Unsolved Mysteries mentioned on "I love the 80's" - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

dynoguy88 · 10-28-2005, 09:29 PM

Does anyone else watch VH1? They are currently doing "I love the 80's," Part 3 (3-D).

When they get to 1988, they mention Unsolved Mysteries. It's funny listening to the celebs and comedians talk about how the theme song and Stack's voice would freak them out. Sounds like many of us posters.

They mention how the reenactments weren't always top notch obviously but the show still scared them. Lance Bass from NSYNC concludes by saying that the show made the hair on his arms stand up.

dynoguy88 · 10-28-2005, 09:47 PM

Sorry, my bad. I see it's already mentioned in another thread.

PrettyinPink55 · 10-28-2005, 10:37 PM

COOL!!! I so have to see that!!!

DarkDante · 10-28-2005, 11:20 PM

HA! - I find it funny that the criticized the actors on "UM" being that half of those actors on "I Love The 80s/90s/70s" or whatever - that is basically their permanent gig. They are "C-List" actors for the most part or washed up has beens who I've always felt suffer from delusions of grandeur.

Of course the actors on "UM" didn't have great talent - for the most part UM culled it's talent from local small bit actors who with very few exceptions after "UM" were never to be seen again.

U.M. Fanatic · 10-29-2005, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDante

HA! - I find it funny that the criticized the actors on "UM" being that half of those actors on "I Love The 80s/90s/70s" or whatever - that is basically their permanent gig. They are "C-List" actors for the most part or washed up has beens who I've always felt suffer from delusions of grandeur.

I felt the same way, though it was nice to see a shout-out for UM.

PrettyinPink55 · 10-30-2005, 01:51 AM

I only got to watch a tad bit of 1988 today and I didn't get to see UM.

ddelta · 10-31-2005, 05:42 PM

I just saw in the late 80s that UM was one of the top 20 shows. I had no clue. It will never go back to being as good as it was back then. I love those shows.

U.M. Fanatic · 10-31-2005, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ddelta

I just saw in the late 80s that UM was one of the top 20 shows. I had no clue. It will never go back to being as good as it was back then. I love those shows.

Here's how Unsolved Mysteries ranked through the years, according to the great book, The Complete Directory To Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows.

Season/Rank

'88-'89/17

'89-'90/11

'90-'91/16

'91-'92/13

'92-'93/21

Kane · 10-31-2005, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PrettyinPink55

I only got to watch a tad bit of 1988 today and I didn't get to see UM.

The part where they discuss UM occurs twenty minutes into the show. But please don't despair if you missed it. It will be shown again. You just have to go to the VH1 web site for dates and times.

Of all the I Love the '80s/90s shows they have done, it was about time they discussed UM on the program. UM is one of the best shows of all time.

U.M. Fanatic · 10-31-2005, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kane

Of all the I Love the '80s/90s shows they have done, it was about time they discussed UM on the program. UM is one of the best shows of all time.

justins5256 · 11-01-2005, 12:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DarkDante

HA! - I find it funny that the criticized the actors on "UM" being that half of those actors on "I Love The 80s/90s/70s" or whatever - that is basically their permanent gig. They are "C-List" actors for the most part or washed up has beens who I've always felt suffer from delusions of grandeur.

Of course the actors on "UM" didn't have great talent - for the most part UM culled it's talent from local small bit actors who with very few exceptions after "UM" were never to be seen again.

While I realize UM did employ some small time actors, I always thought that they tried to use the actual "family members and police officials" to recreate the events - this being the reason for most of the "bad acting".

Big3sCompanyFan · 11-01-2005, 10:09 AM

With ratings in the top 20 (except for the last season when it was 21) you would think they would have definitely renewed the show and kept it going and going like America's Most Wanted.

And AMW's ratings are pretty horrible. They are around 60 or 70 yet they have been around for 20 years!!!

UM should be around that long too since UM is actually better suited for TV than AMW is anyway.

Kane · 11-01-2005, 01:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Big3sCompanyFan

With ratings in the top 20 (except for the last season when it was 21) you would think they would have definitely renewed the show and kept it going and going like America's Most Wanted.

And AMW's ratings are pretty horrible. They are around 60 or 70 yet they have been around for 20 years!!!

UM should be around that long too since UM is actually better suited for TV than AMW is anyway.

In any case, AMW is still a consisently watched Saturday night show. Even if the show's overall Nielsen ratings are "horrible", it still does very well in the 18-49 demographics.

Plus, there used to be a time when networks were more focused on overall viewership than on specific age groups or other demographics. But that has changed. (I mean, how else do you explain that The Brady Bunch and the original Star Trek each lasted as long as they did without the benefit of high Nielsen ratings?)

I agree with you that UM should be around for as long as AMW. Unfortunately, however, that possibility has been severely hindered by several things:

1) The number one factor was the death of Robert Stack. When he died in 2003, Lifetime chose to terminate production of the series, instead of continuing it with a new host, as Stack is considered irreplaceable.

2) The second factor involves TV politics. A lot of today's media and TV executives tend to desire programs that suit their agenda, even if the agenda is petty or disagreeable. Evidently, they want shows that they feel will help promote their views (be it personal or political), and I can see that some of their views are so backward that they are painfully incompatible with the format of a show like UM. Sad but true.

3) A third factor would be ownership. Networks generally prefer to own shows, as network-owned shows tend to be generally more profitable and affordable. (AMW is a network-owned series; UM wasn't.)

From what I have just mentioned, it is obvious that an UM revival is currently not in the cards. That is, unless some network exec comes to a sensible understanding of the essence of UM, and unless some exceptional host candidate enters the picture. And we're still very far away from both.

redbird77 · 11-04-2005, 03:03 PM

I've always enjoyed the "bad acting". I think it lends an aura of creepiness to the re-enactments. That and the grainy, muted colors of the scenes make the late 80s segments so scary.

Also, as a UM devotee, I thought I had seen every segment, but for the life of me I cannot recall the details of the segment snippet shown at the very end of "I Love the 80s".

A older woman (Mary? or something) is in her bathroom and sees, in the mirror, a man walk behind her. Does anyone have any details? If it is a ghost/haunting thing - ho hum - not too scary, but if he was real...

justins5256 · 11-04-2005, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by redbird77

A older woman (Mary? or something) is in her bathroom and sees, in the mirror, a man walk behind her. Does anyone have any details? If it is a ghost/haunting thing - ho hum - not too scary, but if he was real...

It was from a ghost story originally featured on 10/26/88.

10-28-2005, 09:29 PM	#1
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,674	Unsolved Mysteries mentioned on "I love the 80's" Does anyone else watch VH1? They are currently doing "I love the 80's," Part 3 (3-D). When they get to 1988, they mention Unsolved Mysteries. It's funny listening to the celebs and comedians talk about how the theme song and Stack's voice would freak them out. Sounds like many of us posters. They mention how the reenactments weren't always top notch obviously but the show still scared them. Lance Bass from NSYNC concludes by saying that the show made the hair on his arms stand up.

10-28-2005, 09:47 PM	#2
dynoguy88 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 01, 2000 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 3,674	reply Sorry, my bad. I see it's already mentioned in another thread.

10-28-2005, 10:37 PM	#3
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	COOL!!! I so have to see that!!!
	__________________ ♥♥♥

11-04-2005, 03:03 PM	#14
redbird77 Member Forum Hawk Join Date: Apr 15, 2002 Location: USA Posts: 4	I've always enjoyed the "bad acting". I think it lends an aura of creepiness to the re-enactments. That and the grainy, muted colors of the scenes make the late 80s segments so scary. Also, as a UM devotee, I thought I had seen every segment, but for the life of me I cannot recall the details of the segment snippet shown at the very end of "I Love the 80s". A older woman (Mary? or something) is in her bathroom and sees, in the mirror, a man walk behind her. Does anyone have any details? If it is a ghost/haunting thing - ho hum - not too scary, but if he was real...
	__________________ Love your good dog! http://home.earthlink.net/~redbird77/dancer/index.htm

10-28-2005, 11:20 PM	#4
DarkDante Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1,569	HA! - I find it funny that the criticized the actors on "UM" being that half of those actors on "I Love The 80s/90s/70s" or whatever - that is basically their permanent gig. They are "C-List" actors for the most part or washed up has beens who I've always felt suffer from delusions of grandeur. Of course the actors on "UM" didn't have great talent - for the most part UM culled it's talent from local small bit actors who with very few exceptions after "UM" were never to be seen again.

10-30-2005, 01:51 AM	#6
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	I only got to watch a tad bit of 1988 today and I didn't get to see UM.

10-31-2005, 05:42 PM	#7
ddelta Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 07, 2003 Posts: 218	I just saw in the late 80s that UM was one of the top 20 shows. I had no clue. It will never go back to being as good as it was back then. I love those shows.

11-01-2005, 10:09 AM	#12
Big3sCompanyFan Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 16, 2003 Posts: 2,493	With ratings in the top 20 (except for the last season when it was 21) you would think they would have definitely renewed the show and kept it going and going like America's Most Wanted. And AMW's ratings are pretty horrible. They are around 60 or 70 yet they have been around for 20 years!!! UM should be around that long too since UM is actually better suited for TV than AMW is anyway.