UM wasn't the 1980s; UM was the 1960s

[Chichester Crowe]

I've stated my opinion about nostalgia and its effects on art in other threads, but I wanted to discuss it again from a different approach.

A handful of folks here believe that the new UM should try to incorporate 80s nostalgia, similarly to the hit show Stranger Things. I've pointed out before that such pastiche actually serves to, at best, satirize the original material or at worst, parody the original material.

I have something that I call "Thirty Year Theory". It's the idea that when people reach their 30s they become nostalgic for their childhood/adolesence, and everything that came from that time period. So for the last decade or so, we've seen a lot film and television remakes and reboots of material from the 1980s.

With this in mind, let's take a closer look at the 1980s. I remember 50s/60s pop and rock music being very popular in the 1980s. "I Think We're Alone Now" became a one-hit wonder for Tiffany Darwish. The Beach Boys launched a comeback with "Kokomo", etc. There were also many films that dramatically idealized that era for the 50s/60s nostalgia audience: Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, Stand By Me, Dead Poets Society, La Bamba, Great Balls of Fire, Clue, Animal House, The Outsiders, Little Shop of Horrors, A Christmas Story, and the list goes on and on...

Which brings me to the program that we all know and love: Unsolved Mysteries. Unsolved Mysteries as a concept is simple: Lets make a crime-show drama like the ones from the 50s and 60s, but base the dramatizations on real-life crimes and invite the viewers to assist law enforcement.

Unsolved Mysteries is literally Dragnet with a host and toll-free phone line.

Their choice in hosts gives this secret away: All three men were recruited because of their experience in crime procedural shows from the 60s.

Raymond Burr - Perry Mason (which resurfaced in the 80s as made-for-tv movies)
Karl Malden - The Streets of San Francisco (technically from the 70s, but rocking the fedora and trenchcoat)
Robert Stack - The Untouchables (which resurfaced in the made-for-tv movie The Return of Elliot Ness -1991, not to mention the 1987 Brian De Palma film with Costner and Connery)


What's my point? We may nostalgically look back at Unsolved Mysteries and see the epitome of the 1980s, but that's exactly the fault of nostalgia: it's a lie. Unsolved Mysteries was always trying to be the 1960s, even with the synth soundtrack and 1980s presentism.

[EighthStreet]

I was kind of thinking about this the other day. A modern version of UM with a host would be wise to use Sam Waterston in that role, or anyone who played a detective on any of the versions of Law and Order. It would fit that looking back 30 years idea too.

[infinityluxe]

Originally Posted by EighthStreet

I was kind of thinking about this the other day. A modern version of UM with a host would be wise to use Sam Waterston in that role, or anyone who played a detective on any of the versions of Law and Order. It would fit that looking back 30 years idea too.

I just hoped the new version would stay true to the original. Having a host. Multiple segments per episode. From what I gather this new UM will not be doing that so I may pass on it.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Good points by the OP CC.

Looks like this Netflix UM is turning out to be a pretty big disappointment without a host or anything.

[mphs95]

Originally Posted by SitcomsHeydayfan

Good points by the OP CC.

Looks like this Netflix UM is turning out to be a pretty big disappointment without a host or anything.

I'm going to keep an open mind until I watch it on Netflix. We have to also understand that there are probably limits on the budget and other small things, so it's won't be the same, but it could be also good.

I love Forensic Files II. It's not the original, but it has its own good merits.

[jbjr56]

Originally Posted by Chichester Crowe

I've stated my opinion about nostalgia and its effects on art in other threads, but I wanted to discuss it again from a different approach.

A handful of folks here believe that the new UM should try to incorporate 80s nostalgia, similarly to the hit show Stranger Things. I've pointed out before that such pastiche actually serves to, at best, satirize the original material or at worst, parody the original material.

I have something that I call "Thirty Year Theory". It's the idea that when people reach their 30s they become nostalgic for their childhood/adolesence, and everything that came from that time period. So for the last decade or so, we've seen a lot film and television remakes and reboots of material from the 1980s.

With this in mind, let's take a closer look at the 1980s. I remember 50s/60s pop and rock music being very popular in the 1980s. "I Think We're Alone Now" became a one-hit wonder for Tiffany Darwish. The Beach Boys launched a comeback with "Kokomo", etc. There were also many films that dramatically idealized that era for the 50s/60s nostalgia audience: Dirty Dancing, Back to the Future, Stand By Me, Dead Poets Society, La Bamba, Great Balls of Fire, Clue, Animal House, The Outsiders, Little Shop of Horrors, A Christmas Story, and the list goes on and on...

Which brings me to the program that we all know and love: Unsolved Mysteries. Unsolved Mysteries as a concept is simple: Lets make a crime-show drama like the ones from the 50s and 60s, but base the dramatizations on real-life crimes and invite the viewers to assist law enforcement.

Unsolved Mysteries is literally Dragnet with a host and toll-free phone line.

Their choice in hosts gives this secret away: All three men were recruited because of their experience in crime procedural shows from the 60s.

Raymond Burr - Perry Mason (which resurfaced in the 80s as made-for-tv movies)
Karl Malden - The Streets of San Francisco (technically from the 70s, but rocking the fedora and trenchcoat)
Robert Stack - The Untouchables (which resurfaced in the made-for-tv movie The Return of Elliot Ness -1991, not to mention the 1987 Brian De Palma film with Costner and Connery)


What's my point? We may nostalgically look back at Unsolved Mysteries and see the epitome of the 1980s, but that's exactly the fault of nostalgia: it's a lie. Unsolved Mysteries was always trying to be the 1960s, even with the synth soundtrack and 1980s presentism.

Holy cow I just heard a Tiffany’s version of I think we’re Alone about an hour ago on my way back home in the car. Watching clips of the Outsiders and the Big Chill recently too.

[dynoguy88]

When UM broadcasted their first season, there was only one year left until the 80's ended. So I tend to think of it more as a 90's show. The "80s feel" came more from the fact that many cases took place during those years because that was the most recent decade.

As for the Netflix discussion, I too will hold judgement until I see it. But I'm still not crazy about the thought of having no host. I think they should do what 'Disappeared' does on Investigation Discovery. Have the host narrate but not be seen. He provides so much between all the interviews.

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by mphs95

I'm going to keep an open mind until I watch it on Netflix. We have to also understand that there are probably limits on the budget and other small things, so it's won't be the same, but it could be also good.

I love Forensic Files II. It's not the original, but it has its own good merits.

Yes, FF & FF II are both good. But if the new UM is like this then it's no longer UM but another version of FF!

There was a show on the Discovery channel in the 90s & 2000s called the FBI Files which was great! But they had a great narrator(never saw him) & cool music like UM.

If the new UM was like that it might just be pretty good.

[infinityluxe]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

When UM broadcasted their first season, there was only one year left until the 80's ended. So I tend to think of it more as a 90's show. The "80s feel" came more from the fact that many cases took place during those years because that was the most recent decade.

As for the Netflix discussion, I too will hold judgement until I see it. But I'm still not crazy about the thought of having no host. I think they should do what 'Disappeared' does on Investigation Discovery. Have the host narrate but not be seen. He provides so much between all the interviews.

Yes Disappeared is a perfect example of how the tone of the new UM should be. It was very effective having him heard and not seen. Forensic Files narrator was also excellent may Peter Thomas rest in piece.

I understand Robert Stack is a hard act to follow but we need someone to guide and pivot the stories. Having a narrator and no host would be excellent and save in the production department.

It seems the creators are more interested in a quick buck than giving the fans who have been there since the beginning (I was born in 1986 but discovered the show watching with my grandparents as a young child 9 or 10).

I remember when the CrystalDawn collectives were all we had in terms of reliving this nostalgic show. I passed up the opportunity to buy the Ultimate Collection for $50 at a DVD shop in 2007 and I never forgave myself. I am grateful we are able to stream this show.

In theory I hate to say it but sometimes a reboot is better left as just a thought. I think a lot of us will be let down on some level.

I personally think they should have just elaborated on the old cases a bit and interview people from back then again to try and give us a nice update on segments that are still Unsolved. However, the majority of the individuals interviewed are long gone in most cases. But I would have enjoyed that so much.

[TheCars1986]

If we want to be honest, UM was a ripoff of the British television show Crimewatch, which was inspired by a German television show that started in the 60's...and is still ongoing.

[Chichester Crowe]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

If we want to be honest, UM was a ripoff of the British television show Crimewatch, which was inspired by a German television show that started in the 60's...and is still ongoing.

That is awesome. Thank you for adding to this thread, I would've never expected that.

Will I now be addicted to tracking down lost episodes of an OOP British program?

[SitcomsHeydayfan]

Originally Posted by Chichester Crowe

That is awesome. Thank you for adding to this thread, I would've never expected that.

Will I now be addicted to tracking down lost episodes of an OOP British program?

But crime in Britain is wimpy compared to here in the USA. We have some of the worst crime on earth outside of Islamic terrorists in the Middle east!

So I'm just sayin' that Crimewatch show might not be as interesting as UM.

Plus UM added a bunch of cool stories that were NOT crime related.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by Chichester Crowe

That is awesome. Thank you for adding to this thread, I would've never expected that.

Will I now be addicted to tracking down lost episodes of an OOP British program?

I didn't look for them, but I did find an old episode of the German show on Youtube from 1971...and it's set up kind of like a news program, but it does have re-enactments. You can tell this is where they got the idea from.

[5thcorps]

What made Stack so special was how he set the tone for the series. Malden and Burr came off as distant and detached when reading their lines, whereas Stack seemed truly engaged in the material. It takes a connection from the host to be made with the audience for a program to be successful. Stack was electric in his role.

[unsolved88]

Originally Posted by Chichester Crowe

That is awesome. Thank you for adding to this thread, I would've never expected that.

Will I now be addicted to tracking down lost episodes of an OOP British program?

There are several Crimewatch UK episode on a certain site, dating back to its first episode in 1984. The main thing that stands out with their reconstructions (their term for what we call re-enactments) is that they tended to focus on random crimes where the police didn't have a named suspect or perpetrator.