoyed Keely Shay Smith.
As a side.. She is married to James freaking Bond, yes I know not really but he played him in the movies and well that is just so cool.

I don't like it now, but that is because to me no one can replace Robert Stack. From the episodes I saw, it was basically the same cases as the UM with Mr. Stack, and using the same footage that had originally aired way back when. I didn't see one new case, I no longer have cable so I don't know if they changed it, or if the show is still on the air. I just know I couldn't stomach the new UM.



TeresaB24

It has.

Forensic Files, American Justice and Cold Case.

The cases profiled on those shows are not following the Unsolved Mysteries format in two fundamental ways: they are neither unsolved nor are they therefore mysteries.

The cases profiled on those shows are not following the Unsolved Mysteries format in two fundamental ways: they are neither unsolved nor are they therefore mysteries.

48 Hrs Mysteries. America's Most Wanted.

The point I'm ultimately trying to make is that it isn't necessarily the format that made unsolved mysteries what it was, but it's production. The music, the narration, story choice, photography, reenactmemts.

It's like "In Search of...." There have been thousands of shows that use it's format, but none have matched its production.