Hi All,

I remember reading a TV article (can't recall the magazine it was in) that was going over the upcoming fall schedules for the 1995-96 season. In the article, when mentioning the networks' new fall schedule on Fridays, they said "Unsolved Mysteries inexplicably ticks on".

Aside from the utter foolishness of this statement (how does it not make sense that a show that never runs out of material keeps going??), and the ignorance of it (does the critic not care that the show caught dozens of criminals, reunited lost love ones, and brought abducted children home safely??), what, in your opinion, was behind the negative attitudes a lot of media critics had towards this unassuming documentary show that became a Top 20 hit?

Just curious on everyone's thoughts. Thanks for sharing!

Good question.

First of all, critics make their dime off of their personality. In this opinion-driven subculture, it is the smarmy wise-ass that gets the bucks. Unfortunately, this critic probably took it to the next level, putting the focus on himself instead of the show.

Also, UM, while still very good during this time period, it did lose some luster as time went on. I mean, I still enoy it even now, but it went from Robert Stack and creepy music to that flutey music with Virginia Madsen and Keely Shaye Smith (calling him "Bob", no less)! As I said, the show was still very good at this point, and undeserving of the aforementioned criticism, but in TV land, longevity is rarely respected and seniority is often viewed as "get 'em out to pasture."

All in all, though, it is an unfair rap on a great show that performed a great public service.

Obviously if we're posting on this forum nearly 10 years after the show went off the air, we're a little biased.

I know I am. :P Can't think of one reason not to love this show.

First of all, critics make their dime off of their personality. In this opinion-driven subculture, it is the smarmy wise-ass that gets the bucks. Unfortunately, this critic probably took it to the next level, putting the focus on himself instead of the show.

I love this, and I completely agree with you. I think the fact that there are entire television shows devoted almost solely to smartass commentary on every topic or event imaginable lends some credence to the old addage: 'Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.'

Good question.

First of all, critics make their dime off of their personality. In this opinion-driven subculture, it is the smarmy wise-ass that gets the bucks. Unfortunately, this critic probably took it to the next level, putting the focus on himself instead of the show.

In any case, I agree with what you said about a TV pundit putting more focus on himself than on the show. Not everyone likes the same thing, but I have learned that one has to be a fool to form an opinon that isn't based on facts. Did the UM critics form opinions that weren't based on facts? Chances are they did. But I wouldn't necessarily deem those critics ignorant. Instead, I would just say that (to paraphrase Ronald Reagan) they knew so much that wasn't so.

Not suprisingly, some (if not all) of the critical attacks against UM were similar to the attacks against America's Most Wanted. Both shows were slammed as "tabloid" shows. Some pundits have even trashed AMW as "vigilante justice", and I'm sure the same was said about UM at one time or another (although I can't confirm it). But that label doesn't stick, mainly because both shows have made it clear that viewers should not approach a wanted fugitive or take the law into their own hands.

I'm assuming criticism was drawn because certain "critics" saw UM as attempting to profit off of these unfortunate events, instead of seeing the REAL intention of Unsolved Mysteries...a legitimate outlet that reached millions of people who could potentially help solve cases. Anyone who criticizes a television show that the FBI and other law enforcement agencies openly worked with in attempts to solve murders and missing persons cases is a flat out moron, IMO.

The only reason I can think of would be that around '95-96 was when (in my opinion) Unsolved Mysteries started going downhill. The addition of Keely Shaye Smith and the poor choice of newly made science based segments would be a valid reason to wonder why it kept being renewed then. Of course if you're talking about UM from '88 to the early 90's I can't think of one single reason to say anything negative about it.

I'm assuming criticism was drawn because certain "critics" saw UM as attempting to profit off of these unfortunate events, instead of seeing the REAL intention of Unsolved Mysteries...a legitimate outlet that reached millions of people who could potentially help solve cases.

That may be it (or at least a contributing factor). I think it goes to show that no matter how much good UM did, the series was constantly misunderstood by pundits. This reminds me of Spiderman, who is often vilified in the press despite his heroic feats.

I don't recall the "vigilante" angle ever being used to criticize UM, but whoever may have used it was certainly way off-base. UM encouraged people to phone in tips to police/law enforcement - not to go off on their own trying to capture criminals.

In this instance I can't help but be reminded of a late 80s or early 90s segment where the director of the FBI personally addressed UM viewers to ask for their help in capturing a child molestor who was on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List. His pleas worked - the molestor was captured as a result of the UM segment.

In any event, if this is "tabloid" or "vigilante" television, so be it. It's a lot more useful than most of the drivel networks insult us with year after year!

In the words of Maximus - "are you not entertained?"

This critic obviously wasn't. Obviously narrow-minded wanting only his daily fix of Jerry Springer!

1995-'96? Hmmm. Well when you compare the reality crap on TV in 2011 stuff like The Bachelor, Biggest Loser, Survivor, American Idol, Jersey Shore, etc. you'd have to think that had Unsolved Mysteries been on primetime today that it would tower over other shows as far as quality goes.

I guess I am biased, but I think TV was far superior 15 years ago. Seinfeld was at it's prime, Friends was a great new show, The Simpsons was at the height of it's power, Frasier, the tail end of Married With Children, Fresh Prince and Home Improvement were all on the air at that time. All great shows that dwarf anything today, and all shows that have still withstood the test of time. Maybe UM got lost in the shuffle? Too bad, because it was one critics opinion and the show always has been a public service to people

I guess I am biased, but I think TV was far superior 15 years ago. Seinfeld was at it's prime, Friends was a great new show, The Simpsons was at the height of it's power, Frasier, the tail end of Married With Children, Fresh Prince and Home Improvement were all on the air at that time. All great shows that dwarf anything today, and all shows that have still withstood the test of time. Maybe UM got lost in the shuffle? Too bad, because it was one critics opinion and the show always has been a public service to people

I'll give you the Simpsons and Seinfeld but Fresh Prince and Home Improvement? Granted maybe the popularity of the shows does reflect a lack of quality (like reality TV) but the amount of channels give a lot of opportunities for shows that wouldn't have it before (It's Always Sunny, Louie, Party Down, etc). Even with all of them, great shows get cancelled all the time like Arrested Development. Still I think TV is as good as ever.

I still don't get what you say about Fresh Prince and Home Improvement. Fresh Prince was alright but it's really dated nowadays. And I think that just in thursday night in NBC they are 4 shows that are better than the best Fresh Prince.

As for critically panning the old UM, I don't get that at all.

In the words of Maximus - "are you not entertained?"

:lol:

I'll give you the Simpsons and Seinfeld but Fresh Prince and Home Improvement? Granted maybe the popularity of the shows does reflect a lack of quality (like reality TV) but the amount of channels give a lot of opportunities for shows that wouldn't have it before (It's Always Sunny, Louie, Party Down, etc). Even with all of them, great shows get cancelled all the time like Arrested Development. Still I think TV is as good as ever.

I still don't get what you say about Fresh Prince and Home Improvement. Fresh Prince was alright but it's really dated nowadays. And I think that just in thursday night in NBC they are 4 shows that are better than the best Fresh Prince.

As for critically panning the old UM, I don't get that at all.

Fresh Prince in my mind was funnier than anything on TV today not named Two and a Half men.

Home Improvement was a dying breed of shows where it was okay for men to be masculine. Honestly, have you seen the guys from Jersey Shore? Get out of the closet already!

Just a matter of opinion, but when you say Fresh Prince is dated who cares? In Seinfeld they had the cell phones the size of an iron as well it doesn't take anything away from the show

Fresh Prince in my mind was funnier than anything on TV today not named Two and a Half men.

Home Improvement was a dying breed of shows where it was okay for men to be masculine. Honestly, have you seen the guys from Jersey Shore? Get out of the closet already!

Just a matter of opinion, but when you say Fresh Prince is dated who cares? In Seinfeld they had the cell phones the size of an iron as well it doesn't take anything away from the show

If I may interject here, News Radio > Seinfeild.

If I may interject here, News Radio > Seinfeild.

Freakin' Phil Hartman's crazy wife! Blast her!

Home Improvement was a dying breed of shows where it was okay for men to be masculine. Honestly, have you seen the guys from Jersey Shore? Get out of the closet already!

It sounds like you're insinuating that it's a "given" that all gay men are effeminate. They're not. And even when they are, who gives a flying damn? It's not threatening you in any way, I presume--presume being the key word.


For the record, I'm with rhzunam. I also think Two and a Half Men has to be the most obnoxious, badly written insult-to-intelligence on television today. It makes Parks and Recreation look like comedy gold.

I also think Two and a Half Men has to be the most obnoxious, badly written insult-to-intelligence on television today. It makes Parks and Recreation look like comedy gold.

Viewing that show was just one in a litany of instances where I've shaken my head and wondered at the eventual fate of humankind.

Since this thread has turned into a favorite show thread, of sorts, I have got to chime in.


Drama

Breaking Bad
Sons of Anarchy
Justified

RIP - The Shield and 24

Comedy

Psych
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

RIP - Terriers - it was new, clever, and interesting. Obviously, it had no place on TV.

Fresh Prince in my mind was funnier than anything on TV today not named Two and a Half men.

Home Improvement was a dying breed of shows where it was okay for men to be masculine. Honestly, have you seen the guys from Jersey Shore? Get out of the closet already!

Just a matter of opinion, but when you say Fresh Prince is dated who cares? In Seinfeld they had the cell phones the size of an iron as well it doesn't take anything away from the show

Two and a Half Men is normally considered the worst comedy show out there, and although I don't think it's that bad, I think it's alright at best. And almost everything is funnier than Two and a Half Men.

Home Improvement was crap imo. And your justification about men being masculine, doesn't really have much to do with how funny it is. If that's the case then The Men Show would have been the funniest show around and that came later than the era of TV your talking about.

As for Fresh Prince, it not only dated on the sets but just in the comedic elements and storylines. That's ok but it's not true to say that it withstood the test of time, when it's really representative of the era where it was shown unlike Seinfeld.

And since I have an idea of how the thread is going to turn out, I will just say it: I agree with John Ortved argument that The Simpsons changed tv and turned a totally mediocre time for television into the golden path it is now. TV comedy in the mainstream is as good as it ever been and except for the alt comedy shows, it is superior to early 90's tv comedy in almost every way.

I Agree. Back in that period of time(late 1980s to early to mid 1990s),television shows were more about talent and intelligence(ie. actually writing a script,and relying on the talent of actors and actresses). Nowadays, prime time television is infested with these reality shows,which seem like anybody with a single brain cell can regurgetate on the television watching public. Back in those years,the majority of non sitcom shows were shows like AMW,UM,and American Justice, which actually provided a useful service. I feel critics were harsh with UM because of certain segments(ie.ghosts,UFOs,so-called "scientific" segments,and segments that seemed unbelivable. I'll take UM(which served a great purpose by bringing violent and soicipathic criminals to justice) over garbage like Jersey Shore any day of the week.

Two and a Half Men is normally considered the worst comedy show out there, and although I don't think it's that bad, I think it's alright at best. And almost everything is funnier than Two and a Half Men.

Home Improvement was crap imo. And your justification about men being masculine, doesn't really have much to do with how funny it is. If that's the case then The Men Show would have been the funniest show around and that came later than the era of TV your talking about.

As for Fresh Prince, it not only dated on the sets but just in the comedic elements and storylines. That's ok but it's not true to say that it withstood the test of time, when it's really representative of the era where it was shown unlike Seinfeld.

And since I have an idea of how the thread is going to turn out, I will just say it: I agree with John Ortved argument that The Simpsons changed tv and turned a totally mediocre time for television into the golden path it is now. TV comedy in the mainstream is as good as it ever been and except for the alt comedy shows, it is superior to early 90's tv comedy in almost every way.

Home Improvement had a year in the middle of it's run where it was the most watched show according to the ratings (1993-'94). So it was without a doubt very popular. Tim Taylor was the kind of man you miss on television. I'll say it again, the Jersey Shore guys (just an example) are metrosexuals at best. No offense Meg the Egg or rhzunham but I don't think you can relate to that. Yes, I miss television when men were men. It's an opinion feel free to disagree. Not to mention the show was funny.

Shows like Fresh Prince HAVE withstood the test of time for a simple reason. It is still a popular show 15 years after it left the air. Anyone in the age group of 30ish would have loved that show and identified with those characters to this day. A testament of time.

And come on, the golden path of TV? I'll have to strongly disagree. Great, so a bimbo like Snooki sluts it up and the idea is who can curse more. That's great television to you? Neither of the people on Jersey Shore have talent. Not to mention every reality show. Paris Hilton got a show for being a slut and glamourizing stupidity.

Ask yourself this, in 20 years will these shows be revered?

I Agree. Back in that period of time(late 1980s to early to mid 1990s),television shows were more about talent and intelligence(ie. actually writing a script,and relying on the talent of actors and actresses). Nowadays, prime time television is infested with these reality shows,which seem like anybody with a single brain cell can regurgetate on the television watching public. Back in those years,the majority of non sitcom shows were shows like AMW,UM,and American Justice, which actually provided a useful service. I feel critics were harsh with UM because of certain segments(ie.ghosts,UFOs,so-called "scientific" segments,and segments that seemed unbelivable. I'll take UM(which served a great purpose by bringing violent and soicipathic criminals to justice) over garbage like Jersey Shore any day of the week.

Amen brother.

Home Improvement had a year in the middle of it's run where it was the most watched show according to the ratings (1993-'94). So it was without a doubt very popular. Tim Taylor was the kind of man you miss on television. I'll say it again, the Jersey Shore guys (just an example) are metrosexuals at best. No offense Meg the Egg or rhzunham but I don't think you can relate to that. Yes, I miss television when men were men. It's an opinion feel free to disagree. Not to mention the show was funny.

Shows like Fresh Prince HAVE withstood the test of time for a simple reason. It is still a popular show 15 years after it left the air. Anyone in the age group of 30ish would have loved that show and identified with those characters to this day. A testament of time.

And come on, the golden path of TV? I'll have to strongly disagree. Great, so a bimbo like Snooki sluts it up and the idea is who can curse more. That's great television to you? Neither of the people on Jersey Shore have talent. Not to mention every reality show. Paris Hilton got a show for being a slut and glamourizing stupidity.

Ask yourself this, in 20 years will these shows be revered?

The fact Home Improvement was very popular just shows how terrible the shows were. The again Two and a Half men has popularity but it's aclaim is basically how mediocre it is. I don't agree with it being as bad as some make it out to be but it's not great.

As for Jersey Shore revered? Who knows by your definition. Seinfeld is revered, The Simpsons is revered. Fresh Prince and Home Improvement??? By who? What inspiration did they serve? What great thing did they leave behind? Nobody talks or mention them, they have no influence to modern comedy at all. Fresh Prince is basically famous for giving us Will Smith and the Carlton Dance. Home Improvement is always talked about when people refer to how mediocre comedy used to be before the Simpsons. They aren't revered at all.

And you keep bringing up Jersey Shore and reality TV as examples against comedy shows when they are 2 different things. They are great comedy shows that are superior to most of what was at that time. Even shows that were cancelled like Arrested Development or Undeclared. Like I said NBC on thursays have 4 shows (Community, Parks and Rec, The Office and 30 Rock) that would be superior to Fresh Prince in everything. Modern Family is overly superior to Home Improvement in everything and that's just of the top of my head. Comedy is as good as it's ever been on TV.

The fact Home Improvement was very popular just shows how terrible the shows were. The again Two and a Half men has popularity but it's aclaim is basically how mediocre it is. I don't agree with it being as bad as some make it out to be but it's not great.

As for Jersey Shore revered? Who knows by your definition. Seinfeld is revered, The Simpsons is revered. Fresh Prince and Home Improvement??? By who? What inspiration did they serve? What great thing did they leave behind? Nobody talks or mention them, they have no influence to modern comedy at all. Fresh Prince is basically famous for giving us Will Smith and the Carlton Dance. Home Improvement is always talked about when people refer to how mediocre comedy used to be before the Simpsons. They aren't revered at all.

And you keep bringing up Jersey Shore and reality TV as examples against comedy shows when they are 2 different things. They are great comedy shows that are superior to most of what was at that time. Even shows that were cancelled like Arrested Development or Undeclared. Like I said NBC on thursays have 4 shows (Community, Parks and Rec, The Office and 30 Rock) that would be superior to Fresh Prince in everything. Modern Family is overly superior to Home Improvement in everything and that's just of the top of my head. Comedy is as good as it's ever been on TV.

Two and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory would be my two favourites right now. Reality TV is just an example of poor shows that are taking up what could be decent sitcoms. But that's another story.

You kind of answered your own question. To this day what is Will Smith most remembered for? Fresh Prince. Even you mention the "Carlton dance". People remember that stuff. If I said the name "Uncle Phil" you would know who I was talking about immediately. That my friend is impact.

By the way, Home Improvement and the Simpsons ran at the exact same time in the 1990s. Both ran that whole decade. Since about season 10 or so the Simpsons has had terrible writing, but in the 1990s the episodes were gold. So this talk about how "shows were before the Simpsons" is totally false, because Home Improvement ran parellel to it.

Tim Taylor was the kind of man you miss on television. I'll say it again, the Jersey Shore guys (just an example) are metrosexuals at best. No offense Meg the Egg or rhzunham but I don't think you can relate to that. Yes, I miss television when men were men.

Tim Taylor was a man's man, so to speak - I agree with that. However, the social dichotomy of this observation lended the main character to specific abuses and stereotypes. He was a tool-wielding, sports-loving man, but he was also portrayed as a buffoon. On a good day, I have limited social skill, mojo, and general understanding of women, but even I don't screw up with my wife every week. It seemed like he was asking Wilson for relationship advice constantly. I can understand that he and his neighbor are bonding, but at this point, he wasn't some newlywed who should have needed to be told his wife didn't enjoy being mocked, etc.

This also led to his wife's character being pigeon-holed as responsible, sensible, etc. By default, she was a one-dimensional "mom" character with little to offer as entertainment value. You can't really laugh out loud at a display of patience.

The show was funny, and Tim Taylor was all man, but he didn't do much to dispell negative stereotypes of them.

Two and a Half Men and Big Bang Theory would be my two favourites right now. Reality TV is just an example of poor shows that are taking up what could be decent sitcoms. But that's another story.

You kind of answered your own question. To this day what is Will Smith most remembered for? Fresh Prince. Even you mention the "Carlton dance". People remember that stuff. If I said the name "Uncle Phil" you would know who I was talking about immediately. That my friend is impact.

By the way, Home Improvement and the Simpsons ran at the exact same time in the 1990s. Both ran that whole decade. Since about season 10 or so the Simpsons has had terrible writing, but in the 1990s the episodes were gold. So this talk about how "shows were before the Simpsons" is totally false, because Home Improvement ran parellel to it.

I was going to bring a qoutoe from Chris Turner's Planet Simpsons via the John Orvsted book and actually found it on the net. I think that implies the whole impact versus resonanc :

The truly rare cultural force that The Simpsons tapped... was resonance. Pop-cultural resonance is what distinguishes the millions of records sold by the Beatles from the millions sold by Pat Boone... When a pop hit has resonance, it isn't merely consumed. The audience connects with the resonant cultural object, identifies itself with it, absorbs it."

There is a difference between resonance and impact to me too. First off I had to say that Will Smith is not mostly known because of Fresh Prince. That is what launched him but he has made a lot of blockbuster movies that have fame of their own. They call him Fresh Prince because that how he came up and it wasn't even because of the show but his rap career when he called himself Fresh Prince. Still all those things you mentioned are just impact with no resonance. The Carlton dance was a funny dance but that's it. There nothing extraordinary about it and what influence does that have? Uncle Phil is a carachter I remember from the show but that's it. It's not like he's a comedy icon or as if people who didn't watch the show now who he is by a drop of the hat or are influence by his character at all.

And as for the resonance it goes to my point about shows before the Simpsons. The fact they ran at the same time, shows my whole point. The Simpsons had resonance and influence people after it premiered and it had it's golden age. The show had a huge influence it most of comedy after the fact (and I'm not counting the knee jerk ripoffs like Family Dog but later shows). Home Improvement was popular at the time but where was its' resonance? What shows did it influence? What hit on popular culture and modern comedy does it have? The show isn't even looked fondly as other shows you mentioned like Frasier. It just exhibit A on a show that wasn't very good and it's totally of it's time and just about.

Tim Taylor was a man's man, so to speak - I agree with that. However, the social dichotomy of this observation lended the main character to specific abuses and stereotypes. He was a tool-wielding, sports-loving man, but he was also portrayed as a buffoon. On a good day, I have limited social skill, mojo, and general understanding of women, but even I don't screw up with my wife every week. It seemed like he was asking Wilson for relationship advice constantly. I can understand that he and his neighbor are bonding, but at this point, he wasn't some newlywed who should have needed to be told his wife didn't enjoy being mocked, etc.

This also led to his wife's character being pigeon-holed as responsible, sensible, etc. By default, she was a one-dimensional "mom" character with little to offer as entertainment value. You can't really laugh out loud at a display of patience.

The show was funny, and Tim Taylor was all man, but he didn't do much to dispell negative stereotypes of them.

Precisely. It reminds me a lot of those commercials (usually for cleaning supplies or other so-called "domestic" items) in which the man is ALWAYS made to look like a total moron or complete slob until rescued by his uber-clever and resourceful wife--except instead of twenty seconds of it, we got thirty minutes.

It reminds me a lot of those commercials (usually for cleaning supplies or other so-called "domestic" items) in which the man is ALWAYS made to look like a total moron or complete slob until rescued by his uber-clever and resourceful wife--except instead of twenty seconds of it, we got thirty minutes.

Sounds like my life.

And the fact that Home Improvement ran for eight seasons, and Two and a Half Men is on its eighth season must have resonanted with the majority of the public during its run. That's the reason why The Simpsons have lasted so long, because it's still good and entertaining. IMO any sitcom that lasts longer than 6 seasons could be considered "good" by the fact that it was kept on the air for that long. If people weren't watching, it wouldn't be on. As for the rampant stereotyping that seems to be discussed on here, there is a reason these shows have these "stereotypical" characters. They are based off of fact (usually exaggerated greatly) about how people generally act. Let's say there's a show that portrays a father taking or picking his kids up from daycare...he's going to be portrayed as a bumbling "buffoon" who has no clue what to do or expect. Is this always the case in real life? No. But I'm sure if you ask ten fathers if they've ever been in a similar situation, nine of them would confirm it.

I don't know if I would even want to review UM as a TV critic. I mean yeah it's a show that seeks to entertain but not in the same way a drama or sitcom does. The only negative I ever saw in UM was the segments on things like the Turin Shroud or Noah's Ark. Those are "technically" unsolved mysteries but they're so famous and so complicated to be done justice in a 10 or 20 minute segment.

And I guess I'll chime in about the TV show debate. I grew up on TV dramas stuff like Law and Order, Homicide: Life in the Streets (probably because my great grandmother used to own the building they filmed the show in), and E.R. We really weren't a sitcom family save for the occasional Seinfeld or Frasier. Personally, I prefer Seinfeld or King of Queens reruns over pretty much anything on TV today. But then again, I'm really not much of a TV guy these days anyway.

Tim Taylor was a man's man, so to speak - I agree with that. However, the social dichotomy of this observation lended the main character to specific abuses and stereotypes. He was a tool-wielding, sports-loving man, but he was also portrayed as a buffoon. On a good day, I have limited social skill, mojo, and general understanding of women, but even I don't screw up with my wife every week. It seemed like he was asking Wilson for relationship advice constantly. I can understand that he and his neighbor are bonding, but at this point, he wasn't some newlywed who should have needed to be told his wife didn't enjoy being mocked, etc.

This also led to his wife's character being pigeon-holed as responsible, sensible, etc. By default, she was a one-dimensional "mom" character with little to offer as entertainment value. You can't really laugh out loud at a display of patience.

The show was funny, and Tim Taylor was all man, but he didn't do much to dispell negative stereotypes of them.

To each his own. Tim Taylor did have several "bufoonery" moments if that's even a word. I think that was part of his charm though.Things were exaggerated, I mean he was a klutz 100% of the time. But he had his moments when he took control. The episode when Jill's dad dies is an example of him making arrangements and being sentimental towards Jill. Tim Taylor was a guy you'd want to hang out with, this is why men related to him. If he had those brain freezes it made the show more realistic if anything. Men are into Football, men don't truly like talking about their feelings and men don't understand women at all. We don't. It surely had it's realistic moments.

Hey Archie Bunker had some bufoonery moments but at the end of the day he was still a guy who would go to bat for his family and what he thought was right.

I've always been a fan of UM, but I can see where critics wouldn't like the show. The need to distinguish itself from the higher-rated AMW seems to have made UM's producers to make some rather questionable decisions as far as casting and content. As the show progressed, its quality did not and people who were looking at it w/ a critical eye saw that.

Had they not changed the cast, had they increased the budget and had they decreased the stories of questionable vintage, I think that even after Mr. Stack's death, the show could have continued. However, in an effort to separate themselves from the "other show" the producers of UM actually helped to weaken their product, IMO.