I’ve heard that Netflix is planning another reboot. Which made me wonder about who would be a good host. There probably isn't anyone who can capture the literal creepy and mysterious aura that Robert Stack contained. I know that there was a previous reboot with Dennis Farina. While he was a fine actor, he was probably ill suited for this role.

Bill Kurtis is my number 1 choice.

Failing that, Clancy Brown would be excellent.

The Undertaker

The Undertaker

Only if the Undertaker's voice is done by Steve and Larson of the Going in Raw Pro Wrestling Podcast.

My pick would be Keith David.

Dennis Haysbert

/thread

Oh Clancy Brown would be amazing; he has one of those truly great voices like James Earl Jones and Keith David. He played Lex Luthor in the DC Animated Universe and so far, no one else’s portrayal of Lex comes close. He does such a good “You’re good and thoroughly owned” voice.

Jonathan franks for me would be amazing

I don't know the name of the host who narrates the 'Disappeared,' episodes on ID but I think he's pretty good.

Keith Morrison

I don't know the name of the host who narrates the 'Disappeared,' episodes on ID but I think he's pretty good.

Christopher Walker I think...

John Larroquette

This may not be a popular opinion, but I actually liked Virginia Madsen when she was on.

I also don't think it has to be a well-known voice or current true crime narrator. As long as he/she has a good voice and a good presence (like Robert Stack), I'm all in.

This may not be a popular opinion, but I actually liked Virginia Madsen when she was on.

I also don't think it has to be a well-known voice or current true crime narrator. As long as he/she has a good voice and a good presence (like Robert Stack), I'm all in.

This^

Personally, I would almost rather it be someone that's not a super huge name or whatever. Someone mentioned Dennis Haysbert, above, and it's a great idea, except I'm always going to tie him (in my mind) to the Allstate commercials. And I've similar connections with most of the people already mentioned. While I love Bill Kurtis's narration on everything else he does, it would basically turn Unsolved Mysteries into everything else he does.

I can't say I have a suggestion, just my opinion that it be a relative unknown, or maybe someone who hasn't done a lot of hosting/narration work, but has a good presence and voice for it. I want to like Clancy Brown for it (as someone mentioned), but personally, I can't separate him from Captain Hadley in Shawshank (or Mr. Krabs, not in Shawshank :lol: )

And I agree with your views on Virginia Madsen. I liked her, personally. But to be honest, I also liked Dennis Farina, and we know what a controversial statement that is :lol:

The problems (for me) with Farina's version had nothing to do with him, and everything to do with the way they packaged it. Robert Stack wouldn't have been able to make that turd successful.

But to be honest, I also liked Dennis Farina, and we know what a controversial statement that is :lol:

:mad: BURN THE WITCH! :mad:

:lol:

The problems (for me) with Farina's version had nothing to do with him, and everything to do with the way they packaged it. Robert Stack wouldn't have been able to make that turd successful.

I agree with this :wave:

Dennis Haysbert

/thread

That's a good one. I think he'd be excellent.

Jonathan franks for me would be amazing

Did you mean Jonathan Frakes? From ST:TNG?

Meh.. Too swarmy. He did good with the "Fact or Fiction" shows, but I don't see him in this. He's too much a wink-and-nod type person.

John Larroquette

Wow.. I don't necessarily agree or disagree.. But that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. He looks like a weird cross between Chevy Chase and Martin Sheen now.

That's a good one. I think he'd be excellent.



Did you mean Jonathan Frakes? From ST:TNG?

Meh.. Too swarmy. He did good with the "Fact or Fiction" shows, but I don't see him in this. He's too much a wink-and-nod type person.



Wow.. I don't necessarily agree or disagree.. But that's a name I haven't heard in a long time. He looks like a weird cross between Chevy Chase and Martin Sheen now.

You're right about that, because he kind of does.

:mad: BURN THE WITCH! :mad:

:lol:

"But how do you KNOW he's a witch?"

:lol:

This may not be a popular opinion, but I actually liked Virginia Madsen when she was on.

Virginia Madsen did fine, but didn't work out. It explains why her segments, which first aired on CBS, were edited for the Lifetime reruns to replace her with Robert Stack.

I also don't think it has to be a well-known voice or current true crime narrator. As long as he/she has a good voice and a good presence (like Robert Stack), I'm all in.

I agree. I know that many people on this forum are in favor of UM being hosted by another true crime narrator, but I'm not one of them. One of the reasons is that the idea of UM being hosted by someone so closely identified with another true crime show could cause too much confusion, making it much easier for viewers to confuse UM with another given true crime show (America's Most Wanted, Cold Case Files, etc.).

Another reason is that I believe being a great true crime narrator doesn't necessarily make someone the best choice as a replacement narrator. Case in point: Murder Comes To Town. When series narrator Joe Alaskey died in 2016, veteran narrator Anthony Call was hired to succeed him. Although Call did a good job as the narrator of The FBI Files, he narrated more slowly on Murder Comes To Town. His narrating style on MCTT was different from what I'm used to hearing, in terms of pace. He's not a bad narrator by any means; he's just better as an original narrator than a replacement one.

I don't see UM hiring a true crime narrator (current or former) from another show, and they would likely have their own reasons for not doing so. But regardless of who is selected as the new host of UM, it has to be someone who fits into the atmosphere of the show, someone with substance.

"But how do you KNOW he's a witch?"

:lol:

"There are ways of telling whether she is a witch."

Bill Kurtis would be my number 1.
Liam Neeson number 2.
If Peter Thomas were still alive he'd do great.

If he didn’t pass away too Paul Winfield was great. The way he ended a segment with the pounding City Confidential music was great. He even made their boring cases sound interesting.

Keith Morrison is pretty good but I think he would rather do interviews with the Story himself. The guy from Disappeared would be a good choice Christopher Walker. Maybe a new guy or gal.

If he didn’t pass away too Paul Winfield was great. The way he ended a segment with the pounding City Confidential music was great. He even made their boring cases sound interesting.

Keith Morrison is pretty good but I think he would rather do interviews with the Story himself. The guy from Disappeared would be a good choice Christopher Walker. Maybe a new guy or gal.
I was thinking the same thing about Paul Winfield.

James Brolin with his deep voice and his handsome brooding looks!;)

For prospective female hosts, I would say Susan Lucci might be a good one (she did Deadly Affairs on ID channel) even though she is probably on her way towards retiring soon due to age. Other females would be Maureen Maher and Paula Zahn, because of their work on 48 Hours and On the Case, respectively.

Aside from that, pretty much any actor that has made their mark on a good quality criminal/court procedure show would make a solid UM host. I'd say the top choices in that regard would be William Petersen, Gary Sinise and Chris Meloni.

For prospective female hosts, I would say Susan Lucci might be a good one (she did Deadly Affairs on ID channel) even though she is probably on her way towards retiring soon due to age. Other females would be Maureen Maher and Paula Zahn, because of their work on 48 Hours and On the Case, respectively.

Aside from that, pretty much any actor that has made their mark on a good quality criminal/court procedure show would make a solid UM host. I'd say the top choices in that regard would be William Petersen, Gary Sinise and Chris Meloni.


Chris Meloni would be good! ;)

I read that Clancy Brown was their original choice for the Spike/Lifetime episodes, but he turned them down. I'm not sure if they would ask him again.

I think it will be somebody with strong ties to Netflix like David Harbour from Stranger Things. It will be somebody younger who appeals to a wider demographic.

Matthew McConaughey, for the lolz.

Tony Todd, his horror voice would be perfect for this show.

Keith Morrison

Anybody but him.

According to this interview found by UMfan0682, the way they're going to deal with the impossibility of replacing Stack is by.... not replacing him:

https://www.channelnonfiction.com/interview-with-john-cosgrove-co-creator-of-unsolved-mysteries-series-a-show-headed-to-netflix/

"JC: It’ll be very different and there’s no host and no narrator, so it will be pure documentary style. We’re excited about taking this on. We’ve done shows like that in the past and it’s a different way of working.

We don’t have the luxury of solving editing problems by writing some narration, so you have to be more organized when you go out and shoot, and then very creative in the editing room.

CF: But you’re looking forward to that change?

JC: I think it will be excellent. It feels much more contemporary of than the old style. And we don’t have the horrible job of trying to find somebody as good as Robert Stack."

Rob Lowe

Not only do I think he'd project just the right blend of awe and intensity that the late Robert Stack had had as a host but, as the years go by, folks would tune in just to see if he'd ever reveal the secret to his eternal youth!

Anybody but him.

I agree with Zoneboy on this. Keith Morrison's method of delivery is sooooo annoooying...

At least there will be no host with the reiteration, so we don't have to worry about getting someone horrible.

According to this interview found by UMfan0682, the way they're going to deal with the impossibility of replacing Stack is by.... not replacing him:

https://www.channelnonfiction.com/interview-with-john-cosgrove-co-creator-of-unsolved-mysteries-series-a-show-headed-to-netflix/

"JC: It’ll be very different and there’s no host and no narrator, so it will be pure documentary style. We’re excited about taking this on. We’ve done shows like that in the past and it’s a different way of working.

We don’t have the luxury of solving editing problems by writing some narration, so you have to be more organized when you go out and shoot, and then very creative in the editing room.

CF: But you’re looking forward to that change?

JC: I think it will be excellent. It feels much more contemporary of than the old style. And we don’t have the horrible job of trying to find somebody as good as Robert Stack."

But, is it still Unsolved Mysteries without a host?

I get they're in a damned-if-they-do situation here, but there's a real risk of losing the magic of UM if they shake it up too much.

But, is it still Unsolved Mysteries without a host?

I get they're in a damned-if-they-do situation here, but there's a real risk of losing the magic of UM if they shake it up too much.

I think because the company that produced Stranger Things is involved that it should have a good eerie, retro feel to it

The only concern I have is that the one case per ep format change is going to be really different.... but I feel like this show can be really good and be its own thing separate from the classics, we will just have to wait and see

I trust the Stranger Things crew to make good decisions, so I am not worried on that front.

However, I think today we just found us a case that will probably be featured. Did Epstein commit suicide? :crazy:

Anybody but him.

Agree. Morrison is so over the top, he's actually funny, not mysterious.

I read that Clancy Brown was their original choice for the Spike/Lifetime episodes, but he turned them down. I'm not sure if they would ask him again.

"Perhaps YOU will be able to solve a mystery. HAAAR-ARGH-ARGH-ARGH-ARGH-ARGH!"

But seriously, how about Ed O'Neill or, if he was still alive, James Avery?

With no host and no narrator, they're going to have to rely heavily on music and sound editing to pull this off, which has the potential to be amazing.

I'm a little relieved there won't be a host as to avoid any comparisons to the incomparable Robert Stack, and I'm intrigued by the format change. Hopefully it'll be out in time for Halloween.

I think it was on one of the DVD commentaries that Cosgrove said when things weren't really working - if the interview was too dry, or the recreation seemed a little lame, they would 'cheat' by using additional narration on top to keep it interesting.

So I thought it was funny in this new interview that he said it would require more work and planning ahead of time to make it all work out without narration.

Dominic Purcell who played on Prison Break has a strong serious sounding voice that would be great for the show plus he has a tough look that goes with his voice.