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My favorite UM episode was the one Robert Stack hosted. ;)

I don't have a favorite, but my least favorite UM episode is the one Farina hosted. ;)

My favorite UM episode was the one Robert Stack hosted. ;)

no love for the pre-series specials, seriously? ;)

no love for the pre-series specials, seriously? ;)

Burr was too creepy and Malden was too jovial for a show of this nature, IMO. Stack was like Baby Bear's porridge...just right.

In all seriousness, I too had thought of posing a similar question to the forum.

Here's the thing: every episode consisted of a variety of stories and story genres. Some genres I like better than others. I think when I was much younger, I preferred the "Unexplained" genre the most. The "Unexplained Deaths" and "Missing Persons" were secondary but equal. The "Final Appeal" segments were often too convoluted for my young mind to grasp at the time and I tended to ask "why are these people in prison" because the show made it seem totally plausible that the appealants' claims of innocence were sincere. The "Treasure" stories were okay. Finally, there was the "Lost Love" category which was my least favorite, but I wouldn't go so far as to say I disliked the stories.

As an adult, my tastes have changed in that I like the "Unexplained Death", "Missing Persons" and "Final Appeals" the most. "Unexplained" has moved down a few rungs and I actually prefer "Treasure" to an "Unexplained". My opinion on "Lost Loves" hasn't changed and they are still my least favorite.

All that being said, it's hard to pick a "best" episode because most are comprised of a mix of these genres, so certain stories are going to strike a chord while others miss the mark entirely. For instance, I thought "special 4" was very well crafted with stories about the search for Dave Davis, the bizarre disappearance of Dottie Caylor and the suspicious interview with her husband Jule, and the always creepy and never adequately explained death of Aileen Conway. Then you have that segment on the disappearance of Glenn and Bessy Hyde and it's like someone applied the brakes. Another good episode was the one that aired on 11/23/88 - the "good" stories were Kurt Sova, the Lancaster postal extortion and the priest killings. Then the magic rock comes on and any momentum the episode had built is for naught.

To be honest, I have never watched a Farina episode in it's entirety, so I can't answer that question.

"Stack was like Baby Bear's porridge...just right."

I LOVE this quote!!!

What would be the difference besides the recycling of the old footage that has a more animated look to it?

What would be the difference besides the recycling of the old footage that has a more animated look to it?

Just the absence of Stack is enough of a difference. There's only so much of Farina's pinky finger ring and his mispronouncing of words that I can stomach.

Without Stack the magic is gone. Additionally, the format is a total put off, for me.

Sadly, there's nothing they could have done about losing Stack, but they should have stuck with the original format. I don't think Farina is the real problem; the format is. Would still probably suck though because Farina just doesn't have the same delivery as Stack.

Anyway, to answer the OP: I like the Lake Wells Haunting, where Stack says, as the reenactment show the couple pouring salt around the house, '...a number of snails were sacrificed.' It made me laugh so hard.

I watched a few Farina UMs and felt...nothing. Every Stack episode I was emotionally engaged. I laughed, I cried, I jumped up to turn on the lights - you get the idea.

I like most of the Stack episodes, except the ones that were just pointless like the magic rock. I think my favorite comment from him was about the fertility statues...."usually all it takes is a man, a woman and a few cozy nights" lol :P

I feel like Farina is honestly doing the best he can, given what he has to work with (new format, etc). I haven't seen enough with him hosting to really have a favorite though.

I also agree that Dennis Farina really isn't the problem with the new show (though his delivery always seems like the Teleprompter is set a few notches too slow for his reading pace). It's all the unnecessary and cheap updating. They should have just kept rerunning the Stack-hosted segments as "Classic Unsolved Mysteries."

My favorite UM episode was the one Robert Stack hosted. ;)

I have to agree. I did like Burr (though no comparison to the great Stack). I could do without Malden. Leonard Nimoy would have been a passable host--he was great on In Search Of...