Unsolved Mysteries vs. America's Most Wanted - Re-enactment Scenes - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

JamesG · 02-13-2008, 02:12 AM

Which show's re-enactment scenes did you find cornier?

justins5256 · 02-13-2008, 12:00 PM

AMW. Not only cornier, but they also push the envelope some times. I remember being mortified as a kid watching this one story about a pedophile who molested his neighbor's son for years and videotaped the sessions. AMW featured reenactments of just about every thing leading up to the sex act, including the kid disrobing, and it was very disturbing bordering on disgusting and distasteful. I wish I could remember the pedophile's name because I would be curious to know if he was ever caught after the broadcast. Anyhow, as for those re-enactments, I thought they were a little much. I mean, was it really necessary to see the pedophile trying to seduce the kid, and getting the video camera ready and all that?

supersally1974 · 02-13-2008, 12:51 PM

With all my due respect to John Walsh, I really don't like the tone of the AMW TV series. It's just too flashy, like if the producers of the Super Bowl would apply their aesthetics to UM (minus the lost love, ghost and UFO bits). The production team at CM understood what made this show special, they really put the emphasis on the "mystery". They knew how to convey a sense of foreboding in their segments, like something bad was about to happen any time soon. That was the hook. The stories profiled on UM where just like a good ghost tale told around the campfire. It would just pull you in. Every Wednesday nite, my brother and I would watch this show religiously. Lock the doors and windows, did not answer phones, even during the commercials (we would get more ice cream or double-check to see if the doors were indeed well locked).

Allierain · 02-13-2008, 03:02 PM

Supersally, I think you hit the nail on the head. I also think that AMW is/was too flashy. I am usually the first one to bash the "entertainment" value of reality shows today, but I have to admit it was such value that kept me coming back to UM. Eventually I grew to like it so much that I would watch for possible updates, to get scared every once in awhile, and for Robert Stack (of course!!).

I do applaud the people behind AMW, however. Their show is just as important. It just didn't keep me coming back.

Janice · 02-13-2008, 03:10 PM

I think they both did a very good job. I've been watching AMW since its debut. I guess with this question being posted on an UM forum, the outcome will be predictable. If this question was posted on the AMW message boards, the outcome would be equally as predictable.

nohwheregirl · 02-13-2008, 05:40 PM

AMW has always tried to make their reinactments look like episodes of Miami Vice. Over-the-top flashy with obnoxious background music. UM's reinactments have always had a darker, creepier, more solemn tone. Much more appropriate for the subject matter IMO, but of course being a regular poster here, I'm heavily biased.

wiseguy182 · 02-13-2008, 10:53 PM

not too familiar with AMW, but I agree with everyone that UM's tone was addictive. I can't remember which show it was, but I was watching a report on the Franklin Delano Floyd case (might have been Cold Case Files), and they kept showing close ups of his face with creepy music, like every 30 seconds. I cringed, not because I was scared, but because it was such a cheap, unnecessary tactic to scare viewers. Being a laid-back person, I much more prefer UM's laid-back approach. I don't care too much for theatrics.

Kane · 02-14-2008, 09:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

not too familiar with AMW, but I agree with everyone that UM's tone was addictive. I can't remember which show it was, but I was watching a report on the Franklin Delano Floyd case (might have been Cold Case Files), and they kept showing close ups of his face with creepy music, like every 30 seconds. I cringed, not because I was scared, but because it was such a cheap, unnecessary tactic to scare viewers. Being a laid-back person, I much more prefer UM's laid-back approach. I don't care too much for theatrics.

Franklin Floyd was the subject of an episode of the TruTV series The Investigators. The episode was titled "Pattern of Deception." I'm not sure if that's the show you're thinking of, but the episode was worth watching. Just a half hour into the episode, UM is mentioned.

supersally1974 · 02-14-2008, 10:27 AM

I just hope that SPIKE TV understand what makes this show so special and that that stay true to the spirit of the original series.

Kane · 02-14-2008, 02:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by supersally1974

I just hope that SPIKE TV understand what makes this show so special and that that stay true to the spirit of the original series.

I hear ya! If it ain't broke, DON'T fix it!

Although every show goes through some kind of change (big or little), one has to be very careful as to how much change they make and what kind of changes they make. When it comes to making changes to a TV series, the last thing you would want to do is to drastically change the show just to, say, boost ratings or appease critics. Such an extreme measure is often counterproductive, and could, for example, raise the possibility of people deeming you a "sellout."

02-13-2008, 02:12 AM	#1
JamesG Freakshow Moderator Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 01, 2008 Location: Brooklyn, NY Posts: 56,951	Unsolved Mysteries vs. America's Most Wanted - Re-enactment Scenes Which show's re-enactment scenes did you find cornier?

02-13-2008, 12:51 PM	#3
supersally1974 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 16, 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 204	With all my due respect to John Walsh, I really don't like the tone of the AMW TV series. It's just too flashy, like if the producers of the Super Bowl would apply their aesthetics to UM (minus the lost love, ghost and UFO bits). The production team at CM understood what made this show special, they really put the emphasis on the "mystery". They knew how to convey a sense of foreboding in their segments, like something bad was about to happen any time soon. That was the hook. The stories profiled on UM where just like a good ghost tale told around the campfire. It would just pull you in. Every Wednesday nite, my brother and I would watch this show religiously. Lock the doors and windows, did not answer phones, even during the commercials (we would get more ice cream or double-check to see if the doors were indeed well locked).
	__________________ On January 10, 2008, Maila Nurmi, better known as the legendary 1950’s Los Angeles B-movie horror hostess “Vampira”, passed away in her sleep at the age of 86. Said to be the inspiration for the Morticia Addams character in “The Addams Family”, Vampira was the original “glamour ghoul” and the iconic star of Ed Wood’s “Plan 9 from Outer Space”.

02-13-2008, 12:00 PM	#2
justins5256 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2002 Posts: 3,866	AMW. Not only cornier, but they also push the envelope some times. I remember being mortified as a kid watching this one story about a pedophile who molested his neighbor's son for years and videotaped the sessions. AMW featured reenactments of just about every thing leading up to the sex act, including the kid disrobing, and it was very disturbing bordering on disgusting and distasteful. I wish I could remember the pedophile's name because I would be curious to know if he was ever caught after the broadcast. Anyhow, as for those re-enactments, I thought they were a little much. I mean, was it really necessary to see the pedophile trying to seduce the kid, and getting the video camera ready and all that?

02-13-2008, 03:02 PM	#4
Allierain Forum Old Fart Forum Regular Join Date: Nov 30, 2002 Location: Somewhere Posts: 508	Supersally, I think you hit the nail on the head. I also think that AMW is/was too flashy. I am usually the first one to bash the "entertainment" value of reality shows today, but I have to admit it was such value that kept me coming back to UM. Eventually I grew to like it so much that I would watch for possible updates, to get scared every once in awhile, and for Robert Stack (of course!!). I do applaud the people behind AMW, however. Their show is just as important. It just didn't keep me coming back.

02-13-2008, 03:10 PM	#5
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,389	I think they both did a very good job. I've been watching AMW since its debut. I guess with this question being posted on an UM forum, the outcome will be predictable. If this question was posted on the AMW message boards, the outcome would be equally as predictable.

02-13-2008, 05:40 PM	#6
nohwheregirl THE Mystery Machine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Posts: 1,057	AMW has always tried to make their reinactments look like episodes of Miami Vice. Over-the-top flashy with obnoxious background music. UM's reinactments have always had a darker, creepier, more solemn tone. Much more appropriate for the subject matter IMO, but of course being a regular poster here, I'm heavily biased.

02-13-2008, 10:53 PM	#7
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	not too familiar with AMW, but I agree with everyone that UM's tone was addictive. I can't remember which show it was, but I was watching a report on the Franklin Delano Floyd case (might have been Cold Case Files), and they kept showing close ups of his face with creepy music, like every 30 seconds. I cringed, not because I was scared, but because it was such a cheap, unnecessary tactic to scare viewers. Being a laid-back person, I much more prefer UM's laid-back approach. I don't care too much for theatrics.

02-14-2008, 10:27 AM	#9
supersally1974 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Apr 16, 2007 Location: Montreal Posts: 204	I just hope that SPIKE TV understand what makes this show so special and that that stay true to the spirit of the original series.