View Full Version : Would a "new" Unsolved Mysteries make sense to produce and air in 2015?


neognosis
11-27-2014, 02:08 AM
would a "new" Unsolved Mysteries make sense to produce and air in 2015?

there are several categories UM

when it comes to the paranormal there's monsterquest, finding bigfoot, syfy paranormal witness, ghost hunters, a ghost in my child, Ancient Aliens, etc.

when it comes to crime, the ID channel is devoted to crime, along with 48 hours, 60 minutes, now defunct America's most wanted. there are several good crime shows like australia's crime investigation. there are also psychic detectives.

there's a show devoted to missing persons, ID Disappeared.

most of the unsolved crime and mysteries that predate 90's has been covered by unsolved mysteries like Zodiac killer.

basically there are now specialist shows that cover all the categories that UM did in its heydey.

lastly, Robert Stacks is irreplaceable.

wiseguy182
11-27-2014, 03:06 AM
Of course. Being that the show has been cancelled numerous times and always finds its way back to television, it's a testament to the show's durability.

There is definitely no shortage of cases to cover, both current and past. While there are other shows that have covered topics UM used to address, there are a lot of cases that have been shown on numerous shows. (Madalyn Murray O'Hair, for example, has been on 5 true crime shows and will be on a 6th shortly). There are a lot of cases that have never aired on any show.

Disappeared focused on then-recent cases. Again, there's no shortage of missing persons cases for a new UM to profile.

Robert Stack is a legend, but there are other worthy people who could host.

Kane
11-27-2014, 03:39 PM
My answer is yes. It is the kind of program that needs to be on television. Besides, the format can never be outdated or obsolete.

neognosis
11-27-2014, 03:42 PM
there's dateline mysteries as well.

http://youtu.be/uAM_2rYJ4Cc

what sort of content would you like presented on this "new" UM?

TheCars1986
11-27-2014, 10:14 PM
Absolutely. Anything that can get viewers to feel like they are participating in anything other than a singing competition would be good for television. Especially if it helped solved a crime.

sdb4884
11-30-2014, 10:05 AM
I Just don't think there is enough to get new viewers to tune in. People care less and less about crime shows now these days sadly and ratings are everything to networks.

DALLASTEXAN!!
11-30-2014, 11:58 AM
I Just don't think there is enough to get new viewers to tune in. People care less and less about crime shows now these days sadly and ratings are everything to networks.
True but if they make a better effort to improve and get a deal with another network it could be successful. When does their contract end with lifetime?

DALLASTEXAN!!
11-30-2014, 12:11 PM
Of course. Being that the show has been cancelled numerous times and always finds its way back to television, it's a testament to the show's durability.

There is definitely no shortage of cases to cover, both current and past. While there are other shows that have covered topics UM used to address, there are a lot of cases that have been shown on numerous shows. (Madalyn Murray O'Hair, for example, has been on 5 true crime shows and will be on a 6th shortly). There are a lot of cases that have never aired on any show.

Disappeared focused on then-recent cases. Again, there's no shortage of missing persons cases for a new UM to profile.

Robert Stack is a legend, but there are other worthy people who could host.
True there are all types of shows out there that have copied UM. UM has made comebacks before and ran on lifetime several years after production stopped. So these type of shows never date as Kane pointed out.

Now common thought would be that it is over but their latest attempt just wasn't enough and perhaps disappointed the networks and viewers alike. It was too different for the legacy viewers but also not modern/different enough to get new viewers. They need a brand new show IMO with new cases/actors and updated visuals. If they choose to revisit old cases from the original show so be it but they have to innovate.

Kane
11-30-2014, 02:38 PM
I Just don't think there is enough to get new viewers to tune in. People care less and less about crime shows now these days sadly and ratings are everything to networks.

Ratings and money. If UM were to resurface on a prime time network (like NBC), my fear is that the network would be quick on the trigger to cancel t as soon as the ratings are not to their satisfaction. Sadly, networks are impatient these days; a show needs to be big hit now, or they'll cancel it without hesitation. But another factor, from my viewpoint at least, is that the prime time networks are being run by snobs who have an elitist attitude against such programs.

tlc38tlc38
11-30-2014, 03:11 PM
I wish ID would pick up UM and make new episodes. I like the idea of seeing several stories an hour vs. one long drawn out story that repeats itself every time it comes back from commercial.

Kane
11-30-2014, 04:00 PM
I wish ID would pick up UM and make new episodes. I like the idea of seeing several stories an hour vs. one long drawn out story that repeats itself every time it comes back from commercial.

Profiling several cases per one-hour show was one of the essences to the success of shows like UM. Personally, I'm fine with some shows doing one story per episode (Forensic Files, Unusual Suspects, etc.), but as you know, what works for some shows would not work for others. If either UM or America's Most Wanted had tried the "one case per episode" method, neither show would have lasted long. It would have been counterproductive, since it would have led to a lot more story requests being turned down - even some of the most time-sensitive ones.

DALLASTEXAN!!
11-30-2014, 04:13 PM
Profiling several cases per one-hour show was one of the essences to the success of shows like UM. Personally, I'm fine with some shows doing one story per episode (Forensic Files, Unusual Suspects, etc.), but as you know, what works for some shows would not work for others. If either UM or Ameria's Most Wanted had tried the "one case per episode" method, neither show would have lasted long. It would have been counterproductive, since it would have led to a lot more story requests being turned down - even some of the most time-sensitive ones.
I agree and my opinion is that those shows struggle at times because they sort of draw out the episode due to the time and they fill it with unnecessary repeat information so I often lose interest. This was never the case with UM. Usually if I lost interest it was because the segment just did not interest me for whatever reason or it was just too long which was rare.

I agree about the prime time slots. I don't understand what attributes a show needs these days because they almost all suck. That's why people don't even try to watch a new show when it comes out. I think there is a place for AMW and UM in prime slots because they are real shows that help people. People like CSI and Hawaii 5 and these have been on forever.

neognosis
11-30-2014, 04:14 PM
if they do i would prefer stories and content not present on other shows. i.e syfy paranormal witness, finding bigfoot, AMW, weird or what, ancient aliens etc.

tlc38tlc38
11-30-2014, 04:22 PM
OT: Is "AMW" making new episodes? If so, when and where do they air?

Kane
11-30-2014, 06:30 PM
OT: Is "AMW" making new episodes? If so, when and where do they air?

No. The last first-run episode aired on October 12, 2012, but the show was officially canceled in March 2013.

neognosis
11-30-2014, 08:40 PM
Unsolved deaths esp w/ rewards offered would make sense. 48 hours mystery and other channels occasionally feature these. who killed so and so? with rewards might be worth pursuing.

Kane
12-01-2014, 09:49 AM
I think there is a place for AMW and UM in prime slots because they are real shows that help people. People like CSI and Hawaii 5 and these have been on forever.

Well, the recent Hawaii 5-0 is currently in its fifth season, but the old one ran for 12 years (1968-1980). And CSI is currently in its fifteenth season. Unfortunately, needless to say, it is painfully common these days for scripted shows (especially dramas and cartoons) to last beyond their sell-by dates.

xxxxmattxxxx69
12-01-2014, 03:30 PM
As long as they can produce it right. And not overkill the stories where the suspects were captured years ago and pretend they just happened