This is not something I just came up with on my own. In fact, Ronald Reagan's son, Ron Jr., has occasionally remarked that his father might have been the host of Unsolved Mysteries if he hadn't gone into politics. In 1998, ABC aired a one-hour special on Ronald Reagan and, when it came to the question of where the Gipper's life might have gone if he had not become President of the United States, Ron Jr. said, "Unsolved Mysteries might have had a different host." He then went on to say that his father could have given Robert Stack "a run for his money", adding that he would probably have continued hosting UM until he was no longer able to. In addition, when Ron Jr. was later interviewed on 60 Minutes, he expressed the belief his mother Nancy helped bring about his father's presidency, saying: "I think if left to his own devices, he might have ended up hosting Unsolved Mysteries on TV or something."

That's an interesting thing to speculate on. Ronald Reagan was known as "the Great Communicator", so who knows? If it hadn't been for politics, Reagan might have hosted UM, or might have been at least considered for it. In any case, Reagan would most likely have continued his Hollywood career for more years to come.

I can't mention Reagan on this post without acknowledging the fact that he was friends with the late Robert Stack. Both Reagan and Stack had their share of Hollywood friends, and one of their mutual friends was John Wayne.

While I believe the UM hosting position was a signature role of Robert Stack, and no one, not even The Gipper, could replace him, I think Ronald Reagan could have been a close second to Robert Stack. I think Reagan, followed by Karl Malden, Raymond Burr and Dennis Farina would have rounded out good hosts if Stack didn't host it. I don't recall Virginia Madsen's co-hosting, and I don't think Keely Shaye Smith even came close to Stack, Malden, Burr, Farina or Reagan.

Reagan was a great communicator, and I think it would have shown on Unsolved Mysteries. I think he would have made for a creepy presentation on some segments! But ultimately, I think Reagan and Stack both fulfilled their best roles as president and UM host, respectively.

I don't recall Virginia Madsen's co-hosting, and I don't think Keely Shaye Smith even came close to Stack, Malden, Burr, Farina or Reagan.

Well, Keely Shaye Smith was only an update correspondent, so she doesn't count anyway. Virginia Madsen co-hosted the show exclusively for the abbreviated 1998-99 season. Apparently, audiences were lukewarm about the co-host idea, since Virginia's segments were later re-edited for the Lifetime network with Robert Stack's narration and scenes replacing hers.

Reagan was a great communicator, and I think it would have shown on Unsolved Mysteries. I think he would have made for a creepy presentation on some segments! But ultimately, I think Reagan and Stack both fulfilled their best roles as president and UM host, respectively.

Agreed. :)

In The Reagan Diaries book, the last entry is on the day Reagan left office and he writes about returning to CA. He notes that Bob Stack is going to be one of the people there.

This thread has lots of potential for off-topic madness. I had mine all ready to go, but I've decided that discretion is the better part of valor.

Ronald probably would have been a good host. One thing I found out recently: When Ronald was younger, he was a lifeguard, that saved at least 75 lives! That right there would have made him an excellent choice.

who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg.

Hmm, I don't know that one's political beliefs or personal beliefs would necessarily prevent them from being a good host of UM. Whoopi would be a bad host just because her talent is overrated. Ronald Reagan would have been a good host in my opinion. John McCain I think would be a decent one too, mainly due to his unique sounding voice.

William Shatner would have been one of the worst, he is extremely rude and has an explosive personality. I don't think he could have been sympathetic enough to the victims and their families.

Robert Stack's voice could heard at the end of Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign ads.

"who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg."

I can think of a lot of terrible hosts for UM, but staying on the politician route, the first one that came to my mind was George W. Bush:

W. at the beginning of the show: "You shee, they're mysterieshs (pauses longer than he needs to) .....and they're unsholved"

who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg.

Well, Wiseguy, any "criminal supporting" person would certainly be a divisive choice for the show, and such a host selection would likely be seen by many UM viewers as an unpleasant surprise.

Your remark is pretty funny, though. :lol:

Robert Stack's voice could heard at the end of Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign ads.

I wasn't aware of that, although I knew he donated money to Reagan's presidential campaigns. It was generally known in 1980 that Ronald Reagan was Robert Stack's preferred choice for the presidency.

That's a tough one. My interest in the show would have to outweigh my hatred of Reagan, which is pretty heavy.

He is included in insane assassination attempts--mostly not conspiracies:

http://www.cracked.com/article_16705_the-6-most-utterly-insane-attempts-to-kill-us-president.html

Truman attempt not included! http://www.trumanlibrary.org/trivia/assassin.htm

One of David Letterman's best Top Ten lists was of Things Reagan Actually Does Remember. My favorite was "That Jodie Foster is a troublemaker"!

:rofl:

who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg.

Man, those words are as true today as when I first spoke them 4 years ago.

"Imagine if UM had been hosted by Ronald Reagan"

No. I won't. And you can't make me. ;)

So is this a what if scenario if Ronald Reagan had never entered into politics all together and would be just a random choice for hosting UM? Or a scenario if he went back to his Hollywood after his presidential term ended in '88?

So is this a what if scenario if Ronald Reagan had never entered into politics all together and would be just a random choice for hosting UM? Or a scenario if he went back to his Hollywood after his presidential term ended in '88?

As for the second one...his dementia was already pretty far advanced by the time he left office...he might not have managed even with teleprompters.

"Imagine if UM had been hosted by Ronald Reagan"

No. I won't. And you can't make me. ;)

Thank you for that! Thank you very much. :thanks:

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with Reagan's politics, he saved nearly 100 lives in his youth when he was a lifeguard, and was quite proud of it (as he should be) and that's something EVERYONE should respect.

And yes, I think he would made a great host.

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with Reagan's politics, he saved nearly 100 lives in his youth when he was a lifeguard, and was quite proud of it (as he should be) and that's something EVERYONE should respect.

And yes, I think he would made a great host.

Little-known fact: Ted Kennedy actually saved more people from drowning than he drowned but everyone only remembers the one he drowned. :(

Little-known fact: Ted Kennedy actually saved more people from drowning than he drowned but everyone only remembers the one he drowned. :(

well my heart just bleeds for him.

well my heart just bleeds for him.

Do I sense a slight edge of sarcasm in your tone? :whatever:

Do I sense a slight edge of sarcasm in your tone? :whatever:

no, there was A LOT of sarcasm in my tone. :rolleyes:

Does anyone remember that Saturday Night Live sketch where all the 1980 candidates went to do chores at some lady's house to endear themselves to the American voter?

Regardless of whether you agree or disagree with Reagan's politics, he saved nearly 100 lives in his youth when he was a lifeguard, and was quite proud of it (as he should be) and that's something EVERYONE should respect.

And yes, I think he would made a great host.

I respect that it makes absolutely no sense. I'll bet under 10, let alone 95, and have so much the best of it I wouldn't have to wager on anything else.

What, was he a lifeguard at the edge of Niagara Falls with everyone transfixed and marching into the water?

Quite a liberal application of the word "save." We're supposed to believe that if Reagan never entered the water, all of them would have drowned or otherwise succumbed. Absolutely comical. Even if it's a relatively dangerous river the vast, vast, vast majority would have found their way to safety. Keep in mind that lifeguards have to err toward conservative, getting out there at the first hint of unusual. In many cases it's a kid who is not in trouble at all, but merely thrashing away or rough housing. Then Reagan chalks it up as another "save."

Not to mention the young ladies who see a handsome young lifeguard and find reason to have him rush out there and carry them to shore. I guarantee that number alone is exponentially higher than the number of legitimate saves.

Look, I don't mean to dismiss this completely. It was an admirable job by Reagan. Even if the true number is one, that's great. But, as always, I'm not going to allow absurd numerical application to stand unchallenged. If this were John F. Kennedy in question I would post the same theme.

Besides, I remember reading about this claim during Reagan's presidency. There were still some people alive who could recount the incidents. Their version was similar and logical. They said it was a more dangerous river than normal. I think it might have closed later on, due to high number of incidents. But there was one guy who emphasized exactly what I posted in an earlier paragraph, that his kid was out there having fun and Reagan rushed out there to "save" him for no reason.

Besides, who counts numbers like that, keeping a specific tally, particularly once they reach high digits? Reagan wasn't known to be preoccupied with specifics and minor details as opposed to what he viewed as the big picture. It's one of the few things I admired about him. Kind of bizarre that he counted all the way to 95, or whatever, and then retained that number for decades. I also seem to remember that late in his life the number was quite a bit higher than his earlier versions.

As Cori posted, Reagan wasn't in great shape mentally at the end of his presidency in early 1989. Robert Stack was nearly a decade younger than Reagan when Unsolved Mysteries debuted in 1987. At those ages, a few years too often make all the difference, as I sadly found out with my own parents.

Besides, who counts numbers like that, keeping a specific tally, particularly once they reach high digits? Reagan wasn't known to be preoccupied with specifics and minor details as opposed to what he viewed as the big picture. It's one of the few things I admired about him. Kind of bizarre that he counted all the way to 95, or whatever, and then retained that number for decades. I also seem to remember that late in his life the number was quite a bit higher than his earlier versions.

As Cori posted, Reagan wasn't in great shape mentally at the end of his presidency in early 1989. Robert Stack was nearly a decade younger than Reagan when Unsolved Mysteries debuted in 1987. At those ages, a few years too often make all the difference, as I sadly found out with my own parents.

Reagan stole a broadcasting story from Walter Cronkite. http://articles.latimes.com/1997-01-12/books/bk-17717_1_walter-cronkite In the video based on his life story, Cronkite even showed the video of himself telling Reagan the story, then Reagan telling his version. You don't do that to Uncle Walter! :soapbox:

I think we're getting way off-subject here (again).

But yes, I do think Ronald Reagan would have made a good host. I was just reading about how he signed into law making May 25 (the day of Etan Patz's disappearance) National Missing Children's Day, and had invited Stan and Julie Patz and John and Reve Walsh to witness the signing. One of the co-authors of the bill in the senate was Florida Republican Senator Paula Hawkins, who was a female senator at a time when there were very few of them. She was the first woman to win a senate seat without being related to someone who had served as Senator.

William Shatner would have been one of the worst, he is extremely rude and has an explosive personality. I don't think he could have been sympathetic enough to the victims and their families.

In no way would I advocate for Shatner, but I would like to point out that he hosted a similar type of show at the same time, I think I was roughly 10. I'm going off of memory only but it was called "Rescue:911" and my recollection is that it wasn't that bad.

In my opinion RS was a HUGE part of the show's success. While Reagan would have done a good job I'm sure, I just can't picture him giving the show the same dark edge that RS did.

In no way would I advocate for Shatner, but I would like to point out that he hosted a similar type of show at the same time, I think I was roughly 10. I'm going off of memory only but it was called "Rescue:911" and my recollection is that it wasn't that bad.

You are correct, there was such a show which Shatner hosted. I caught a few episodes and it was not bad.

Even though he is said to be one of the world's biggest jerks, (he made honorable mention on my list of horrors, found here: http://raybradburyboard.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3791083901/m/9167088566 ) I really loved another show he hosted on SyFy, called Weird...or What? which had even more similarity to Unsolved Mysteries, covering some of the same subjects such as spontaneous human combustion, a program which disappeared without a trace, an unsolved mystery in itself!

In no way would I advocate for Shatner, but I would like to point out that he hosted a similar type of show at the same time, I think I was roughly 10. I'm going off of memory only but it was called "Rescue:911" and my recollection is that it wasn't that bad.

Sometime this past year I found an entire cache of Rescue 911 online and spent a week watching them. The show used to scare the hell out of me as a small child, but man, I could NOT stop watching them when I found them!

I used to watch Rescue 911 all the time back in the day. Some channel needs to start showing that again. Anyone remember any particular segments? The one I remember most was some criminal whose car had broken down by this old couple's house. The old lady told him she would call a wrecker, but he came in their house and assaulted them both. Absolutely horrifying.

Weird or What? was a fairly recent program that was cancelled. I've been waiting for a while for SyFy to show reruns, but they never do.

Hmm sounds like a little revisionary history and wishful thinking by Ron Jr. Reagan had clearly moved into politics and contrary to Stack wasn't doing television since 1965 At best in this "What if" scenario Reagan would have lasted two years, then would have been quietly ushered out due to his dementia. But this forgets that they had already ran with Maulden and Burr before they got to Stack. Stack contemporaries like Shatner and Keach would also have been more plausible.

One really has to stretch the imagination to believe that Reagan would be under any consideration fro the role given the folks I just mentioned would have been obvious and better choices than an aging pitchman who was in declining physical (he would fall off a horse in 1989) and mental health. Unless you believe Phil Hartman's SNL skit of President Reagan Mastermind was an accurate portrayal?

Now don't get me wrong I would love to "What if" Reagan never went into politics however this simply isn't the board for it.

I used to watch Rescue 911 all the time back in the day. Some channel needs to start showing that again. Anyone remember any particular segments? The one I remember most was some criminal whose car had broken down by this old couple's house. The old lady told him she would call a wrecker, but he came in their house and assaulted them both. Absolutely horrifying.

Oh, several. The most vivid one I remember was about a woman who was moving a sleeper sofa and became wedged into it somehow. It looks kind of absolutely ridiculous now, but BOY did that give me an irrational fear of sleeper sofas for years (you have to remember, I was around 5 or 6 years old when this show was at its peak, and everything scared me).

A grocery store hold-up, might have been in CA.

Two little kids that almost got run over by a train on some tracks near their house.

A little kid gets bitten by a copperhead.

A girl staying home sick from school experiences a home invasion and dials 911 while the perpetrator is in the house. (I think this is the episode that some have confused with the Sarah Powell case in the past.)

I also recently saw one about a police shoot-out in a residential area in none other than Knoxville, TN.

I used to watch Rescue 911 all the time back in the day. Some channel needs to start showing that again. Anyone remember any particular segments? The one I remember most was some criminal whose car had broken down by this old couple's house. The old lady told him she would call a wrecker, but he came in their house and assaulted them both. Absolutely horrifying.


The one I remember most vividly was a story where a trucker and his family kept large amounts of cash in the house in a safe. Three gunmen burst in, and while they were searching the house, the wife called 911 from a phone that was hidden by a blanket or something on the couch. She would hide it when they came through the room and then start talking again when they left the room. When the police came I remember WS saying one guy escaped out the back and was still at large.

Sometime this past year I found an entire cache of Rescue 911 online and spent a week watching them. The show used to scare the hell out of me as a small child, but man, I could NOT stop watching them when I found them!

Holy crap.

I totally forgot about that show. I'm going to have to look for the cache you speak of. THAT show scared me, too!

William Shatner would have been one of the worst, he is extremely rude and has an explosive personality. I don't think he could have been sympathetic enough to the victims and their families.

Can you just imagine: "For. EVERY. Mystery. Someone somewhere! Knows. The truth! Perhaps. It's YOU!

I had a good chuckle imagining that.:lol: :lol: :lol:

:rotflmao:

I just HAD to read that out loud.

Then I immediately imagined Shatner telling Caradoc to get a life and asking him if he's ever kissed a girl.

:D

I used to watch Rescue 911 all the time back in the day. Some channel needs to start showing that again. Anyone remember any particular segments?

One of a woman parachuting who was knocked unconscious and a guy had to catch her to open the chute.

One of a girl of about five who was swinging on a wheeled chair in a kitchen, was thrown out the window, sliced to pieces, and her internal organs had to be replaced. Her mom replaced all the windows with unbreakable glass.

One of a boy of four, slipped into a space between bathroom cabinets and had to be extricated.

I repeatedly warned people whose children were in such situations--particularly my nephews, around windows, I was sure someone would crash through one--my sisters scoffed at me and no one listened. Happy to say the worst that happened was my nephew did place a bicycle next to a window, it slipped and the handle went through the window and the glass had to be replaced. No injuries.

Two little kids that almost got run over by a train on some tracks near their house.

I remember that one. The mother said the older boy always knew his limits even as a toddler but the younger was completely out of control. The older boy may have been trying to look out for him and both ended up in danger.

What was that one where the woman had an eleven-year-old boy and a toddler? They both lost sight of the toddler, the older boy became frightened and began to cry. They heard a train, ran to the tracks, and a man hung off the train, scooped the baby up with his foot, and flung it off the tracks before the train could hit it. The mother was quite beside herself. Was this ever on Rescue 911?

:rotflmao:

I just HAD to read that out loud.

Then I immediately imagined Shatner telling Caradoc to get a life and asking him if he's ever kissed a girl.

:D

I have a feeling a lot of us are going to get a good chuckle out of that!

*shudder*

I actually knew someone whose death was on Rescue 911. There was a large travel group from my area at the DuPont Plaza when it was torched on New Years Eve, 1986. Some of them made it, some of them didn't. It's a compelling episode even if you didn't know anyone was there. The amount of MacGyvering they did to rescue people was amazing.

I must confess Shatner did a good job of hosting Rescue 911, despite his reputation for being an ass IRL.

Cori, that one about the girl being sliced to pieces sounds absolutely horrifying!

For all the episodes I've seen back in the day, I'm struggling to remember any particular cases. Another one I remember was this old couple who took their boat on a large body of water, but I think the motor gave out. I remember the guy setting off flares, but nobody heard them (they might have been out in the middle of nowhere). They went without food or water for 4 days and I remember the guy that rescued them being amazed they were still alive at that point. Definitely had to have been one of the more miraculous saves.

Oh, I do remember one where a lady got bitten by a black widow.

Oh, I do remember one where a lady got bitten by a black widow.

I remember that one too! Of course, it scared the crap out of me--like most of those episodes did back in the day. :rolleyes:

I don't understand how being an ass in private life makes one a bad actor. To return to the original premise, Reagan was a good actor and a distant to non-existent father.

I don't understand how being an ass in private life makes one a bad actor.

Nobody said he was a bad actor, so I'm not sure where you're getting that from.

William Shatner would have been one of the worst, he is extremely rude and has an explosive personality. I don't think he could have been sympathetic enough to the victims and their families.

^I didn't say anything about his acting skills.

The one time I felt sorry for Shat was after he found his wife dead in the pool. He was really crying, and I thought, he is genuinely upset--he's not a good enough actor to put that on!