america most wanted or unsolved mysteries. I love them both, but I go for, AMW.

america most wanted or unsolved mysteries. I love them both, but I go for, AMW.
Unsloved Mysteries Hands Down

I love both shows because they have both done great things.

Unsloved Mysteries Hands Down

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I like both shows, and they are two of the most essential TV shows of all time. However, considering the variety of themes (lost loves, unexplained death, wanted, missing persons, etc.), I would have to go with Unsolved Mysteries.

I like both shows, and they are two of the most essential TV shows of all time. However, considering the variety of themes (lost loves, unexplained death, wanted, missing persons, etc.), I would have to go with Unsolved Mysteries.

I agree. UM pretty much covers every type of mystery while AMW just covers crimes. Don't get me wrong, AMW is a good True Crime shows for it's genre, but if I had to choose, I would go with UM just because of the wider spectrum of mysteries.

I would rather Unsloved Nysteries.

I can't choose. UM gives their stories, even ones not dealing with paranormal subject matter, a very creepy atmosphere, due to the backdrop music and RS's voice. AMW however, gets more of a down-to-earth frantic vibe, they don't pley freakish back ground music and John Walsh has a more intense voice. Unlike RS, JW had crime touch him personally, so he goes after fugitives with more than just an objective view point. Becuase of his involvement from being affected by crime personally, he has tons of things say that other crime shows do not.

I still think that, in one way or another, staff from both shows, if not Walsh and Stack directly, shared notes and leads.

AMW is OK but I like UM because of the different areas it covers.

UM hands down. AMW does a lot of good in capturing fugitives but the reenactments are way too violent for my taste.

I agree both are essential shows and amw has captured up to this moment, 887 fugitives, but UM is a higher quality show. They shot on film for the most part and the production value was higher. AMW doesn't get the ratings that UM got, so it's a lower budget show. But it seems a no brainer regardless that something like these shows be on the air. Why there isn't a channel dedicated to catching criminals is beyond me. Both shows are season passed in my tivo, but again, I like UM way better and actually didn't start always watching AMW until a couple years ago.

UM was a classier show. Obviously AMW is dealing with different type cases and it more immediate, but Walsh really turns me off with his language like dirt bag, and trying to act like a tough guy.

Obviously AMW is dealing with different type cases and it more immediate, but Walsh really turns me off with his language like dirt bag, and trying to act like a tough guy.

Well, that's because he is tough. Besides, most of the fugitives on the run are dirt bags, especially the rapists and murderers. No matter what anyone thinks of John Walsh, the fact of the matter is that he's a man doing a lot of good, including hunting the bad guys and lobbying for tougher laws (including the proposed "Jessica's Law").

Well, that's because he is tough. Besides, most of the fugitives on the run are dirt bags, especially the rapists and murderers.

That's exactly the point. No one disputes their caliber. I fail to see how repeating the same line show after show adds anything. It's cliche and pathetic, IMO.

Admittedly, part of my opinion is I've seen John Walsh in person and he's hardly imposing, so the tough guy aspect doesn't work for me. It's like a few years ago when a few friends of mine and I saw Chuck Norris in a Las Vegas sportsbook and couldn't stop laughing. He was barely tall enough to look over the betting counter without jumping.

Robert Stack seemed like he was the 'real deal' in person AND on camera. I've never met the man but I've seen RS in a few movies (notibly Airplane and Baseketball) and in an Unsolved Mysteries interview and it seems like he was himself in every part that he played. He always had that gentle, yet stern way of speaking that was exclusive to Robert Stack.

Also, Robert Stack WAS a fan of a good mystery so he put all his effort into what he did.

It also seems like RS was as genuine in his personal life as he was on camera.

With RS it was always what you saw was what you got and that's why I admire him so much. RS had a unique quality about him that few people have. It's something I can't explain, but it's there.

That's why I love UM so much. He WAS Robert Stack. He was the perfect host while the show lasted.

Just my opinion.

RIP Bob.

It's like a few years ago when a few friends of mine and I saw Chuck Norris in a Las Vegas sportsbook and couldn't stop laughing. He was barely tall enough to look over the betting counter without jumping.

What does his height have to do with the fact that he is one of the baddest mofos on the planet? He won the World Proffesional Middleweight Karate Championship six years in a row and retired undefeated.

What does his height have to do with the fact that he is one of the baddest mofos on the planet? He won the World Proffesional Middleweight Karate Championship six years in a row and retired undefeated.

you should also check www.chucknorrisfacts.com he's clearly a bad mofo

What does his height have to do with the fact that he is one of the baddest mofos on the planet? He won the World Proffesional Middleweight Karate Championship six years in a row and retired undefeated.

Sorry. Not impressed. I guess it's the difference in esteem and legend between world heavyweight champion and flyweight champ. Like I said, I wasn't the only one laughing when we saw him at the Barbary Coast sportsbook. My friend hit the floor in a seizure of laughter and has called him "Little Chuckie" ever since. The listed height of 5-10 is a farce. I've heard he wears lifts in his shoes and in movies has required short actors to be on stage with him, so his stature won't be obvious. I was within 5 feet of him and he might be 5-7 or slightly taller. Also, I don't think the undefeated aspect is accurate. He certainly was an accomplished karate champ but I know I've read he lost at least several times.

you should also check www.chucknorrisfacts.com he's clearly a bad mofo

Seen it many times. It's pretty funny actually.

Also, I don't think the undefeated aspect is accurate. He certainly was an accomplished karate champ but I know I've read he lost at least several times.

He was 65-5 overall, but undefeated once he won his first World Championship. Three of his five losses were in his first three fights as a rookie as well.

Of course I prefer Unsolved Mysteries but I also like America's Most Wanted and I really like John Walsh's Manhunter. None of these shows are on in Australia, well UM is on the crime station on Foxtel Digital which I dont have. Last I knew it was repeated cases from the later years. Is AMW still in production now?

Is AMW still in production now?

Yes, America's Most Wanted or "Batman" as my SO and I call it (an inside joke) is still in production. :)

Regarding the original question, I'll take UM over AMW any day. This is a UM forum afterall, so I'm not sure what kind of answer you were expecting.

Is AMW still in production now?

Yes. It's on Saturday nights at 9 pm (Eastern Time) on FOX.

UM was a classier show.

When I was trying to think of the difference between the two shows, this is what first came to mind.

This is why Unsolved Mysteries will always be tops for me.:D

Robert Stack's trenchcoat could whip John Walsh's fake black leather jacket's ass any day of the week.
I vote for Unsolved Mysteries. AMW makes me feel like I'm being shouted at.

When I was trying to think of the difference between the two shows, this is what first came to mind.

Needless to say, due to the many similarities, UM and AMW have been mistaken for each other. Thankfully, there are differences as well, including the host. And if it weren't for that particular difference, the two shows would have been a lot harder to tell apart.

Although I find the ghosts, UFOs and flaky stuff quite tiresome, I prefer UM to AMW primarily because the re-enactments keep us viewers at a safe remove while giving us all the needed info- while AMW's always makes me feel I'm stuck in a very unpleasant neighborhood! Plus, Robert Stack was much much more levelheaded and calm. Too bad it's no longer in production.
Oh, but I remember how AMW ran a promo dissing UM for being hosted by 'an actor' and thinking ' Why do they feel so threatened by UM? They don't even run on the same nights so there's no ratings competition!'

Oh, but I remember how AMW ran a promo dissing UM for being hosted by 'an actor' and thinking ' Why do they feel so threatened by UM? They don't even run on the same nights so there's no ratings competition!'

I never knew about that. Personally, I'd hate to think that AMW would have any ill feelings toward UM (or vice versa).

Besides, UM made a sensible choice in hiring Robert Stack. Being typecast as a crimefighter was certainly a helpful factor. Besides, Stack was admittedly pro-law enforcement. In fact, in an online chat a few years ago, Stack said: "Whether it's the country or the city, I never liked the bad guy. I never put my arms around John Gotti, Al Capone, or Lucky Luciano. For me very simply they were the bad guys. And when I did the Untouchables, I told them going in, if you try apologizing for any of these crumb bums, get someone else to play the part."

So with that quote, combined with the other things I mentioned in the last paragraph, Robert Stack was, in retrospect, an intelligent choice for UM.

By the way, AMW promo you described suggests to me that AMW was being somewhat hypocritical. In his book Tears of Rage, AMW host John Walsh mentioned that some actors had been considered as possible hosts for AMW. They include Treat Williams (star of the Everwood series), Brian Keith, Brian Dennehy, and Theresa Saldana. True crime novelist/former detective Joseph Wambaugh was also considered for AMW.

I agree UM is better but why doesn't it have the staying power AMW does???

I watch AMW since that's the best thing going.

I agree UM is better but why doesn't it have the staying power AMW does???

Maybe UM isn't "mainstream" enough? Anyway, I'd blame it on the powers-that-be. NBC axed the show in 1997, even though the ratings were still respectable; CBS soon picked it up, but only used it as a mid-season substitute of 1998 and 1999, which led to lower ratings. then Lifetime starting airing new episodes in 2001. But when Robert Stack died in 2003, the show was permanently discontinued.

Unsloved Mysteries!:D

Hello Everyone,

Longtime Lurker first time poster.

Which is my favorite AMW or UM? Well you did come to a UM board afterall:wave:

So my favorite would have to be UM.

I like AMW, I watch it on occasion but while I feel its a really important issue AMW just profiles pedophiles too much for me...and that gets really depressing. You know you could and maybe should do a whole new show just on wanted pedophiles, but I think AMW should continue to focus on other criminals and missing people. Now that said I used to subscribe to their newsletter and I was a HUGE fan of Sanford Strong, I loved the crime prevention tips they used to do and I miss these segements. AMW is a huge public service and should NEVER EVER be taken off the air, Fox has tried to kill it several times but its fans rightly protest until they put it back on the air.

On the whole though I love UM. I think segements were more highly produced, better re-enacted, and down right spookier (in the hitchcock hair on the back of the neck sense). While AMW's seems to go for the video camera, teenage slasher film shock (not that theres anything wrong with that I just prefer the former). Plus the sheer variety of the stories and there were so many up lifting ones like the segements on Miracles and Lost Loves.


I think UM has the staying power of AMW... hey its on EVERY WeekNIGHT (weekday in the past) for 2 hours on Lifetime... thats not Network buts pretty good for RERUNS, I'm sure new shows could do wonders, maybe if Lifetime stopped buying "has been" movies (sorry ladies:crazy: ) they could invest a little in the franchise with a new host and new shows for the fall (like say Fridays or Mondays with the repeats in-between???- wishful thinking I know)

I don't know why NBC dropped it, I remember being a bit tee'd off when they did ... as I recall from reading the tv guide section of the paper it always had top 20 ratings. I know I confess to people about my love for UM every once in awhile and I've always gotten very positive "I loved that show" responses.

Yes I would have to agree that AMW is a very worthwhile show and should never be cancelled but it is quite depressing. No doubt because they want to profile the sleaziest offenders and get them off the streets. You know I was never a big fan of some of the lighter segments although there are a handful I appreciate but I do think UM did that to "lighten the mood" at times. I guess they figured after hearing about serial rapists and murderers on the loose throwing in a magic rock segment would be a nice change of pace.

Welcome to the board UMLongtimefan.....nice username! :wave:

I definitely like both shows. But since we have to pick either one or the other, I'd have to say UM.

UM was a classier show. Obviously AMW is dealing with different type cases and it more immediate, but Walsh really turns me off with his language like dirt bag, and trying to act like a tough guy.

In my opinion, it has nothing to do with acting tough but more so having to do with having great disdain for criminals in general. Which I can understand because these are people who terrorize, rape, torture, murder, steal and so on. Dirt bag is pretty non-threatening compared to what I'd be referring to them as. They deserve it, bottom line.