Is UM really a woman's show? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

BibleCode06 · 12-23-2006, 12:20 PM

I remember looking at the gender breakdown of shows in the 1990's heyday of UM, and it was about 55 to 45 in favor of women. That dosen't come close to some prominent women shows as Golden Girls, Sex in the City, Oprah etc. Yet they way lifetime promotes it you would think it was like a 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 ratio, as other shows I mentioned. The fact that the show involved Missing Children and Lost Loves did focus on some topics that demographic would be interested in. But overall, I never saw UM as a lifetime show. Also the dude that use to read the disclaimer before the show was replaced with a female voice. What was the meaning behind that? Maybe that guy needed the royalties to help pay for his daughter's college or even his wife's medical expenses. I don't have problems with shows targeting specific demographics as baby boomers, young blacks, or 25-44 women(as Oprah). But I just never saw UM to be that type of show.

GoldenGirlsFan92 · 12-23-2006, 04:44 PM

I never did ethier, but I'm just Glad Lifetime aired that Unsloved Mysteries.

LooksLikeCRicci · 12-24-2006, 12:24 AM

My brother was way more into UM than I was. My obsession developed later. Given its timeslots on NBC, I think that network execs viewed it as a show that catered to multiple demographics. When the show first aired, I remember it coming on at, like, 10pm. Then it started airing at 7pm on Wednesdays. I don't think they would have dedicated it to such a timeslot unless they thought it had fans who were both male and female.

As for why it aired on Lifetime, I was never clear on it, although I echo the sentiments that I'm glad for all the years of syndication. I feel like Lifetime is placing UM on Real Women to placate the loyal fans who are more likely to purchase Real Women from their cable providers. The flawed logic, however, is that most providers will not carry Real Women. *sigh* Oh, well... thank heavens for CD's DVD's...

nohwheregirl · 12-26-2006, 08:12 PM

Although Lifetimes schtick is "Television for Women," I highly doubt that they would look at a show like UM, that has mass appeal, and say, "The female-to-male viewership ratio isn't high enough. This can't be marketed under the umbrella of 'Television for Women.'" Not to be flip, but who cares if it's not a show specifically about/for women? It's not like all we (that is, women) watch are shows about menopause, babies, feelings, self-actualization, and overly sentimental romance.

GoldenGirlsFan92 · 12-27-2006, 12:20 AM

Lifetime really dosen't say "Television for Women" anymore on their channel. Plus it looks as to though as they are tryig to appeal to a biiger audience. They had UM and now they also have Frasier.

rerungirl · 12-29-2006, 06:09 PM

Didn't Lifetime used to air reruns of Homicide: Life on the Street? That seems like a strange fit as well.

Kane · 12-29-2006, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rerungirl

Didn't Lifetime used to air reruns of Homicide: Life on the Street?

They did. And then the reruns were shown on CourtTV. It is now shown on the Sleuth Channel (although my cable system doesn't carry it).

Melanie85 · 04-28-2007, 11:18 AM

I'm guessing the reason why more women were watching UM on Lifetime is because it aired in the afternoon. More women than men are homemakers so they were watching UM while men were at work.

ZanzibarBlue · 04-28-2007, 06:22 PM

As a male viewer, a recurring nightmare that I had when watching UM on Lifetime was that I would see a segment on a fugitive, spot him in real life and then call the police to assist in the capture. Then at the press conference which followed, the police would identify me by name as the person who broke the case because I was watching Lifetime: Television for Women.

freshwater · 04-30-2007, 01:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZanzibarBlue

As a male viewer, a recurring nightmare that I had when watching UM on Lifetime was that I would see a segment on a fugitive, spot him in real life and then call the police to assist in the capture. Then at the press conference which followed, the police would identify me by name as the person who broke the case because I was watching Lifetime: Television for Women.

Funny!

microeconomia · 04-30-2007, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZanzibarBlue

As a male viewer, a recurring nightmare that I had when watching UM on Lifetime was that I would see a segment on a fugitive, spot him in real life and then call the police to assist in the capture. Then at the press conference which followed, the police would identify me by name as the person who broke the case because I was watching Lifetime: Television for Women.

12-23-2006, 12:20 PM	#1
BibleCode06 Banned Banned!! Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 30, 2006 Posts: 19	Is UM really a woman's show? I remember looking at the gender breakdown of shows in the 1990's heyday of UM, and it was about 55 to 45 in favor of women. That dosen't come close to some prominent women shows as Golden Girls, Sex in the City, Oprah etc. Yet they way lifetime promotes it you would think it was like a 2 to 1 or 3 to 1 ratio, as other shows I mentioned. The fact that the show involved Missing Children and Lost Loves did focus on some topics that demographic would be interested in. But overall, I never saw UM as a lifetime show. Also the dude that use to read the disclaimer before the show was replaced with a female voice. What was the meaning behind that? Maybe that guy needed the royalties to help pay for his daughter's college or even his wife's medical expenses. I don't have problems with shows targeting specific demographics as baby boomers, young blacks, or 25-44 women(as Oprah). But I just never saw UM to be that type of show.

12-23-2006, 04:44 PM	#2
GoldenGirlsFan92 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2005 Location: Louisana Posts: 2,243	I never did ethier, but I'm just Glad Lifetime aired that Unsloved Mysteries.
	__________________ The Golden Girls Seasons 1-7 are out! Buy Dolly Parton's NEW Single on Itunes! VOTE FOR "THE GOLDEN PALACE" & "EMPTY NEST" TO COME OUT ON DVD.

04-28-2007, 06:22 PM	#9
ZanzibarBlue ZanzibarBlue Occasional Poster Join Date: Aug 03, 2005 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 95	Lifetime nightmare As a male viewer, a recurring nightmare that I had when watching UM on Lifetime was that I would see a segment on a fugitive, spot him in real life and then call the police to assist in the capture. Then at the press conference which followed, the police would identify me by name as the person who broke the case because I was watching Lifetime: Television for Women.

12-24-2006, 12:24 AM	#3
LooksLikeCRicci Likes to live in a clean house Moderator Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 27, 2005 Posts: 4,050	My brother was way more into UM than I was. My obsession developed later. Given its timeslots on NBC, I think that network execs viewed it as a show that catered to multiple demographics. When the show first aired, I remember it coming on at, like, 10pm. Then it started airing at 7pm on Wednesdays. I don't think they would have dedicated it to such a timeslot unless they thought it had fans who were both male and female. As for why it aired on Lifetime, I was never clear on it, although I echo the sentiments that I'm glad for all the years of syndication. I feel like Lifetime is placing UM on Real Women to placate the loyal fans who are more likely to purchase Real Women from their cable providers. The flawed logic, however, is that most providers will not carry Real Women. sigh Oh, well... thank heavens for CD's DVD's...

12-26-2006, 08:12 PM	#4
nohwheregirl THE Mystery Machine Senior Member Join Date: Apr 23, 2004 Posts: 1,057	Although Lifetimes schtick is "Television for Women," I highly doubt that they would look at a show like UM, that has mass appeal, and say, "The female-to-male viewership ratio isn't high enough. This can't be marketed under the umbrella of 'Television for Women.'" Not to be flip, but who cares if it's not a show specifically about/for women? It's not like all we (that is, women) watch are shows about menopause, babies, feelings, self-actualization, and overly sentimental romance.

12-27-2006, 12:20 AM	#5
GoldenGirlsFan92 Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 21, 2005 Location: Louisana Posts: 2,243	Lifetime really dosen't say "Television for Women" anymore on their channel. Plus it looks as to though as they are tryig to appeal to a biiger audience. They had UM and now they also have Frasier.

12-29-2006, 06:09 PM	#6
rerungirl Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 23, 2002 Location: Midwest Posts: 295	Didn't Lifetime used to air reruns of Homicide: Life on the Street? That seems like a strange fit as well.

04-28-2007, 11:18 AM	#8
Melanie85 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 01, 2005 Posts: 62	I'm guessing the reason why more women were watching UM on Lifetime is because it aired in the afternoon. More women than men are homemakers so they were watching UM while men were at work.