Damn you Lifetime

[synthisislab]

Why did they feature the Todd Kelly and Pierre April cases Tuesday and Wednesday? Are they going to show any newer episodes from 1997-2003? After 1997, what network were the new episodes on? Was it Lifetime? I forget. One of the creepiest of the newer episodes was the Megan Curl murder. That composite was ultracreepy.

[DarkDante]

CBS was the network that broadcasted the show after NBC - You can find more information about the broadcast history of the show on the main page of this site.

[GoldenGirlsFan92]

Originally Posted by synthisislab

Why did they feature the Todd Kelly and Pierre April cases Tuesday and Wednesday? Are they going to show any newer episodes from 1997-2003? After 1997, what network were the new episodes on? Was it Lifetime? I forget. One of the creepiest of the newer episodes was the Megan Curl murder. That composite was ultracreepy.

I think LIfetime should put Newier segmets on!!

[hipster91]

I think that it was outrageous for Lifetime to broadcast two of the same segments on back-to-back days.

It seems to me that they mistakenly assume (or simply do not care) that there is a regular audience viewing the show.

I agree with some of the other members of the forum that this is a bad sign that Lifetime is likely to cancel broadcasting the show sometime in the near future.

[synthisislab]

Originally Posted by hipster91

I think that it was outrageous for Lifetime to broadcast two of the same segments on back-to-back days.

It seems to me that they mistakenly assume (or simply do not care) that there is a regular audience viewing the show.

I agree with some of the other members of the forum that this is a bad sign that Lifetime is likely to cancel broadcasting the show sometime in the near future.

One part of me hopes that Lifetime will cancel the show so another station will pick it up that will be more respectful to us UM fans. The other part wants Lifetime to remove their heads from their you know whats, quit pulling our chains, and quit trimming down UM episodes and trying to phase it out altogether (which is apparent that they don't give a damn). You would think that the fans of the show, victim's rights advocates, and families of the murder and kidnap victims profiled on UM could band together and get Lifetime to stop screwing around by putting shows like Frasier and Will & Grace on when they are already seen in syndication by the major networks already. But, in the end, it's all about money like it's always been.

[DarkDante]

Well UM "used" to be their flagship show (as well as their highest rated show) but this was going many years back. I really don't agree with people bashing "Lifetime" and their treatment of the show because they've done a lot more for it than a lot of other networks would do for a show which is technically a "dead brand".

They've resurrected it on two occasions (in 2001/2002) even going so far to bring Robert Stack back to host several new segments. When these new episodes were put together they were heavily promoted and in fact there was even an "Unsolved Mysteries" marathon one Saturday I recall.

After Mr. Stack's passing, "Lifetime" aired a few tribute spots to the late actor and sometime after I believe "Unsolved Mysteries" was given a two hour block in the middle of the afternoon where it remained until episodes of "Fraiser" cut the airings down to one hour each afternoon. I also believe last year around this time a lot of us either emailed or wrote "Lifetime" expressing our dissatifaction with the "re-edits" and wanting the "old episodes" to return and within several weeks the "re-edits" were plucked from the schedule and for the most part the older episodes returned. In my opinion our emails had some effect.

Like it or not this is a great deal of effort on the part of a network that while obligated to broadcast "Unsolved Mysteries" really doesn't have to go to such lengths for a show which probably no longer pulls down high ratings for the network.

[justins5256]

While I believe that all of us want better treatment of the show, I think we have to consider the bigger picture here. More than likely, UM is no longer attracting the viewers it once did, and is therefore no longer racking in the big bucks. As much as we may abhor them, show like Fraiser, Will and Grace, and the like are "in" and are probably drawing in more viewers than UM at the present time. Therefore, if Lifetime sees this type of programming trumping UM in the ratings, I think it is only logical to assume what is going to eventually happen to UM. There is no doubt that this type of programming is making money. Think of how many other networks, both major and minor, are still syndicating these two shows, as well as others like them.

The bottom line is that WE are in the minority here. Did the email pleas to Lifetime really help as Dante pointed out? It is hard to say. While they may have listened to us about episode selections, I doubt they are going to keep the show on just because we ask them to. Unfortunately, there are not enough of "us" out there to make a difference to their ratings, and that is clearly what they are paying attention to.

UM has been on Lifetime continuously for 14 years now. Nothing ever lasts forever.

JS

[Kane]

Originally Posted by justins5256

While I believe that all of us want better treatment of the show, I think we have to consider the bigger picture here. More than likely, UM is no longer attracting the viewers it once did, and is therefore no longer racking in the big bucks. As much as we may abhor them, show like Fraiser, Will and Grace, and the like are "in" and are probably drawing in more viewers than UM at the present time. Therefore, if Lifetime sees this type of programming trumping UM in the ratings, I think it is only logical to assume what is going to eventually happen to UM. There is no doubt that this type of programming is making money. Think of how many other networks, both major and minor, are still syndicating these two shows, as well as others like them.

The bottom line is that WE are in the minority here.

Are we really in the minority? That's probably what today's Hollywood executives want us to believe. Therefore, they are basically dictating what we want or don't want to see. But if anything, we are part of the sillenced majority. We are silenced by Hollywood, but far from silent.

And yes, being "in" is a common issue in what is shown and what isn't. Right now, unfortunately, the type of entertainment that's is currently "in" includes shows where people eat bugs, as well as stories that glorify vice and degrade virtue. (For this reason, one might believe that stories about people of virtue are "out".) The current higher-ups at Hollywood are promoting such sleaze for the sake of money and ratings.

Unfortunately, I'm not making this up. It is something I have discussed here in the past. In fact, it has compelled me to read numerous books related to the topic, including Hollywood Nation and The Enemy Within (by James Hirsen and Michael Savage, respectively).

The problem with today's Hollywood people is that no matter how much creative freedom they have, it's not good enough for them. They just want more, more, and more. And they don't seem to care if they go as far as depicting degenerates as heroes or vice versa, as long as it makes them rich.

Fortunately, we are not required by law to consume entertainment that we deem disagreeable. All we have to do is tune it out.

[DarkDante]

Originally Posted by Kane

Right now, unfortunately, the type of entertainment that's is currently "in" includes shows where people eat bugs

LOL - Sorry that just struck me as funny but so true! - Anyhow on a more serious note although I consider myself a liberal (and a bleeding heart liberal at that and proud of it) I do find myself agreeing with a lot of the sentiments expressed in this posting.

I had the opportunity to see Bruce Springsteen in concert this summer and during his show he said a lot of things that made sense to me about "Hollywood". He said that "we" have become "a celebrity orientated society, one that is driven by money and their fifteen minutes of fame". He then went on to lambast the television show "Desperate Housewives".

I've always felt (and I guess to a degree its true) if you ever want to see an example of this tune into a game show (or a reality show for that matter) where you have people partaking in all kinds of stupid acts or jumping around like morons for the chance of winning some money. Its friggin' disgusting - Give me UM any day of the week, this other stuff is laughable.

[kane7474]

I wish any station would pick up UM and play it like USA plays law and order or like spike plays CSI. Both these shows suck but those two networks are playing them round the clock. Surely someone could pick up UM and do this. Possibly Court TV or A&e

[Kane]

Originally Posted by DarkDante

LOL - Sorry that just struck me as funny but so true! - Anyhow on a more serious note although I consider myself a liberal (and a bleeding heart liberal at that and proud of it) I do find myself agreeing with a lot of the sentiments expressed in this posting.

I had the opportunity to see Bruce Springsteen in concert this summer and during his show he said a lot of things that made sense to me about "Hollywood". He said that "we" have become "a celebrity orientated society, one that is driven by money and their fifteen minutes of fame". He then went on to lambast the television show "Desperate Housewives".

I've always felt (and I guess to a degree its true) if you ever want to see an example of this tune into a game show (or a reality show for that matter) where you have people partaking in all kinds of stupid acts or jumping around like morons for the chance of winning some money. Its friggin' disgusting - Give me UM any day of the week, this other stuff is laughable.

I'm glad that someone on this site agrees with me. And I think that much of the sleaze that is being shoved down our throats is part of the reason why we currently don't have enough shows that promote virtue. And because UM has a pro-law enforcement theme, I honestly consider it to be a show of virtue. (If there were ever to be a list of the top shows of virtue, both UM and America's Most Wanted would have to be included.)

DarkDante, I agree with what you said about "the other stuff" being laughable. But if they want to broadcast any of that trash at 10 pm or later, then that's okay with me, because that's during the hours in which most children are asleep. Or if they want to air it on a premium channel (like HBO or Showtime), then I'm fine with it as well. My reason for that is because of what Bernard Goldberg wrote in his book 100 People Who Are Screwing Up America: Grown-ups have to pay for it, which, in my book, makes it private, which means it's nobody's business but their own.

[DarkDante]

Well I've always found that the demographic they aim for is the 15-25 yr olds who watch those shows like "American Idol", "Survivor", "The Apprentice" and the myriad of clones. I really don't know how long this garbage will last but "nothing lasts forever" and is replaced by something else that is usually found just as nauseating, its just one big pattern. Right now sitcoms in general are "worn out" and these reality shows (and lets face it all you have to do is be "on the radar" so to speak and you could probably get a reality show) are in.

I enjoy my fair share of "mindless television entertainment" mind you and I wouldn't condone ANY SHOW getting yanked from the air but I just have a problem when it is consistently shoved down the viewers throat as the "standard" of what constitutes entertainment.

[peachysquirt21]

Originally Posted by kane7474

I wish any station would pick up UM and play it like USA plays law and order or like spike plays CSI. Both these shows suck but those two networks are playing them round the clock. Surely someone could pick up UM and do this. Possibly Court TV or A&e

CSI NY & CSI Miami suck but not the original CSI. That show is awsome. Cannot suck too much cause it gets the ratings.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by DarkDante

I enjoy my fair share of "mindless television entertainment" mind you and I wouldn't condone ANY SHOW getting yanked from the air but I just have a problem when it is consistently shoved down the viewers throat as the "standard" of what constitutes entertainment.

I'm with you on that. In general, I'm not one who would call for the cancellation of a TV show just because I don't like it. I just do the alternative: ignore it.

Besides, when it comes choosing what to watch, I think for myself. And there are certain types of entertainment that I would never consume; not even for a large quantity of money.

[Tony Ballesteros]

god help us jesus, god and baby jesus help us