Ever noticed the older shows from the 80's, the people played themselves and as the show grew they had more actors? I wonder if it was just a money issue. Like, the show was new and they couldn't afford actors? Like the man who was a pilot who had several wives. They played themselves and the mom whose son was missing...she went to a trailer to find where the phone call came from.

Ever noticed the older shows from the 80's, the people played themselves and as the show grew they had more actors? I wonder if it was just a money issue. Like, the show was new and they couldn't afford actors? Like the man who was a pilot who had several wives. They played themselves and the mom whose son was missing...she went to a trailer to find where the phone call came from.

I have noticed this before. I think it could've been the combination of a financial issue, a way for the show to distinguish itself, and a way to provide a certain catharsis for the families and friends of victims. But mostly a financial issue. :D

I agree with that as well. I just watched the dog trainer one and she acted as well. lots of nodding lol but she played herself.

I could be wrong but I don't think money was ever an issue. I think the UM producers always asked the real people involved if they would like to play themselves in the reenactments and the ones who could emotionally handle it agreed to do it.

Many cases, however, were just too painful for some to reenact like the Larry Dickens case I'm sure...but boy did the actresses playing his mother and sister hit those scenes out of the park.

In the Gus Hoffman segment, Robert Stack said that Rose Hoffman asked that an actress play her to recreate those painful events.

In the family abductions, the real parties seemed to play themselves more often than not like Mark and Debbie Baskin and LaDonna Morrow. But they probably wanted their faces shown as much as possible just in case in their children might be watching.

I seem to recall Kyra Cook playing herself.

I could be remembering wrong but I think that Alan Mann played himself as well. That was probably very difficult for him to relive.

The two examples of this that really stand out to me:

-Shannon Mohr's parents re-enacting the scene in the hospital where they've found out their daughter is dead and Dave Davis is insisting that they cremate her body.
-Kerri Lynn Nixon's parents re-enacting a scene where they go bowling with her. They do it alongside the actress playing their daughter, who bears a very striking resemblance to Kerri.

I can't imagine how strange that must have felt for the family members, but maybe they found it cathartic in some way.

On the other side, I still can't believe that when Tim McClure played himself in the re-enactments of his wedding night, he wore tennis shoes with his tuxedo. Even if that's what he really wore that night, you'd think the guy wouldn't want to dress that way on national television.

On the other side, I still can't believe that when Tim McClure played himself in the re-enactments of his wedding night, he wore tennis shoes with his tuxedo. Even if that's what he really wore that night, you'd think the guy wouldn't want to dress that way on national television.

You know what I just realized? Maybe this was a production goof and they weren't planning on showing his feet in any shots so they told him to wear something comfortable in terms of footwear.

You know what I just realized? Maybe this was a production goof and they weren't planning on showing his feet in any shots so they told him to wear something comfortable in terms of footwear.

Good point. In fact, it wouldn't surprise me if Tim might have changed out of his dress shoes into some sneakers after his actual wedding in order to feel more comfortable while he went off gambling and dancing (or committing murder, depending on which side you believe ;) ).

-Kerri Lynn Nixon's parents re-enacting a scene where they go bowling with her. They do it alongside the actress playing their daughter, who bears a very striking resemblance to their daughter.
That's because Keri's sister played her in the reenactment :)

That's because Keri's sister played her in the reenactment :)

Oh wow, thanks, I didn't know that. But, man, it still must have been surreal for Kerri's sister to re-enact her final walk home before she was abducted, not to mention acting out the "sighting" of Kerri in South Carolina which never happened.

yes alan mann playing himself was especially heartbreaking for not only himself, but his entire family, friends, neighbors, and hund as well. (on a side note - do u think attractive middle aged women with gas or poop problems play themselves in reenactments on those fart pill commercials?)

yea maybe tim (aka Tim) got blood on his dress shoes and the only shoes left at home were the ones he wore on a regular basis - tennis shoes. I mean who the hell (aka heck) wears tennis shoes with a suit? stupid, stupid?

or perhaps he got cold feet and chickened out.

Ok, maybe I'm giving McClure too much benefit of the doubt, but considering his wedding was "Vegas-esque"" in what appeared to be one of those quick, small, "Chapel of Love" type of marriages, it wouldn't shock me in the least if he actually wore jeans and tennis shoes.

Oh wow, thanks, I didn't know that. But, man, it still must have been surreal for Kerri's sister to re-enact her final walk home before she was abducted, not to mention acting out the "sighting" of Kerri in South Carolina which never happened.
It must have been. :( ID did a Nightmare Next Door segment on the case and both Kerri's sister and mother were interviewed. It was such unfortunate timing that the killer just happened to be back in that area and cruising around the neighborhood when Kerri's father asked her to go to the store for him.

In good news, the killer's parole was denied in 2011. Kerri's family intends to go to each parole board meeting to plead that he be kept behind bars.