Twenty-five years ago today - on January 20, 1987 - the first episode of UM was broadcast. Can you believe that?

Happy anniversary, UM!!! :)

oh snap! A party should be thrown in its honor.

How about a series re-run in the original format as a celebration?

Hey, a guy can dream, can't he? :D

so awesome. I want an original series re-run too.

so awesome. I want an original series re-run too.


Happy Anniversary Unsolved Mysteries.

They should re-air the first Unsolved Mysteries on Lifetime.

In any event, UM has certainly reached a milestone. It was a quarter of a century ago this year when Raymond Burr hosted the first episode of UM. Of course, UM didn't become a regular weekly series until the autumn of 1988.

In retrospect, the pre-series specials were clearly a trial run. But the more the producers and network tested the waters, the clearer it became that there was a series in UM.

I compare UM to The Price Is Right in the sense that both shows had a popular host who was not the original host. Just as Raymond Burr and Karl Malden each hosted UM before Robert Stack took over as the permanent host, Bill Cullen hosted TPIR before Bob Barker entered the picture. If one were to compile a list of television's best replacement hosts, it would have to include both Bob Barker and Robert Stack.

If one were to compile a list of television's best replacement hosts, it would have to include both Bob Barker and Robert Stack.

What, no love for Farina? ;)

What, no love for Farina? ;)

It was by no means a rebuke to Farina (at least not by me). ;)