I think there is a stigma about the old Unsolved Mysteries after the original from Lifetime was cancelled that lasts all the way up to today.

1st) The funny and low budget acting on the original show.
2nd) The farina episodes pissed original UM fans off due to all re-runs.
3rd) It is just so old school and today's people do not want that.


My view: I thought some of the acting was pretty good especially in the scary murder cases. Having 4-5 different segments in one hour, mixing it up with murder and ghosts and ufos, was great to me because I was a kid.

Do you think there is a stigma and that is why it will never come back to TV despite murder shows all over cable tv today and there is a 24 hours murder show called ID? Plus, all night long at varying times there is rerun murder shows on OWN and Oxygen. Lifetime has the farina reruns every morning except maybe Sunday. I think there is a stigma. But UM could exist today if it were on the ID channel and all its segments are about murder and missing only. No more ghosts or spirits or ufos.

Unfortunately, if UM is on today and on the ID channel do not call it UM, give it a brand new name. Keep the same format as UM with a host, but instead of 5 or 6 ten minute tiny segments only have 3 segments. I think the days of 10 minute murder and ghost spots are a thing of the past. People today are so used to seeing one murder case on Dateline for 1 or 2 hours. (honestly 2 hours is way too long for 1 murder case and it just drags on for me). Many other ID murder shows are 30 minutes long or 1 hour long while some are 1 hour long with 2 different stories.

On a side note - any of you know if "I Survived" is back on Lifetime or is it on Lifetime Movie Network? I see its on Lifetime website but I am never able to watch a new one on their site! Lots of people complained online when this show first came out lol because it has 3 segments, yet they switch back and forth. At first I was ok with it and after season one I got annoyed with moving back and forth lol. I think they do this to force us to watch the entire hour! I was pissed when it moved from one cable channel to another.

also John Walsh is back on CNN with his own 2 hour special that airs just once in a while like UM first did. When writing earlier I forgot that HLN (CNN 2) is all about murder too every night with Nancy Grace and Forensic Files, especially the weekends. CNN and HLN is a great place for Unsolved Mysteries (specials) to debut on. Heck on late night Saturdays and sunday mornings while HLN has FF shows on.... CNN too has FF on! lol. I am tired of HLN always havin reruns for FF. Why not have Unsolved Mysteries type of show on HLN every Saturday night at 11pm eastern?

The theme song and chilling narration by Robert Stack were the main selling points. It certainly wasn't meant to be lauded for its acting, dramatizations don't do real life any justice.

The theme song and chilling narration by Robert Stack were the main selling points. It certainly wasn't meant to be lauded for its acting, dramatizations don't do real life any justice.

Today people no longer are tuned into a murder show because of a creepy sounding host or creepy music. They want other stuff instead like sex, hot actors, and the actual case itself.

Today people no longer are tuned into a murder show because of a creepy sounding host or creepy music. They want other stuff instead like sex, hot actors, and the actual case itself.

It's not on par with RS or the UM music, but I think Forensic Files is pretty solid in both music and tone of narration. The segments are longer by about 10 mins but otherwise I find the show to be extremely similar to UM. Its current and has enjoyed pretty decent success, so I don't think all viewers today are as shallow as you suggest, although you certainly have a point.

This has been a debate on here for a long time. Forensic files is a good comparison because the format seems to have a lot in common with UM although it is a completely different show in other ways. It's interesting to me that several months ago I found out through posters on here that ff is no longer making episodes yet CNN plays it constantly. so I believe that there still is now and always will be a place for shows like this. Lifetime is also playing farina shows a lot more as of late as well.

It's not on par with RS or the UM music, but I think Forensic Files is pretty solid in both music and tone of narration. The segments are longer by about 10 mins but otherwise I find the show to be extremely similar to UM. Its current and has enjoyed pretty decent success, so I don't think all viewers today are as shallow as you suggest, although you certainly have a point.

Love FF, but you missed the most crucial difference: it is only about solved cases.

Love FF, but you missed the most crucial difference: it is only about solved cases.

That's a major factor. The overwhelming majority of true crime shows are about solved cases. I think this is why ID dropped Disappeared from their lineup. They feel most viewers probably don't want to see a show which has no closure. But just from social media alone, many fans loved Disappeared. They even profiled some UM cases and added more details. It was probably the most similar to UM we've had in a while. Networks can really underestimate their viewers at times.

That's a major factor. The overwhelming majority of true crime shows are about solved cases. I think this is why ID dropped Disappeared from their lineup. They feel most viewers probably don't want to see a show which has no closure. But just from social media alone, many fans loved Disappeared. They even profiled some UM cases and added more details. It was probably the most similar to UM we've had in a while. Networks can really underestimate their viewers at times.

Apparently, in the eyes of today's television executives, programs such as Disappeared, UM, and America's Most Wanted are "uncool." So yes, networks have a tendency to underestimate viewers. It is like a new music genre becoming so popular that any music artist who doesn't follow that trend won't be touched with a ten foot pole.

Apparently, in the eyes of today's television executives, programs such as Disappeared, UM, and America's Most Wanted are "uncool." So yes, networks have a tendency to underestimate viewers. It is like a new music genre becoming so popular that any music artist who doesn't follow that trend won't be touched with a ten foot pole.
And that's when you get a rather large stream of wait for it....poo

That's a major factor. The overwhelming majority of true crime shows are about solved cases. I think this is why ID dropped Disappeared from their lineup. They feel most viewers probably don't want to see a show which has no closure. But just from social media alone, many fans loved Disappeared. They even profiled some UM cases and added more details. It was probably the most similar to UM we've had in a while. Networks can really underestimate their viewers at times.

I really liked Disappeared. I didn't know they cancelled it. I agree it was the most UM-like true crime show that has been on TV in a long time.

Browsing ID's website, it looks like there's now a similar show called "Last Seen Alive" which appears to profile missing people.

Also, is Beth Holloway still doing that show "Vanished?" It is along the lines of Disappeared.

Double Post

Double Post
huh?

That's a major factor. The overwhelming majority of true crime shows are about solved cases. I think this is why ID dropped Disappeared from their lineup. They feel most viewers probably don't want to see a show which has no closure. But just from social media alone, many fans loved Disappeared. They even profiled some UM cases and added more details. It was probably the most similar to UM we've had in a while. Networks can really underestimate their viewers at times.

what UM cases are on disapp?

Shows like Disappeared have too much filler. We don't know what happened so the producers are forced to occupy an hour with either low percentage flings or outright fluff. For every satisfying episode I thought there were at least two disappointing ones. Eventually they had to force things. SiberianKiss appeared briefly a couple of years ago to describe that problem very well, people who didn't qualify for examination on a show called Disappeared.

Unsolved Mysteries didn't have enough time to mess with filler. Not often, anyway.

The typical true crime show is allowed to follow a very familiar lazy format. Introduce the subjects and situation first, and then essentially apply a shell game. Handful of possibilities. The order varies in which the true perpetrator is introduced. I don't mind it because I'm fairly good at identifying the key variable and therefore who was the guilty party. But I always keep in mind that the shows are not particularly satisfying because they are merely splicing together known quantities. It's almost like the golf reality show Big Break, if anyone has seen that. The producers know the outcome, which was filmed months before airing, so they intentionally use clips to try to camouflage what really happened, often applying intrigue that doesn't belong.

I remember late night half hour version of Unsolved Mysteries on Lifetime a decade or so ago. Seems like that would be viable, as long as certain segments were used, the good stuff like Resurrection Mary.

Of course, I'm still wondering why I can't find the original series The Fugitive anywhere. Heck, I'd watch that all day compared to modern offerings. A&E played it every afternoon in the early '90s.

I am loving Cold Justice!

I would say UM is "campy", and we pretty much all acknowledge that here.

Stack was great, but was almost hiding his own laughter at times. They played it so straight.

It was a great show - informative, thought provoking, and quite consistent. However, there is no doubt that the acting, language and presentation are from a bygone era. Watching it now is in roughly equal parts funny, comforting and nostalgic.

I would say UM is "campy", and we pretty much all acknowledge that here.

Stack was great, but was almost hiding his own laughter at times. They played it so straight.

It was a great show - informative, thought provoking, and quite consistent. However, there is no doubt that the acting, language and presentation are from a bygone era. Watching it now is in roughly equal parts funny, comforting and nostalgic.

I agree to an extent with the "campy" designation, but some of the segments are still chilling to me even as a grown man. As a kid, they scared the ever loving sheet outta me.

There is just something about the era (80's-early 90's episodes) that makes them more scary. I suppose it could be the lack of technology or something. Not everyone was running around with a HD camera phone or with GPS navigation.

Love FF, but you missed the most crucial difference: it is only about solved cases.

My post was actually in reply to someone talking about the STYLE of the show not the CONTENT. I was trying to point out how the style absolutely still works today.

But yes, as far as content goes its actually the antithesis of UM... Could have been called Solved Mysteries :cool:

I would say UM is "campy", and we pretty much all acknowledge that here.

Stack was great, but was almost hiding his own laughter at times. They played it so straight.

It was a great show - informative, thought provoking, and quite consistent. However, there is no doubt that the acting, language and presentation are from a bygone era. Watching it now is in roughly equal parts funny, comforting and nostalgic.

I agree with much of what you said. So many of the segments, especially the UFOs and the ghosts, were campy as hell. But at the same time, I feel people who dismiss UM on the basis of those kinds of stories, do the show a disservice. Some of these segments, you find yourself thinking that if they had some kind of award for "Best Low-Budget Horror Short," UM would do quite well. Like the "Blind River Rest Stop" segment...there's a reason that case is universally regarded as nightmare fuel on this board.

Plus, even with the silly stuff, have Robert Stack narrate anything, no matter how silly or how trifling, and his voice would give it gravitas and make it so much cooler than what it seems on the surface. He could probably even make Gold Foil Lady worth watching.

Sure a lot of it was cheesy but when it came to missing persons, murder, and attempted murder it was downright frightening, especially with the music that could come straight from a slasher film. The Doreen Picard/Susan Laferte segment gave me creeps the first time I saw it and it still chills me to this day with the scary piano theme and the scenes of the aftermath of their attack.

If anything, quite a few of the ID shows on now are very campy and cheesy. Deadly Affairs, Scorned: Love Kills, and this new show they have on now, How Not To Kill Your Husband. I have to laugh at the extreme closeups and acting even though they're talking about people being murdered.

Sure a lot of it was cheesy but when it came to missing persons, murder, and attempted murder it was downright frightening, especially with the music that could come straight from a slasher film. The Doreen Picard/Susan Laferte segment gave me creeps the first time I saw it and it still chills me to this day with the scary piano theme and the scenes of the aftermath of their attack.

If anything, quite a few of the ID shows on now are very campy and cheesy. Deadly Affairs, Scorned: Love Kills, and this new show they have on now, How Not To Kill Your Husband. I have to laugh at the extreme closeups and acting even though they're talking about people being murdered.

I agree. It's one thing for a true crime show have light moments (and UM had its share of them), but it's another for it to be so campy and cheesy that looks more like a comedy than a legitimate drama. Certain true crime shows appeal to me because of their dramatic atmosphere, including Unusual Suspects, Motives & Murders, and (the now-defunct) Cold Blood. Although Homicide Hunter has light moments, it maintains a good level of drama to effectively avoid getting too campy.