Episodes 1 and 9 of Season 8 are available on the Amazon Prime app in Canada. Not sure about the US. Other episodes should be available shortly.

EDIT: All 21 episodes are available if you log in to Prime through your web browser. The app is always a little slow to catch up. Still not sure if it's out in the US, though.

Awesome! YES, it is up in the USA, the full season 8. I was just thinking about this today, that it was about time for it to be released

And I must say...it's been a long time since I've heard that opening music and it brought back some memories :)

Yes, the Martha Moxley and Green River Killer segments. Always wanted to see those

And I must say...it's been a long time since I've heard that opening music and it brought back some memories :)

The original theme was definitely better, but the Season 8 theme is creepier. Man, it still makes my skin crawl after all these years. :lol:

Awesome! I just checked at noon today and it wasn't up so it must have just happened. A happy day indeed.

Thanks for letting us know!

Paul Pollis in HD! Who could ask for more? 😂

And I must say...it's been a long time since I've heard that opening music and it brought back some memories :)

My memory of the first time I saw this opening; "What the hell?" Scrapping the iconic theme song and replacing it with....this. Blech.

The seasons 1-5 theme, much like the background music, was creepy as hell. Play that music over a non-scary segment and I would still probably have a nightmare as a kid. The updated seasons 6-7 intro was a downgrade in creepiness but at least it was still the theme song that had been established with the show.

And then this? This is just sad. The show logo appearing out of a blue fog with the same 5 notes playing over and over on a synthesizer. That's a far cry from what was once the show title morphing over that classic marble board when the music reached a crescendo of eeriness.

https://i.imgflip.com/bzph9.gif

OK, I'm hopping off my music soapbox now. Yay for season 8 being released!

I much prefer this opening music to the Lifetime era one that ended up on the DVD sets. Not horrible, but definitely not as creepy as the earlier ones.

Ahh- I love the Green River Killer segment, especially when they were totally wrong about the suspect

My memory of the first time I saw this opening; "What the hell?" Scrapping the iconic theme song and replacing it with....this. Blech.

The seasons 1-5 theme, much like the background music, was creepy as hell. Play that music over a non-scary segment and I would still probably have a nightmare as a kid. The updated seasons 6-7 intro was a downgrade in creepiness but at least it was still the theme song that had been established with the show.

And then this? This is just sad. The show logo appearing out of a blue fog with the same 5 notes playing over and over on a synthesizer. That's a far cry from what was once the show title morphing over that classic marble board when the music reached a crescendo of eeriness.

https://i.imgflip.com/bzph9.gif

OK, I'm hopping off my music soapbox now. Yay for season 8 being released!


I think it all depends on when you originally became a fan. I remember the NBC logo and the chimes and then BOOM! the season 8 music hitting the screen. Scares the crap outta me to this day, even if I watch the old logo on the forbidden site.
The first theme is definitely the most memorable and creepy for the record.

Oooh Martha Moxley segment! Is JonBenet Ramsey there too?

Here are a few thoughts that I have on Season 8.

-The icon for Season 8 on the Amazon Video page looks way too similar to Seasons 1-7 considering the HUGE makeover in graphics that Season 8 received.

-I like how the show starts with a bang instead of the disclaimer being read (of course in the Lifetime reruns the disclaimer stopped being read with Season 7)

-I dislike how they add in a narrator saying "tonight on Unsolved Mysteries." Unless it's Robert Stack, don't add audio to the show please.

-I have never seen an actual whole episode from Season 8 & 9, so it was nice to see a 10 sec UM music bumper after the final case of the episode for the first time.

-There was only 27 days between the release of Season 7 & Season 8, so this is one of the more faster releases of a UM Season. The fastest is 17 days from Season 1 to Season 2.

-Missing Cases from Season 8- Fraud/Child Abduction-Richard Relf.
Fraud-Carl & Mary Denny. (no surprise here! most of these cases are not on Amazon Streaming)

-I am surprised that the Brazos River Attackers case was not released to Amazon Video.

-I can't believe the Sarah Powell case IS on Amazon Video. Perhaps Sarah is telling the truth????

Oooh Martha Moxley segment! Is JonBenet Ramsey there too?
The Jon-Benet murder did not happen until Christmas 1996 so that is definitely a Season 9 case. Season 8 just broadcast the cases from Sept 1995 to Aug 1996.

Season 8 of Unsolved Mysteries, gotta continue grinding on MLB The Show 17 and new Programs might drop this week, NXT Takeover Brooklyn on Saturday, SummerSlam on Sunday, and on Friday, The Defenders drops on Netflix.

I don't know if I'm going to get much sleep this weekend.

Ugh. This is also the season where they changed the way they filmed some of the reenactments. The use of digital video combined with way-too-close-up shots during the interview segments (sometimes at a canted angle) is awful.

Wow the lack of original theme and graphics really do take away from the show a lot!

Ugh. This is also the season where they changed the way they filmed some of the reenactments. The use of digital video combined with way-too-close-up shots during the interview segments (sometimes at a canted angle) is awful.

Just a sign of the times. That was how most programs of this nature filmed stuff in the mid-90s.

Ugh. This is also the season where they changed the way they filmed some of the reenactments. The use of digital video combined with way-too-close-up shots during the interview segments (sometimes at a canted angle) is awful.


Yes! As much as I love UM, I'm not a big fan of season 8 & on. Maybe I'm too old school lol

It's getting unwatchable. I definitely remembered UM reruns with rose colored glasses. I did not watch the Dennis Farina episodes so other than the videos I saved from YouTube over the years, it's been a long time since I watched some of these.

Season 7 was not great and now in season 8 I find myself fast forwarding through more than I watch.

All that said... still glad to have it available to watch.

It's getting unwatchable. I definitely remembered UM reruns with rose colored glasses. I did not watch the Dennis Farina episodes so other than the videos I saved from YouTube over the years, it's been a long time since I watched some of these.

Season 7 was not great and now in season 8 I find myself fast forwarding through more than I watch.

All that said... still glad to have it available to watch.


Same here.

Man, season 8 has some of the most played segments ever. There's the boy genius, money from the sky, Tony Marabella, and Scott Enyart.

And then this? This is just sad. The show logo appearing out of a blue fog with the same 5 notes playing over and over on a synthesizer. That's a far cry from what was once the show title morphing over that classic marble board when the music reached a crescendo of eeriness.

"We need a new intro song... The old one is great but we should change it up, well... because."

"I think we should hire Zamfir to play the pan flute and do a new song. That would be great!"

"It would be great! But we can't afford Zamfir."

"Okay. What if I call down to the local junior high? They can have one of the kids plug in a Casio keyboard and lay down a funky new track. Just a few notes repeated over and over. Edgy and scary it will be!"


I have to agree that it sort of jumped the shark here. Some of the cases were good, but the production value went way down and this "in-your-face" camera footage and close-ups are really odd and annoying. What made the originals so good was the story telling and the great camera footage, which was subtle and wide open. This is like going from a well-done documentary to TMZ.

That said, I still like UM and I'm still watching. But it hurts to see how the show started to slide downhill. They really dumbed it down and that is a shame.

Ah, Season 8...when the show really started to decline and they changed the iconic opening credits sequence. The less polished UM was so much creepier and better than this.

Question...did they cut out the Keely Shaye Smith updates from Amazon?

No, she's there

I have to agree that it sort of jumped the shark here. Some of the cases were good, but the production value went way down and this "in-your-face" camera footage and close-ups are really odd and annoying. What made the originals so good was the story telling and the great camera footage, which was subtle and wide open. This is like going from a well-done documentary to TMZ.

That said, I still like UM and I'm still watching. But it hurts to see how the show started to slide downhill. They really dumbed it down and that is a shame.

Indeed. I couldn't agree more. There was still some amazing cases that came later in the show's period (like Jesse James Hollywood and Molly Bish) that I found particularly haunting but they felt like few and far between. That's why I didn't see a problem with missing an episode or three during this time, whereas I would NEVER miss an episode during seasons 1-6.

that theme, YIKES. I remember that when I watched it on Lifetime but I didn't know they got rid of the original theme completely

looks like there are still plenty of good segments though


the Sarah Powell segment is one of UM scariest, even if her story was made up/hallucinated

Man, season 8 has some of the most played segments ever. There's the boy genius, money from the sky, Tony Marabella, and Scott Enyart.
I cannot stand that boy genius segment. He literally gets on my last nerve. So irritating.

It's getting unwatchable. I definitely remembered UM reruns with rose colored glasses. I did not watch the Dennis Farina episodes so other than the videos I saved from YouTube over the years, it's been a long time since I watched some of these.

Season 7 was not great and now in season 8 I find myself fast forwarding through more than I watch.

All that said... still glad to have it available to watch.

Aww...so all the best seasons are behind us!

I read somewhere it picks back up during the last couple seasons when Lifetime was in charge? Less fluff and more unsolved crimes.

I read somewhere it picks back up during the last couple seasons when Lifetime was in charge? Less fluff and more unsolved crimes.

Indeed. Unfortunately, it's also when Stack's health started to affect his ability to effectively narrate a segment.

Matt Flores
Michael Swango
Linda Sobek
Tim Molnar
David Merrifield
Ira Einhorn
Bonnie Haim
Mia Zapata
Su Taraskiewicz
Albert Leon Fletcher
Green River Killer
Martha Moxley
Jodi Huisentruit
Devon Williams
Keith Warren
Richard Bare
Michael Johnston/Rochelle Robinson
James Ellroy
Vince Foster
David Cox
Joan Jeffries
PAUL POLLIS
Gloria Schulze
Sarah Powell
Joe Cole
David Freeman/Tim Good

Season 8 was pretty sold imo.

And I think the newer theme song is really well done. At least the full length version where the other elements kick in. As iconic as the original UM theme song is, it was starting to sound quite dated by the mid-90s. It just had such and 80s sound to it. If the show ran for 20+ years, would you have still wanted that 80s sounding theme opening up a show in like 2010?

Matt Flores
Michael Swango
Linda Sobek
Tim Molnar
David Merrifield
Ira Einhorn
Bonnie Haim
Mia Zapata
Su Taraskiewicz
Albert Leon Fletcher
Green River Killer
Martha Moxley
Jodi Huisentruit
Devon Williams
Keith Warren
Richard Bare
Michael Johnston/Rochelle Robinson
James Ellroy
Vince Foster
David Cox
Joan Jeffries
PAUL POLLIS
Gloria Schulze
Sarah Powell
Joe Cole
David Freeman/Tim Good

Season 8 was pretty sold imo.

And I think the newer theme song is really well done. At least the full length version where the other elements kick in. As iconic as the original UM theme song is, it was starting to sound quite dated by the mid-90s. It just had such and 80s sound to it. If the show ran for 20+ years, would you have still wanted that 80s sounding theme opening up a show in like 2010?




Dated? What is this heresy?

If the show ran for 20+ years, would you have still wanted that 80s sounding theme opening up a show in like 2010?
Yes.

Matt Flores
Michael Swango
Linda Sobek
Tim Molnar
David Merrifield
Ira Einhorn
Bonnie Haim
Mia Zapata
Su Taraskiewicz
Albert Leon Fletcher
Green River Killer
Martha Moxley
Jodi Huisentruit
Devon Williams
Keith Warren
Richard Bare
Michael Johnston/Rochelle Robinson
James Ellroy
Vince Foster
David Cox
Joan Jeffries
PAUL POLLIS
Gloria Schulze
Sarah Powell
Joe Cole
David Freeman/Tim Good

Season 8 was pretty sold imo.

And I think the newer theme song is really well done. At least the full length version where the other elements kick in. As iconic as the original UM theme song is, it was starting to sound quite dated by the mid-90s. It just had such and 80s sound to it. If the show ran for 20+ years, would you have still wanted that 80s sounding theme opening up a show in like 2010?

OMG-- did you binge watch the whole thing this weekend? Impressive.

Season 8 of Unsolved Mysteries, gotta continue grinding on MLB The Show 17 and new Programs might drop this week, NXT Takeover Brooklyn on Saturday, SummerSlam on Sunday, and on Friday, The Defenders drops on Netflix.

I don't know if I'm going to get much sleep this weekend.


What are you playing, Diamond Dynasty?

I absolutely love this theme and intro!

What are you playing, Diamond Dynasty?

Season rewards came out early today! I only made it into the mid-700s this season though after all the grinding for Guidry and Robinson.

Indeed. Unfortunately, it's also when Stack's health started to affect his ability to effectively narrate a segment.

Yeah, when the Lifetime segments started airing, you could really hear the age and frailty in Stack's voice.

I have to admit, even though UM was past its prime by Season 7, I actually found that season to be a lot better than I remember. I'm hoping Season 8 will turn out like that too. I remember getting annoyed whenever Lifetime would rerun Season 8 and 9 because I found it to be dull.

Dated? What is this heresy?

I only speak the truth. Once we got to the mid-90s, anything related to the 80s was looked at as dated. Granted, it's been 30 years since the show debuted so the OG theme music is old enough to be called "throwback" or "vintage" or whatever trendy hipster term you want to call it. However, when it was just 10 years after the show first aired, it just seemed old and dated.

If the show ran for 20+ years, would you have still wanted that 80s sounding theme opening up a show in like 2010?

Yes. Yes. A thousand times yes.

Season 8 was pretty sold imo.

I agree Season 8 has some great stories, but there is also a whole lot of bunk cases:

T-Touch
Voodoo
Kentucky Visions
White Buffalo
Caddy

... just to name a few. Not everything has to be an Unexplained Death, but many of these are just silly and really don't belong on this show. It's too bad because there are some great Unexplained Death, Missing, and Wanted segments in Season 8 but then they plugged in some real garbage stories as well.

And I think the newer theme song is really well done. At least the full length version where the other elements kick in. As iconic as the original UM theme song is, it was starting to sound quite dated by the mid-90s. It just had such and 80s sound to it. If the show ran for 20+ years, would you have still wanted that 80s sounding theme opening up a show in like 2010?

YES! :) Did the "Star Wars" or "Jaws" themes ever sound dated? They were iconic and I honestly think the UM theme was too. The "5 Notes on a Synthesizer" theme is annoying to me. I can understand why they felt they needed to update some of the graphics but the theme, background music, and filming are what made this show eerie and great. I never realized the leap to Farina wasn't so sudden -- they had slowly been doing it for a long while.


On an unrelated note, what is up with the random nerdy guy saying "Tonight -- on Unsolved Mysteries..."? That was definitely not in the original broadcasts. If it was done, it was Stack doing it. Furthermore, it isn't necessary in the Amazon format so why would they have someone re-do that intro?

I'll never understand the hatred towards more supernatural mysteries like ghosts, psychics, UFOs. It's Unsolved MYSTERIES, not Unsolved Crimes. The variety of cases is part of the appeal of the program.

I'll never understand the hatred towards more supernatural mysteries like ghosts, psychics, UFOs. It's Unsolved MYSTERIES, not Unsolved Crimes. The variety of cases is part of the appeal of the program.

I actually don't mind some of the supernatural stuff, specifically the UFO cases. The older cases were much better with that in that they had more of a "mystery" component: Did this UFO event happen, or what was it? Is this place haunted, or is it something else? But remember, the show started as a mostly true crime "who dun it" sort of a show. It's roots are in the unexplained death, missing, wanted, or unexplained stories. The real supernatural stuff mostly came later.

But once they expanded into more of the stories that were just reports, it got really bad IMHO. The animal "T-Touch", "Voodoo", and "Kentucky Visions" segments are some of the best examples of this. I don't mind mixing in some sci-med or supernatural once in a while, but by including some of these (where there really is no mystery) they changed the show quite a bit. There is a huge difference between the earlier supernatural segments and the later ones.

To each their own, though. If some people like them that's fine. I just think it was extra filler that wasn't necessary and it departed from the core of the show.

To each their own, though. If some people like them that's fine. I just think it was extra filler that wasn't necessary and it departed from the core of the show.

Yes, to each their own. I understand: that's how I feel about the Lost Loves! :lol:

I was on my UM hiatus by this season. I guess I only saw these episodes by way of Lifetime. Nothing beats the original but I did not mind the different themes music etc. but it probably would have been stunning to see the new theme back then when it came out. I stil think a lot of these segments hold their own. I mean I could almost go for some swango fried chicken right about now.

What are you playing, Diamond Dynasty?

Yep.

I was on my UM hiatus by this season. I guess I only saw these episodes by way of Lifetime. Nothing beats the original but I did not mind the different themes music etc. but it probably would have been stunning to see the new theme back then when it came out. I stil think a lot of these segments hold their own. I mean I could almost go for some swango fried chicken right about now.


I'm probably one of the few that likes this theme/intro better.

It's creepier imo.

Oh, and about that chicken, it's just spicier is all.

I'm probably one of the few that likes this theme/intro better.

It's creepier imo.

Absolutely. The full length version is actually a really great theme song. It starts out very subtle, but once the other elements kick in, it's pretty damn epic imo.

The original theme was also really good and will always be iconic and was great for its time. However, if you juxtapose the two songs and critique them strictly on their own as two musical pieces that have nothing to do with a television show, then I am of the opinion that the later theme is superior. It has more atmosphere to it, has more variance and is more of a tour de force as far as songwriting is concerned.

If neither of the theme songs in question ever had anything to do with a TV show, I'm positive that more people would prefer the newer version over the older one. At least musicians and songwriters would anyway.

Bonus hot take from the Hot Jock: I prefer the original UM closing credit music over the original UM opening credit music as well. It's so underrated by comparison. So there! 😛

In my opinion, UM was still a good show in Season 8 but I didn't like the fact that the episodes started to have a scrapbook effect to them. Which means in Seasons 1-7 most episodes had 3-4 cases and the cases would usually run 10-15 mins. But for Seasons 8-13, a typical one hour episode would have 5-6 cases going 7-9 mins so there was more quantity and less quality to the cases.

And, I agree with another poster on here that Lifetime really overplayed Seasons 8-9, but then again I have great memories of getting home from Junior High on a Friday half-day at 12:30 PM and I usually saw Mia Zapata, Nancy Manni segments and in Season 9 I remember Lifetime loved to play (Dolly the Sheep) and the (Atlanta Olympics Bomber) over and over again.

One huge advantage that the Season 8-9 music/graphics has over Season 1-7 is that it has aged well in 22 years. When I watched the graphics for early seasons back in the late '90s they already looked outdated.

My memory of the first time I saw this opening; "What the hell?" Scrapping the iconic theme song and replacing it with....this. Blech.

The seasons 1-5 theme, much like the background music, was creepy as hell. Play that music over a non-scary segment and I would still probably have a nightmare as a kid. The updated seasons 6-7 intro was a downgrade in creepiness but at least it was still the theme song that had been established with the show.

And then this? This is just sad. The show logo appearing out of a blue fog with the same 5 notes playing over and over on a synthesizer. That's a far cry from what was once the show title morphing over that classic marble board when the music reached a crescendo of eeriness.

https://i.imgflip.com/bzph9.gif

OK, I'm hopping off my music soapbox now. Yay for season 8 being released!
I know traditionalists won't agree, but I prefer this version of the theme. I know I watched UM prior to 1995, but this (specifically the King Tut episode) is the first season where I seem to remember full episodes. The old theme is creepy, but the 1995 one still gives me goosebumps.

that theme, YIKES. I remember that when I watched it on Lifetime but I didn't know they got rid of the original theme completely

looks like there are still plenty of good segments though


the Sarah Powell segment is one of UM scariest, even if her story was made up/hallucinated
That one gave me nightmares as an eight-year-old, and when I started it last night, I was like "maybe this is not such a good idea."

I feel like season 8 has been a lot creepier so far than seasons 6 and 7 were, though that might be because I think Lifetime reran the earlier seasons more often in the early 2000s, so I've seen those all repeatedly.

Didn't they bring te old theme back eventually? I swear on Lifetime they used that theme wth some clearly newer graphics. I think that intro was on the DVD episodes as well

Didn't they bring te old theme back eventually? I swear on Lifetime they used that theme wth some clearly newer graphics. I think that intro was on the DVD episodes as well
Lifetime showed edited content that was scrambled over different seasons at times and used all 3 major theme intros as I recall. The modern intro used was an updated version of the old theme perhaps used most frequently in the lifetime years even with older segments mixed in. I never saw the Virginia madsen segments but learned recently through another poster that there was another theme intro introduced for that season in late 90s. I really think UM got it right with the variety of music and sound that they used.

I'm probably one of the few that likes this theme/intro better.

It's creepier imo.

Oh, and about that chicken, it's just spicier is all.
It's probably better than the KFC I ate here a few weeks ago. I don't know about the stomach bug after though...

In my opinion, UM was still a good show in Season 8 but I didn't like the fact that the episodes started to have a scrapbook effect to them. Which means in Seasons 1-7 most episodes had 3-4 cases and the cases would usually run 10-15 mins. But for Seasons 8-13, a typical one hour episode would have 5-6 cases going 7-9 mins so there was more quantity and less quality to the cases.



LOL, I was actually going to post to say that I liked that each episode had more cases per episode and were shorter in length!!! :lol: :lol:

Watched the first episode and I was surprised that the Brandon Lee story was considered unsolved. They explained in detail the accident that killed him and didn't even really touch that much on the mysterious family curse. Found that to be an odd segment.

Was very surprised that the news anchor story had no update. Same with Castro.

I like the new graphics, but I think the theme music works best as interstitial music rather than a full theme. It's not terrible though, nor does it ruin the experience for me.

Chupacabra!

And, I agree with another poster on here that Lifetime really overplayed Seasons 8-9,

For a while, it felt like Lifetime had those seasons on a constant loop. I guess I would have to include parts of season 7 as well because they replayed Resurrection Mary so much that it got to the point of being comical and we had constant jokes here about it.

In 2004, which was the last year Lifetime showed the Stack version of UM, someone from here (I can't remember who) actually emailed the network and asked why they continue to air seasons 7-9 endlessly. To our surprise, he/she got a response from a network person asking which seasons would you like to see? They said the earlier seasons and that's what we got to see the final months before Lifetime took UM off the air.

A few years later, the Farina version of the show came to Lifetime and, well, yuck.

Since I missed the CM Reddit Q and A, I have some questions if they ever do another one. Specifically, did they change the intro, theme, camera work, story length, story type, etc. based on audience feedback or because they felt it needed it? Most hardcore UM fans I know did not like the changes.

The biggest disservice ever done to UM was when NBC moved it from Wednsday to Friday. I feel like it lost a lot of its audience (or potential audience). Friday is not a good TV night.

Plus they messed with the spirit of the show. I agree with alistaircranium on the Brandon Lee story. It wasn't an "Unexplained Death" as they know what happened. But they had to lump in the curse angle. Whhhhyyyy?

They still had plenty of great stories in Season 8 so why they felt the need to force this other stuff is the real unsolved mystery.

The Brazos river case is not on there? Thats one of the few cases I've only seen once in my life. Was hoping to see it again.

The Brazos river case is not on there? Thats one of the few cases I've only seen once in my life. Was hoping to see it again.

Same. I can't find it at all.

It's not there. I've always wanted to see this case because I keep hearing how scary it is. Hopefully someone uploads a version they taped to the internet one day

It's not there.

I meant online. I've been looking for a while and could never find it.

The biggest disservice ever done to UM was when NBC moved it from Wednsday to Friday. I feel like it lost a lot of its audience (or potential audience). Friday is not a good TV night.

I'm looking at the old TV schedules (some of them I could remember off the top of my head) and it's interesting to note during the first five years, when UM was at its best, they were bringing in impressive ratings numbers despite going up against hit shows 'Growing Pains,' 'Head of the Class,' and later 'The Wonder Years' and 'Doogie Howser' during those shows final years from 8-9:00 on Wedneday evenings.

Once we got a few years into the 90's, UM had to go up against shows like 'Beverly Hills 90210,' 'the Nanny,' and Ellen Dengenerous' sitcom, which were pulling in huge numbers themselves. It was going to be hard to compete with those shows when the production on UM had already gone down around that time anyway. But I don't know how they expected to pull in ratings on Friday nights.

Oh, and the show that got UM's old NBC time slot on Wedndays ended up being....the Cosby Mysteries. That show was cancelled after 19 episodes.

I'm looking at the old TV schedules (some of them I could remember off the top of my head) and it's interesting to note during the first five years, when UM was at its best, they were bringing in impressive ratings numbers despite going up against hit shows 'Growing Pains,' 'Head of the Class,' and later 'The Wonder Years' and 'Doogie Howser' during those shows final years from 8-9:00 on Wedneday evenings.

Once we got a few years into the 90's, UM had to go up against shows like 'Beverly Hills 90210,' 'the Nanny,' and Ellen Dengenerous' sitcom, which were pulling in huge numbers themselves. It was going to be hard to compete with those shows when the production on UM had already gone down around that time anyway. But I don't know how they expected to pull in ratings on Friday nights.

Oh, and the show that got UM's old NBC time slot on Wedndays ended up being....the Cosby Mysteries. That show was cancelled after 19 episodes.

I've read somewhere (can't remember off the top of my head, but will try if you really want the citation) that Friday nights (with the exception of ABC's TGIF lineup) were where shows went to essentially die. Like, if your show was moved to a timeslot on Friday, cancellation was almost a certainty due to the fact that TV ratings are slower on Friday nights as compared to other nights of the week.

I thought UM didn't switch to Friday nights until after it went to airing on CBS. I could be wrong there.

I didn't think about the shows that UM went up against, to be honest. BH 90210 was a monster hit for the Fox network, airing from 1990-2000, with its "peak years" probably spanning from 1992-1995. The mere fact that UM was able to hold up against a show of that magnitude is pretty impressive.

I remember The Nanny. Couldn't stand the show, but I know lots of folks who watched it....

Same. I can't find it at all.

I'm guessing they didn't include that one because the story of the victim has been brought into serious question?

When shows move to Fridays, there is less pressure on them to perform in the ratings. A move to Fridays can sometimes save the show from cancellation, which is likely what would have happened to UM if it had remained on Wednesdays.

Sometimes a show can stay on Fridays their entire run and be successful, like Grimm, which recently wrapped a 6-season run entirely on Fridays. The X-Files started out on Fridays and became a massive hit. Supernatural was moved to Fridays for two seasons and then bounced back and has aired on regular weeknights for the last 5 years.

When shows move to Fridays, there is less pressure on them to perform in the ratings. A move to Fridays can sometimes save the show from cancellation, which is likely what would have happened to UM if it had remained on Wednesdays.

Sometimes a show can stay on Fridays their entire run and be successful, like Grimm, which recently wrapped a 6-season run entirely on Fridays. The X-Files started out on Fridays and became a massive hit. Supernatural was moved to Fridays for two seasons and then bounced back and has aired on regular weeknights for the last 5 years.

Very good counter-point. I found where my source is-- I am not sure how I stumbled upon this, but it was a Wikipedia article about the Friday Night Death Slot. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_night_death_slot) The article mentions the shows you have, in addition to Dallas, which was obviously huge and aired on Fridays. I forgot about that one completely.

I'm guessing they didn't include that one because the story of the victim has been brought into serious question?

Sarah Powell tho

Why did the show change so much after Season 7? Answer: Ratings.

UM finished Season 6 in 36th place in the ratings. (The top 30 is great, 30-60 is good/okay, anything below 60 and the cancellation sharks get called in.)

Wanna take a guess where UM finished after Season 7? 75th place!!!!

Needless to say, I bet NBC had a long talk with Cosgrove & Meurer after that in early 1995. They probably told them change the show or we are going to cancel you after Season 7 wraps up in May 1995.

The show rebounded to 59th and 53rd place (for Season 8 & 9 respectively)

Recently, I have done some research on UM's cancellation from NBC apparently in May 1997 NBC had renewed the show for a 10th Season, but a week later they had changed their minds!!!

In Season 9, UM was winning it's timeslot for the first time since Season 5, although some credit goes to the show UM opposed on Friday Nights "Family Matters" and that show's declining ratings.

Was it a mistake to move UM from Wednesdays to Fridays in the Fall of 1994?

Follow the ratings rank: (Source: Wikipedia)

1991-1992-#13
1992-1993-#21
1993-1994-#36

The 1993-1994 Season (Number 6) was the first season that UM failed to finish inside the Top 30 so NBC had its reason to move UM to Friday Nights. Plus, 2 straight seasons of declining ratings in the Wed 8 PM slot.

Yet little did they know at the time but it would be 12 years before NBC would win the Wednesday 8 PM timeslot again with the gameshow "Deal or No Deal"

It's funny to think how important ratings were just 15-20 years ago and how networks obsessed over them. Nowadays, ratings mean very little to the success or failure of certain programs. With the advent of DVR, Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Instant, etc. not many people watch shows live anymore. The only thing that still gets ratings just as high as they did in those days are live sporting events simply because they don't translate well via those other avenues.

One trend I've noticed in Season 7 at least, is how many "drug lords" they profiled.........from guys with sophisticated Marijuana growing operations, to the occasional smuggler, it's almost like UM was trying to pick up where Miami Vice left off.

One trend I've noticed in Season 7 at least, is how many "drug lords" they profiled.........from guys with sophisticated Marijuana growing operations, to the occasional smuggler, it's almost like UM was trying to pick up where Miami Vice left off.

Yep. Someone else mentioned it in another thread, but UM seemed to play to the "trends" a lot. I never noticed this at the time, but it is more clear now. In the early years, they played on the Satanic Panic angle a lot. Then there was a heavier UFO phase (when that was big in the early 90s). They also did a lot or drug stories during the "War on Drugs" and the hype surrounding Miami Vice.

I don't know that there is anything wrong with doing that but it is another little interesting nugget about our favorite show.

I have also noticed they started sending out "NBC affiliate" broadcasters out to do certain segments, which I am not fond of.