Is this the end for Unsolved Mysteries as a series with Robert Stack's passing? The show can go on with another host, but I guess its up to Lifetime (and UM's producers) if they want to produce a new full hour of episodes with a new host. How about bringing back Virginia Madsen, who co-hosted the show with Robert Stack during its final year on CBS in 1998-'99?

Either way, the importance of the show is what must go on. This show does a lot of help in solving crimes, and helping people reunite with lost loved ones.

I'm not so sure about this. I don't know if it will be in good taste. Unsolved Mysteries ran for over SIXTEEN YEARS on three different networks. It's synonymous with Robert Stack and it's biggest trademark is definitely his voice. People have literally grown-up to this fact. In my opinion, watching Unsolved Mysteries without Robert Stack would be like watching Columbo without Peter Falk.

I agree the show is very important and does a great service to society and Lifetime can start producing a similar interactive crime show with a NEW TITLE, appearance, and feel. I think someone like Jonathan Frakes or Judd Nelson would be a good host, though Lifetime would probably get a woman.

And I see no reason why UM should stop being played regularly. A lot of the criminal cases still have not been solved yet and the detectives working them have moved on to newer crimes. The broadcasts are the only things keeping the cases in the public's awareness- the only chance the perpetrators will be caught.

Robert Stack is gone from the physical world but a passed person is NOT an obsolete one! Lifetime, please do not retire his contributions and legacy because of this!!!!

Originally posted by Starbright726
I'm not so sure about this. I don't know if it will be in good taste. Unsolved Mysteries ran for over SIXTEEN YEARS on three different networks. It's synonymous with Robert Stack and it's biggest trademark is definitely his voice. People have literally grown-up to this fact. In my opinion, watching Unsolved Mysteries without Robert Stack would be like watching Columbo without Peter Falk.

That's very true! Robert Stack is heavily identified with the show and it's hard to imagine the show without him.


Originally posted by Starbright726
I agree the show is very important and does a great service to society and Lifetime can start producing a similar interactive crime show with a NEW TITLE, appearance, and feel. I think someone like Jonathan Frakes or Judd Nelson would be a good host, though Lifetime would probably get a woman.

And I see no reason why UM should stop being played regularly. A lot of the criminal cases still have not been solved yet and the detectives working them have moved on to newer crimes. The broadcasts are the only things keeping the cases in the public's awareness- the only chance the perpetrators will be caught.

Agreed. I think it would be better that Lifetime create a show that's similar to "Unsolved Mysteries" with profiling cases and have viewers send in tips but with a new look, title, and host. Also, I think UM could add in those text-only updates in the reruns like they did when the show was cancelled between 1999 and 2001.

-Makoto_4

One good example/reason of why UM should continue playing is the capture of Astarte Davis-Rice. The police got a tip as a direct result of a recent UM broadcast. She had escaped from prison for embezzling from her late husband's estate, the same husband she's suspecting of killing.

So many more unsolved cases:

-Monika Rizzo (her bones along with three others found in husband's back yard)

-Murder of dog handler and heiress Cam Lyman

-Whereabouts of the late "Suzanne Davis's" young child, who was kidnapped by stepfather who was later arrested. He won't say what he did with the child

-The two women and the girl who disappeared in Oklahoma after custody visit with son

-OPEC founder and con artist who's dressing as a woman to avoid capture

These are the newer ones I can remember. One of the older, heartbreaking cases is Bradford Bishop, who bludgeoned is entire family to death then set them on fire. I hope they catch him so badly. :mad:

I would love to see them continue with the show, but it definitely won't be the same with Robert Stack. I am not sure who I would pick to host if it were up to me. But I would like to see them continue the show, since there are so many more cases that need to be featured and updated. The only other show like this one that I personally know of is America's Most Wanted, which usually doesn't focus on older cases.

If they decide to continue the show with a new host, it might be wise not to do so right away. They should wait for some amount of time, until the passing of Robert Stack becomes old news. I think that would be a more respectful way of doing it.

As you know, there are many shows that have gone through host changes. Reviving a certain show with a new host tends to create some ambivalence among longtime fans, but there are times when they work out well--sometimes, no matter how closely identified a show is with its original host or vice versa.

One perfect example is Family Feud; I'm sure a lot of people initially had a hard time envisioning the show being hosted by someone else other than Richard Dawson. But Ray Combs proved to be a worthy successor. (When FF was revived in 1988 with Combs as the host, it had been three years since the show's original run ended.)

Also, if Unsolved Mysteries should continue with a new host, they should go with someone who is both able and willing to be true to the spirit of the show. This kind of rule also applies when you succeed someone as a TV show host.

I agree with many things that have been said. Waiting a few months would probably be best. I think Mr. Stack would like to see the show go on and continue to solve cases and arrest fugitives and reunite lost loved ones.

I think Virginia Madsen would be a great choice as mentioned. She has previous experience (she only co-hosted the episodes in the summer of 1999). She has a nice, sultry almost mysterious voice. She would appeal to both men and women. She has a working relationship with Lifetime having appeared in some of their tv movies. How many shows has Lifetime had that were hosted by a man? I think Unsolved Mysteries might be the exception.

Even if they aren't producing any new segments, I think it is important they continue to show atleast 1 episode a day. The show is still valuable at solving cases as information has shown in the last few months.

Unsolved Mysteries is not on the primetime schedule for June as far as I can see (it still may air from time to time though I guess), but it will remain at 1PM EST/PST.

judd nelson??????? are u joking?!?

No, rubout1234, I was NOT joking, did I SOUND like I was?

The reason I named him was that he hosted a paranormal show a couple of years ago and was surprisingly good. But it was a casual suggestion, is all.

Unsolved Mysteries has always been one of my favorite shows and I've been giving a lot of thought to whether or not it should continue after the death of Robert Stack. UM has a solid fan base and a solid history of solving cold cases and reuniting loved one. To me, it would be a shame to phase out the show completely. Also, if they end the series now, we would have no way of knowing if any UM cases are solved in the future. My hope is that Lifetime will revise the series with an established actor or actress as host. Stacy Keach would be a great choice. He hosted a show called "Missing: Reward" several years ago and brought just the right hint of mystery to the segments.

they need to continue with the same show, new host

its too important to just stop and make a ripoff

what will happen to the old episodes and their updates?

it sucks that Stack is dead (i was crushed), but they cant just end the show because of it, theres more people than just Stack who made the show what it is

it was a rhetorical question starbright726! i never saw that paranormal show u spoke of. i just remember him from 1980's teen comedies, so his i imagined hed be miscast as UM host, but i a man can be wrong. nevertheless i suggest an older gentleman, it just seems much more suitable. their voices tend to huskier, deeper & spookier.

Sorry Rubber, the way you just asked that question without expanding on it, I didn't know how to take it. You're right he wouldn't be a good host at this point, I just saw him in an Animal Planet movie and he's sunk... That was the 1st time I saw him since that paranormal show

With programs like American Idol being produced these days, do the networks know how to have the atmosphere that UM had in 1988 and 1989? They seem bent on SELLING series rather than have them attract attention for their artistic (and in UM's case eeriely frightening) brilliance. They want to make big bucks, and forget what UM stands for.....if they phase into a new program. The reason to keep it is just that, that everyone knows what UM is....seriously, a lot who were kids back then have grown up, and love seeing episodes with The Unexplained as the major story here and now. Thing is, it's to nonfiction like what The Twilight Zone was to fiction....the host has to BELIEVE in it...not just say lines for dramatic effect. Rod Serling was TZ, and Robert Stack was UM. There needs to be a host gotten who can give "the look," but truly does believe, or want to uncover the truth....as well as being fascinated with the inexplicable.

Originally posted by Silver Dark
Rod Serling was TZ, and Robert Stack was UM. There needs to be a host gotten who can give "the look," but truly does believe, or want to uncover the truth....as well as being fascinated with the inexplicable.

Interesting point. In addition, if the show is someday revived and they choose an actor to host the show (just like Robert Stack was an actor before hosting UM), I would not want it to be an overexposed actor, because that would be too distracting. Wouldn' t you agree?

Preferrably not, but I'd be willing to accept someone "famous" if they showed by their attitude and bearing that they "truly believed"....and stuck with it year after year, and not just using it as a springboard. UM means more than that, by God.

Agreed. Robert Stack, I believe, firmly believed in UM, otherwise I doubt he would have stuck with it as long as he did. It's not as if he needed the job. He helped put away some nasty criminals, but of course credit is due to him and the entire cast and crew.