Both Raymond Burr and Karl Malden hosted the original unsolved mysteries specials before it was picked up as a series. The specials had the same format as the show when Stack took over. My question is if Stack had never been the host and it had been a choice between Burr and Malden as to who would host UM which of the two would you pick and why?
My pick would be Raymond Burr.
I felt his line delivery and presence was very good and I feel had he been chosen as the permanent host he would have done an excellent job.
I can actually picture him at the spooky locations of murder scenes or ghosts at the beginning of each segment and his voice while not as haunting as Stack's could still add atmosphere to a story.
It's too bad he only got to host one special, but it's still interesting to see someone other than Stack as a host on the early UM episodes.

I gotta go with my man, Karl Malden. :cool:

For me, no one could have done a better job than Robert Stack. For some reason, his personality just really seemed to "click" with this show. For example, other co-host types, such as Keely Shay Smith or guests like Virginia Madsen and Diana Nyad (and the ladies from the Live From the Telecenter specials) hosts were fine people, but they just didn't have the charisma that Stack had.

So if I had to make a choice between those two PSS hosts, I'd have to pick Raymond Burr. While a prefer Karl Malden as an actor, something about Burr's delivery or presence fit better with the show than Malden's.

However, if either of those gentlemen had ended up as the permanent host of the program, I don't think UM would have had nearly as long of a run as it did. Casting Robert Stack as the host was a either a stroke of genius or an amazing bit of good luck.

Karl Malden, I enjoyed his segments. Raymond Burr wasn't bad but was a tad boring.

However I would take both these guys over Farina.

I really like both, but if it comes down to only one, I think I'd have to go with Raymond Burr.

As crazy as this may sound I honestly feel that had Raymond Burr been given the hosting job of UM then people today would be saying how perfect he was and how while karl malden and robert stack were great at hosting the specials they just couldn't compare to Burr :lol:
It may sound ridiculous to some, but that is what I believe.
I actually think both Stack and Burr were equally well suited to host UM and had Burr been given a chance to go beyond the specials and host a few episodes with the murder mysteries and ghosts that he would have left a great impression with viewers.
Nothing against Karl Malden. I also agree with poster who said Malden was a great actor and I prefer Malden as an actor as well and I love his performances in Baby Doll, On the Waterfront and I Confess.
However I feel that Burr's presence and voice (like Stack's) suited the nature of the show better.
The only sad thing that would have happened would be had Burr gotten the job as host he would have been replaced in 1993 due to his death :(
Although they could have probably gotten Stack to fill in at that point :)
But I have read that many people consider the episodes and the way they were shot from the 87-92 season to be excellent and Burr would have covered that period of UM history.
I'm glad Stack got the job and since I feel he was equal to be Burr I felt there was no way they could go wrong when it came to a decision between those two.
It's interesting to think that had Burr not demanded a high salary he would be remembered by generation X as the host of unsolved mysteries.

I just rewatched the Burr special last night and I really wish he had hosted atleast one more special. I would have loved to have seen a ghost story segment done by Burr as I said previously I'm sure had he been given the chance to do more than that one special he would have suprised people.
His voice and presence were so well suited for UM.
Oh well

Raymond Burr. He had the seriousness and voice for it. I like Karl Malden, but he just didn't gel.

Speaking of which, I was watching Match Game this morning and was surprised to see Raymond Burr as one of the panelists (sitting in Dawson's old seat). He got a round of applause as Gene Rayburn introduced him. Big hulk of a man that dwarfed all the other panelists. That, plus his seriousness made him different than the usual loud-mouths and motor-mouths that make up the show. (Well, at least Brett Somers and Charles Nelson Reilly. I never cared for either of them).

One of the contestants gave birth 15 times. Can you imagine that?

I always felt like Raymond Burr had a very haunting quality to his narration. Now, I really like Karl Malden and a large number of his segments are among my favorites, but I cannot imagine the Don Kemp segment being anywhere near as haunting with Karl Malden. I hold that was one of the most memorable UM segments of all time, and it's not even a Stack segment. There was something special RB added to that particular segment, and I can't even put my finger on what exactly it is.

Giving birth 15 times?! Yeech. Not that brave.

The only sad thing that would have happened would be had Burr gotten the job as host he would have been replaced in 1993 due to his death :(


I was thinking this as I was reading through the thread. :-(


Although they could have probably gotten Stack to fill in at that point :)


I'm not 100% sure that Stack would have taken the job at that point though. RS was on record (Pre-UM) as saying he didn't really like doing TV anymore because (my words) it was a lot more day-in day-out work than movies were. I specifically remember him using the phrase "When I would come home, the kids would call me Uncle Daddy" Burr died in '93 so RS would have been 4-5 years older when he would have made the decision to host. By the mid to late '90's, they were already using KSS to fill in some of the monologues that RS had done exclusively early in the series. In the '00's they even had local affiliate reporters doing some of those bits.


It's interesting to think that had Burr not demanded a high salary he would be remembered by generation X as the host of unsolved mysteries.

Is that true? I hadn't heard that before, do you know what his demands were? I always thought that the producers just thought RB wasn't quite a fit and kept looking for another host for the next special. I know Cosgrove at least has said in interviews that they didn't know that the show would have the success to even evolve into a series from the specials.

Burr. Gordon Solie would have been a great host.

Burr. Gordon Solie would have been a great host.

Gordon Solie was a good announcer, but I can't picture him doing anything other than wrestling. Plus he died in 1999, so they would have had to replace him. I remember that idiot Scott Keith actually bashed Gordon Solie for not appearing at the infamous "Heroes of Wrestling" as was advertised. Well my thoughts were 1) that show was the WORST ppv of all time, and 2) Solie was on his death bed at that point. There are actually entire threads on other forums dedicated to just some of the tons of idiotic things that man (Scott Keith) has said over the years.

Now, could you imagine the man in my avatar hosting? "This guy's a pervert, let's take him right out of here!"

"Batten down the hatches folks, we have a tremendous line-up for you tonight."

Now, could you imagine the man in my avatar hosting? "This guy's a pervert, let's take him right out of here!"

"Batten down the hatches folks, we have a tremendous line-up for you tonight."

:lol: Man, I'm now filled with joy at the thought of Gorilla Monsoon giving an UM update about a fugitive's captured: "Stick a fork in him, he's done".

Gordon Solie was a good announcer, but I can't picture him doing anything other than wrestling. Plus he died in 1999, so they would have had to replace him. I remember that idiot Scott Keith actually bashed Gordon Solie for not appearing at the infamous "Heroes of Wrestling" as was advertised. Well my thoughts were 1) that show was the WORST ppv of all time, and 2) Solie was on his death bed at that point. There are actually entire threads on other forums dedicated to just some of the tons of idiotic things that man (Scott Keith) has said over the years.

Now, could you imagine the man in my avatar hosting? "This guy's a pervert, let's take him right out of here!"

"Batten down the hatches folks, we have a tremendous line-up for you tonight."

Christ Solie had been through enough having to commentate for Florida after Eddie killed himself in 1985 & Mike took over, then Global in Florida & onto WCW where he had to sell Robocop & Black Scorpion without having to commentate on the Bushwackers, Jake etc fiasco's.

Batten down the hatches on the Queen Mary because those ghoulies will do a pearl harbour job on you in a hurry.

The UFO was a close landing, but close only counts in horseshoes & hand grenades.

Look out from the blindside, the devious one just took a cheap shot at his former wife.

Actually Tenay would be good. OMG Tazz, what the hell is Rudolph Hess doing here in the Unsolved Zone?

:lol: Man, I'm now filled with joy at the thought of Gorilla Monsoon giving an UM update about a fugitive's captured: "Stick a fork in him, he's done".

What a Benedict Arnold he turned out to be. Get that piece of garbage straight to jail like the Mountie & he will be singing soprano in the shower by the time the Big Bossman gets through with him, the little weasel. Ha Ha I love it.

I always felt like Raymond Burr had a very haunting quality to his narration. Now, I really like Karl Malden and a large number of his segments are among my favorites, but I cannot imagine the Don Kemp segment being anywhere near as haunting with Karl Malden. I hold that was one of the most memorable UM segments of all time, and it's not even a Stack segment. There was something special RB added to that particular segment, and I can't even put my finger on what exactly it is.


Completely agree. It is hard to imagine anyone but Burr narrating the Don Kemp segment.

I liked Karl Malden, but I think he was a little too "cheery" (if that can be said) in the role. For example, he smirked a little while introducing the Jon Burns segment when he mentioned that Burns' identity was a "complete fiction."

I have seen the Raymond Burr and Karl Malden segmnts online. Although they both did well in my opinion, I felt that Burr's voice added more to the show's atmosphere than Malden's did. Therefore (at least by a hair), I am going with Burr as the generally better of the two.

Holy smokes. Speaking of Match Game, was watching this morning and guess who was a contestant? None other than a really young and perky Aphrodite Jones.

:lol: Man, I'm now filled with joy at the thought of Gorilla Monsoon giving an UM update about a fugitive's captured: "Stick a fork in him, he's done".

How about Monsoon and Heenan together?

Think of the tirade that Heenan would be on during the Georgia Tann segment, only for Gorilla to say "I agree with everything you just said Brain."

I felt both did well but I also preferred Burr. Burr's voice while no Robert Stack did have that element of mystery to it.

Love, love, love Karl Malden's hosting. I didn't know who he was, having watched Unsolved first, then found all of Karl's other work.

I'd have to go with Malden here. I can't imagine Burr doing a lost loves or "feel good" segment. Malden could. Malden also had that same quality (though not as good) as Stack, where he could emote oddities and questions in segments, like in the Wanda Jean Mays segment.

Burr's episode was fantastic, I hope that is released soon on Amazon.

It's very close but I would say Burr because of his distinctive voice.

I'm gonna lean Burr here, too.

I thought they both did a great job, but slightly preferred Burr.

I think the show would've done quite well still with either one, yet I'm still glad it ended up being Stack, even amongst the pre series specials, he was still my favorite.

Also The random Gordon Solie Bobby Heenan and Gorilla Monsoon references in this thread brought an unexpected smile to my face.

It's a tough call, but imo Burr's voice and his manner was overall more in sync with the show.

Raymond Burr for sure. He was a more imposing looking man for the visual aspect and had a better voice for narration for the audio aspect. Karl Malden did a fine job, but Burr did a fantastic job IMO.

Either way, even combined they can't touch Stack though. :)

I always felt like Raymond Burr had a very haunting quality to his narration. Now, I really like Karl Malden and a large number of his segments are among my favorites, but I cannot imagine the Don Kemp segment being anywhere near as haunting with Karl Malden. I hold that was one of the most memorable UM segments of all time, and it's not even a Stack segment. There was something special RB added to that particular segment, and I can't even put my finger on what exactly it is.

Giving birth 15 times?! Yeech. Not that brave.

Oh I agree! Every time I think of Raymond Burr, I think of that Don Kemp segment. It's one that REALLY stuck with me, in no small part because of his narration.

I've already voted for Burr. But can I just add here that I think Stack was the best? Did anyone else find that while he had a great sound to his voice, it was also slightly menacing? Maybe that's why the show scared the crap out of me as a kid...

I thought they both did a great job, but slightly preferred Burr.

I think the show would've done quite well still with either one, yet I'm still glad it ended up being Stack, even amongst the pre series specials, he was still my favorite.

I lean toward Burr too. His deeper voice helps lend some gravitas that Karl Malden just didn't have. Also, Perry Mason!

Although, given Malden's stint on the show "The Streets of San Francisco" (which I loved as a kid), I can see why they picked him to host as well.

I've already voted for Burr. But can I just add here that I think Stack was the best? Did anyone else find that while he had a great sound to his voice, it was also slightly menacing? Maybe that's why the show scared the crap out of me as a kid...

I don't think this board would be this active if RS hadn't been so perfect in the role.

Burr for me too. He had more presence, brooding and a malevolent voice that suited Unsolved Mysteries, second only to Stack's.

IDK if this is a hot take or not...but I say that if UM had just gone with Raymond Burr as the host moving forward after the first special that we would all be holding him in just as high esteem as we do Robert Stack.

No slight on Stack because he was phenomenal and deserves every adulation, but I love Burr's delivery on that first episode. IDK what they would have done after he died in 1993 but if Burr did those first 6 years I feel they would have been just as great.

I have to go with Raymond Burr over Karl Malden, but Karl was really good, too. I especially liked how he dressed (with the detective style hat and coat). It was kind of adorable.

Robert Stack's voice was just perfect, but these other two weren't bad at all. I enjoy the specials.

I liked Burr more, but I'm a huge Godzilla and Hitchcock fan, so maybe I'm biased, haha.

Raymond Burr, 100%.

I hated Malden's narration.