I asked why they don't have the entire series on DVD, and got this response:

"Thank you for contacting Unsolved Mysteries. We would very much like to be able to put the entire series on DVD some day. We are hopeful another distribution company will be interested in doing so in the future.

Sincerely,
The Unsolved Mysteries Staff"

I am sure they could easily get the series on DVD if they wanted to. I believe this is just a cover for another reason (like needing the permission
Of everyone involved in the cases to have them on a DVD sold for profit)

Right. If they really wanted to get it out there it would be on Netflix or AMazon Prime.

I am sure they could easily get the series on DVD if they wanted to. I believe this is just a cover for another reason (like needing the permission
Of everyone involved in the cases to have them on a DVD sold for profit)

I believe it was posted on this site years ago that the company that was rereleasing the previous best-of sets didn't even bother finish releasing those because the sales were too low to bother.

Which isn't that surprising when you consider that popular recent shows aren't even getting timely DVD releases... they just aren't the cash cow they used to be.

Makes me still wish I never sold my bizarre murders collection I had because sometimes I can go for those Robert Stack editions

I second Netflix.

putting the "entire series" on DVD would be an assload of DVD's

Streaming would be the best place for old episodes.

But should they remove solved cases? Or just add an update that they've been solved?

Making old episodes readily available on Netflix (presumably to a worldwide audience) could help crack a lot of cases.

Streaming would be the best place for old episodes.

But should they remove solved cases? Or just add an update that they've been solved?

Making old episodes readily available on Netflix (presumably to a worldwide audience) could help crack a lot of cases.

I'd prefer updates. Maybe I'm odd, but there are several cases I have watched where I'll think, "Man... DID she ever find that corrections officer who changed her life?" (Yes. She did.)

I hate it when things are left unresolved.

I'd prefer updates. Maybe I'm odd, but there are several cases I have watched where I'll think, "Man... DID she ever find that corrections officer who changed her life?" (Yes. She did.)

I hate it when things are left unresolved.
I'm with you there. I miss that suspense feel that I would get when I'd see a case for the first time or first time in a long time and wait for the update/no update.

Who knows maybe they have something planned, they sure do a great job protecting their product from online bootleg or whatever the term is.

I prefer to see every segment, as it was originally aired, regardless of whether it was solved or not. For me, it is the nostalgia and memories of it all.

When I watch UM, I typically am googling each segment during the show, to see if any updates have happened. (which is how I found this board)

When I watch UM, I typically am googling each segment during the show, to see if any updates have happened. (which is how I found this board)

This is exactly what I used to do when we were studying cases in Criminal Law my first year of law school.

"Interesting law. Is that guy still in prison (pause) Yes."

I'd prefer updates. Maybe I'm odd, but there are several cases I have watched where I'll think, "Man... DID she ever find that corrections officer who changed her life?" (Yes. She did.)

I hate it when things are left unresolved.

I agree, and I would hate for new viewers to worry about mysteries that have actually been solved.

I prefer to see every segment, as it was originally aired, regardless of whether it was solved or not. For me, it is the nostalgia and memories of it all.

When I watch UM, I typically am googling each segment during the show, to see if any updates have happened. (which is how I found this board)
yep..same here. there is some good info out there now for UM cases. thanks to so many dedicated fans that are passionate about helping solve cold cases. I remember coming here and seeing update after update years after the show was not in circulation. this is a great group of people and it's nice to see so many family members get some closure when possible.

Right. If they really wanted to get it out there it would be on Netflix or AMazon Prime.

God, if they released it on Netflix my reaction would be:

http://media.tumblr.com/3da9ea2122f3f3a8bbce3260b0c91fee/tumblr_inline_nkfk6wd3HT1qlbkes.gif

Put my vote in the Netflix/Prime/Youtube Streaming category.
DVD's are clutter. I would also think it would be harder to produce a physical copy of the episodes vs uploading them once to a cloud server and then distributing the feed to the service.

I will also take all the cases in original airing form and then have
Updates from Stack years and updates from Farina where they apply. I could live withSub title updates for all other cases that they did not have a chance to update during the re-airings. The original theme song playing underneath.

we need a new version of Unsolved. new cases.

we need a new version of Unsolved. new cases.

It's like any other reboot, once its a failure in the ratings (their fault for doing such a crappy production job) , no one wants to touch the show.

It's like any other reboot, once its a failure in the ratings (their fault for doing such a crappy production job) , no one wants to touch the show.

Sad but true. Suggesting a "new version" of a TV show implies a remake or reboot, instead of a legitimate revival. And words like "reboot" tend to imply that the old version was a disappointment and needed an overhaul. The television industry gave us a reboot of "In Search Of" in 2002, only to have it expire after only eight episodes. Sadly, they didn't learn from that mistake. Otherwise, the Spike reboot of UM would not have been foisted upon us, let alone brought into fruition.

People on here don't like to admit it, but the Farina reboot has been hugely successful. Its been running continuously for 8 years now, and is still on 2-3 times a day?

Considering how little was spent on it, its clearly been a cash cow for somebody.

People on here don't like to admit it, but the Farina reboot has been hugely successful. Its been running continuously for 8 years now, and is still on 2-3 times a day?

Considering how little was spent on it, its clearly been a cash cow for somebody.

Being a cash cow and us enjoying it are two different arguments. When I first heard that they were re-booting the show with Farina, I was excited until I found out it was just Farina giving us a cheaper, washed up version of the older cases.

Having said that, I still watched for a few years but haven't watched a Farina episode in a very long time.

People on here don't like to admit it, but the Farina reboot has been hugely successful. Its been running continuously for 8 years now, and is still on 2-3 times a day?

Considering how little was spent on it, its clearly been a cash cow for somebody.



Successful in what way? It certainly didn't lead to an actual revival of UM with new cases being created. Lifetime still airs it to fill slots and it probably gets some ratings because it really is the only way to see some of these old cases. If the Stack version aired ratings would be same or even better

Successful in what way? It certainly didn't lead to an actual revival of UM with new cases being created. Lifetime still airs it to fill slots and it probably gets some ratings because it really is the only way to see some of these old cases. If the Stack version aired ratings would be same or even better

Agreed. The Stack episodes aired on Lifetime at a time I did not have a DVR. I used to RELIGIOUSLY set my VCR to record the Stack episodes.

Had I known how bad SpikeTV was going to butcher UM, I would not have erased any of those tapes... :( :(

I'd say the new version is Better than not having it at all. But I don't see the point of showing the new version now as compared to the old one. The old version on lifetime probably had as much if not more of an audience when it got canned as the new one does now. I don't have an UM catalog other than the dvd sets that I really don't watch at all. I too was excited when it came on initially and then was immediately disappointed. It's not that farina did bad he actually was fine. the presentation is just too much of a forgery when compared to the original. If I had the option I would watch Original version every time.

Whatever this ship has sailed long ago. I used to see these threads pop up and hold out hope for a genuine new show or an official release of the old version. Now I'm starting to doubt we will ever see anything come of this. Is it just me or does this seem to be the most hip new thread subject these days.

Successful in what way?

Successful in the way that any television show is successful: it's been on for years on end and on a large network - which means a lot of people are watching it. Its not coming on at 4am either, its during times when substantial numbers are (likely) tuning in.

By no means did I imply that its a success by old school UM fan's measure - its unclear whether there is any money to be found there (there's simply not enough of us).

It bugs me when people always talk about bringing the old UM "back" on TV though - it is on TV. All the time. The Farina versions have officially replaced the Stack versions in the world of television, probably forever. That is why they were made.

I don't think the format works for Netflix... IMO the most logical way to bring back RSUM is through Youtube.

I don't think the format works for Netflix... IMO the most logical way to bring back RSUM is through Youtube.

I think UM lends itself to binge watching. But Youtube would work. I liked when they released that classic Stack segment a few months ago. They would just need to upgrade the quality (not HD obviously, but what they released was of unacceptable video quality).

They could even create playlists and group the various mysteries together (Lost Loves, Murders, etc).

Successful in the way that any television show is successful: it's been on for years on end and on a large network - which means a lot of people are watching it. Its not coming on at 4am either, its during times when substantial numbers are (likely) tuning in.

By no means did I imply that its a success by old school UM fan's measure - its unclear whether there is any money to be found there (there's simply not enough of us).

It bugs me when people always talk about bringing the old UM "back" on TV though - it is on TV. All the time. The Farina versions have officially replaced the Stack versions in the world of television, probably forever. That is why they were made.

I don't think the format works for Netflix... IMO the most logical way to bring back RSUM is through Youtube.




Yeah it probably gets ratings from people who want to see the cases. Doesn't change the fact the 2008 remake was entirely pointless

Right now, I think UM probably has the best chance it ever has of being released...most likely to Netflix, like others have said, as there is no "physical investment" on CM's or any other distribution house's part. There is a HUGE nostalgia kick going on right now in the media for the generation that grew up in the 80s/90s...sequels to cult movies coming out twenty years later, remakes of 80s movies more than usual, etc... I think a lot of this audience has fond memories of Robert Stack and UM from their childhood and I can almost guarantee that there are large numbers of people, aside from this board, that are pushing/hoping that these original episodes will be released. I am hopeful it will happen, and I think it will be sooner than later.

Right now, I think UM probably has the best chance it ever has of being released...most likely to Netflix, like others have said, as there is no "physical investment" on CM's or any other distribution house's part. There is a HUGE nostalgia kick going on right now in the media for the generation that grew up in the 80s/90s...sequels to cult movies coming out twenty years later, remakes of 80s movies more than usual, etc... I think a lot of this audience has fond memories of Robert Stack and UM from their childhood and I can almost guarantee that there are large numbers of people, aside from this board, that are pushing/hoping that these original episodes will be released. I am hopeful it will happen, and I think it will be sooner than later.
You are right 100 fold. My concern is C&M or whoever it takes to make it happen will not do it. I hope I'm wrong.

I could see them putting up the previously released DVDs on Netflix because those were segments that are already edited into standalone chunks.

I just don't see any possibility of original episodes going on there because it bares no resemblance to anything that has ever been on there before. They would want to edit out all of the parts where the phone number or address are mentioned for starters (in this day and age they would not show a blurred/bleeped version, it would be too sloppy to fit in with the other content). Some segments would have to be cut entirely (like they occasionally were on reruns back in the day).

You can see where this is going... it is not going to recreate the experience of watching the original episodes which is what a lot of people want. The show was created to be very of-the-moment which means it may not work with every entertainment platform decades later. Which makes me think they would have to go with a best-of format, and since they already created those several years ago (for the DVDs) they would probably just use them.

This is why I think standalone segments on Youtube (which could be organized in playlists of their original episodic order) would probably be the only way it could happen.

My fear is that if we got the episodes in streaming, it would be the Farina episodes, not the Stack ones. I might watch those through once just to catch any I have missed, but that's not something I'm jonesing for. Only if they were to release the original Stack episodes in streaming would it be worth it. And I hate to say it, but I think if they were going to do it, they would have done it by now. Or we would have heard something. I'm not holding out hope. :(

Maybe it's just me but I noticed in some of the farina segments it seems like they added extra bits to them. More dialogue from certain people being interviewed. Little edits that weren't in the lifetime versions.

I could see them putting up the previously released DVDs on Netflix because those were segments that are already edited into standalone chunks.

I just don't see any possibility of original episodes going on there because it bares no resemblance to anything that has ever been on there before. They would want to edit out all of the parts where the phone number or address are mentioned for starters (in this day and age they would not show a blurred/bleeped version, it would be too sloppy to fit in with the other content). Some segments would have to be cut entirely (like they occasionally were on reruns back in the day).

You can see where this is going... it is not going to recreate the experience of watching the original episodes which is what a lot of people want. The show was created to be very of-the-moment which means it may not work with every entertainment platform decades later. Which makes me think they would have to go with a best-of format, and since they already created those several years ago (for the DVDs) they would probably just use them.

This is why I think standalone segments on Youtube (which could be organized in playlists of their original episodic order) would probably be the only way it could happen.
I think they already have the best of dvd sets available on Netflix for rental not streaming. Not sure if they stopped? If I can't stream it I don't use it...

I think they already have the best of dvd sets available on Netflix for rental not streaming. Not sure if they stopped? If I can't stream it I don't use it...


As of today, Netflix has Ghosts discs 2,3,4 available. Disc 1 of Ghosts, along with the full sets of Psychics, Bizarre Murders, Mysterious Legends are not currently available. They don't even list the UFO set.

I don't have the streaming option in my subscription, but I think its fairly obvious why Netflix doesn't have more/all of the discs available... They were released over 10 years ago, the distributor they used (First Look) went under a few years later, and obtaining the physical discs now is a very expensive proposition. Netflix simply doesn't consider it worthwhile to replace their stock after the discs get lost or damaged by customers.

For what it's worth, count me in the group that would love to have streaming access to the original Stack episodes. Cost-wise it could be very cheap, mostly just hosting the existing film stock. I think they could get by with a disclaimer about the 800 number no longer being in service. At the end of streaming the segment, the viewer could get the option of viewing the update segment if there is one, or even just the text option that was used in the later Lifetime days.

Will it happen that way? We die-hard fans can always hope.

But I'm not getting my hopes up too high after experiencing both the Farina Farce and what passes for new segments posted to the UM site these days.

Maybe it's just me but I noticed in some of the farina segments it seems like they added extra bits to them. More dialogue from certain people being interviewed. Little edits that weren't in the lifetime versions.

I might have noticed something like that before, can't remember since its been a long time. I blamed it on Farina at first, but honestly he did exactly as was asked and did a good job for what they asked him to do. The blame lies with Cosgrove Muerer for the production and it not being as good.

For what it's worth, count me in the group that would love to have streaming access to the original Stack episodes. Cost-wise it could be very cheap, mostly just hosting the existing film stock. I think they could get by with a disclaimer about the 800 number no longer being in service. At the end of streaming the segment, the viewer could get the option of viewing the update segment if there is one, or even just the text option that was used in the later Lifetime days.

Is is certainly possible for them to do that, but that is not the format of what is available for streaming on Netflix and I don't see them changing their format for this show. There are no individual chunks of old shows on there, only full episodes. And no additional content either (the "update option").

They would not show the phone number or address either. That would have to be blurred out, and from what I understand that is expensive (at least for low-budget projects it is expensive).

The blame lies with Cosgrove Muerer for the production and it not being as good.

Unfortunately, I agree. When the production of something is bad, the blame lies on the people directly involved in the production. One cannot truly care about a product without caring about its quality.

I think its Spike TV that needs to be blamed. Cosgrove-Muerer were only doing what the network wanted when the "re-tuned Farina" versions of the old stories came to air. Spike wanted an extra story/5th segment in a show when the old Stack seasons had 4 segments a show. Whats gonna happen to the stories? Well butchered/edited, shorter segments, that's what. Cosgrove-Muerer no doubt will take what they can just to get the series back on the air even though it was nothing of "new stories" at all. I can't fault Dennis Farina. He's OK as host but he seemed too optimistic in his narrating, kinda like Karl Malden was. Of course the old stories being run as current/contemporary was the wrong thing to do. That was just really silly. Virginia Madsen was a decent host. Raymond Burr was good too. Robert Stack was the best. I think the late James Garner and Paul Newman would've been interesting as hosts, if they'd ever do such a thing.

I think its Spike TV that needs to be blamed. Cosgrove-Muerer were only doing what the network wanted when the "re-tuned Farina" versions of the old stories came to air.

Even so, CM are still to blame for the result. They allowed Spike to cheapen and trivialize the show. If CM had understood importance of production values, then they should have had the courage to tell Spike in no uncertain terms that UM needs to resemble the UM that viewers know and love, and that the network has no right to dictate to them how the series should look. (Thankfully, Spike has shown more respect for Cops on the matter; they honored the producers' wishes not to change the show.)

Even so, CM are still to blame for the result. They allowed Spike to cheapen and trivialize the show. If CM had understood importance of production values, then they should have had the courage to tell Spike in no uncertain terms that UM needs to resemble the UM that viewers know and love, and that the network has no right to dictate to them how the series should look. (Thankfully, Spike has shown more respect for Cops on the matter; they honored the producers' wishes not to change the show.)

I cannot get past the music changes. Changing the wonderfully eerie and haunting music for heavy metal riffs? I like heavy metal, but not in my UM. I blame both-- Spike for trying to make UM appealing to its audience of "manly men" and CM for letting them do it.

I think its Spike TV that needs to be blamed.

CM and HBO teamed up to create the new episodes and then shopped them around to networks. They were already done before a network picked them up.

Here's the thread where the early details were being discussed here:

http://www.sitcomsonline.com/boards/showthread.php?t=203886

I blame both-- Spike for trying to make UM appealing to its audience of "manly men" and CM for letting them do it.

Needless to say, you agree with me. And you know what? When I think of what has happened with UM, I often think of an episode of Family Guy (titled "Brian Griffin's House of Payne") in which Brian proposes a new primetime drama series, only to have the network change it into a sitcom. And instead of standing up for his principles and for his TV show, he lets the network tarnish the show, because they would cancel it if he didn't comply. In my humble opinion, the comparison between the FG episode and the tarnishing of UM is a perfectly legitimate one.

Needless to say, you agree with me. And you know what? When I think of what has happened with UM, I often think of an episode of Family Guy (titled "Brian Griffin's House of Payne") in which Brian proposes a new primetime drama series, only to have the network change it into a sitcom. And instead of standing up for his principles and for his TV show, he lets the network tarnish the show, because they would cancel it if he didn't comply. In my humble opinion, the comparison between the FG episode and the tarnishing of UM is a perfectly legitimate one.
yeah that's a good comparison. I agree with that. sometimes when you listen to the wrong people about what is hip or cool you lose out.
I assume you like rock/metal based on the megadeth pic...Sebastian bach in that superband reality show he made a few years ago with anthrax, Jason Bonham, and Ted Nugent....some publicist told them all to cut their long hair because long hair is out of style. and bach cut his hair and looked worse than before. of course the band and show failed miserably....
don't go away from what makes something great because other people who are average/mainstream tell you to do something different to fall in line. I know in this case they probably had to do it as you say to get the network to air the show.

I assume you like rock/metal based on the megadeth pic...

Yes, I do.

don't go away from what makes something great because other people who are average/mainstream tell you to do something different to fall in line. I know in this case they probably had to do it as you say to get the network to air the show.

Exactly. It goes without saying that the powers-that-be at Spike wanted UM to look a certain way, whether C&M liked it or not. So, the way I see it, the studio made their principles secondary to the privilege of having UM back on television. When a network dictates (or tries to dictate) how your program should look or be done, take it as a sign that 1) they don't care about you or your show, and 2) you shouldn't be doing business with them.

I cannot get past the music changes. Changing the wonderfully eerie and haunting music for heavy metal riffs? I like heavy metal, but not in my UM. I blame both-- Spike for trying to make UM appealing to its audience of "manly men" and CM for letting them do it.
I hated the new music too. I loved the old UM music, especially in parts of the Dottie Taylor and Freedom II segment.

But maybe there was some kind of copyright on the original music being reused? I could be wrong ery wrong but thought I read once that shows like "WKRP in Cincinnati", b4 they could be put on DVD, had to have the original background music taken out.

But maybe there was some kind of copyright on the original music being reused? I could be wrong ery wrong but thought I read once that shows like "WKRP in Cincinnati", b4 they could be put on DVD, had to have the original background music taken out.

That's a fair question, one which I do not have the answer to. I know that copyright issues rise fairly frequently, most notably for me in watching Dawson's Creek and Beverly Hills, 90210 on DVD. The music is not the same, much to my chagrin. Could very well be the case!

considering how popular the banned site videos were I would be highly skeptical that streaming or some other form of re-release wouldn't be profitable