Latest Cosgrove Meurer update

[shek]

Hi UMer's

I thought I would start a new thread because the other one was getting so long. But I sifted through it and put together a list of the other questions you had and I recieved this response this morning. Remember now - don't kill the messenger!! I am not sure you'll like the some of the answers. I am just passing the information along.

1. Are you going to keep the same graphics and music? Or will that be redesigned as well?
A)They are updating the music and graphics. They will not be the same.

2. Will you be eliminating Robert Stack's narrations with Dennis voicing over or will it be a blend of using both?
A) Everything will be done by Dennis – narration and voice over. Nothing with Robert Stack.

3. Are you still going to have a "call center" for those cases that still remain unsolved?
A) We will definitely give out information to contact us with tips. Not sure exactly what it will be yet – phone number, website, email?? Still being decided.

4. Do you know how many segments will be included per showing?
A) There will be 5 – 6 segments per show.

5. Do you have any information about this so called "Official UM Site" on MySpace? (link below)
MySpace.com - Unsolved Mysteries - 33 - Female - Washington DC - www.myspace.c
A) This is very interesting, I have never seen this, neither has anyone who works here. I know they have talked about putting together something like this though.

6. Any updates on a possible news release announcing the program make over and Dennis being named as the host yet?
A) I haven’t heard anything yet about announcing Dennis as the new host. Ultimately it is up to the Spike Channel when they will release it, since they have bought the rights to the show. But I would think they will start publicizing it sooner to when it will start airing this fall or after we start shooting with Dennis in March.

Then I asked her this question as a side note.

"This one is strictly a personal question on my part. Is there anyway that I could visit your set while you are producing some of the updates? It's highly unlikely that I would be able to make such a trip - but curious."
A) We won’t have a set probably till the end of March, but it will depend on when you’re here if you can go onto it or not – it would be based on the production schedule.

So that's the latest and gratest from my desk.
Sheila

[crochetbuff]

Originally Posted by shek

Hi UMer's

I thought I would start a new thread because the other one was getting so long. But I sifted through it and put together a list of the other questions you had and I recieved this response this morning. Remember now - don't kill the messenger!! I am not sure you'll like the some of the answers. I am just passing the information along.

1. Are you going to keep the same graphics and music? Or will that be redesigned as well?
A)They are updating the music and graphics. They will not be the same.

2. Will you be eliminating Robert Stack's narrations with Dennis voicing over or will it be a blend of using both?
A) Everything will be done by Dennis – narration and voice over. Nothing with Robert Stack.

3. Are you still going to have a "call center" for those cases that still remain unsolved?
A) We will definitely give out information to contact us with tips. Not sure exactly what it will be yet – phone number, website, email?? Still being decided.

4. Do you know how many segments will be included per showing?
A) There will be 5 – 6 segments per show.

5. Do you have any information about this so called "Official UM Site" on MySpace? (link below)
MySpace.com - Unsolved Mysteries - 33 - Female - Washington DC - www.myspace.c
A) This is very interesting, I have never seen this, neither has anyone who works here. I know they have talked about putting together something like this though.

6. Any updates on a possible news release announcing the program make over and Dennis being named as the host yet?
A) I haven’t heard anything yet about announcing Dennis as the new host. Ultimately it is up to the Spike Channel when they will release it, since they have bought the rights to the show. But I would think they will start publicizing it sooner to when it will start airing this fall or after we start shooting with Dennis in March.

Then I asked her this question as a side note.

"This one is strictly a personal question on my part. Is there anyway that I could visit your set while you are producing some of the updates? It's highly unlikely that I would be able to make such a trip - but curious."
A) We won’t have a set probably till the end of March, but it will depend on when you’re here if you can go onto it or not – it would be based on the production schedule.

So that's the latest and gratest from my desk.
Sheila

Thanks for posting all that!

[Kane]

Originally Posted by shek

3. Are you still going to have a "call center" for those cases that still remain unsolved?
A) We will definitely give out information to contact us with tips. Not sure exactly what it will be yet – phone number, website, email?? Still being decided.

Even in the age of the internet, the UM folks would be wise to maintain a telephone center. Sure, people can email a tip, but what if the tip is urgent and then, for any variety of reasons (such as the computer being down or someone else using the computer), they currently don't happen to have any access to the internet? (Although emailing a tip to America's Most Wanted is optional, that show still has its phone center.)

The telephone may be an old-fashioned method of communication, but it is still a very essential method, and a very effective one. Having said that, it is better to have the phone center and not need it, than to not have it and then need it.

[Zero]

I'll miss Robert.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by Zero

I'll miss Robert.

So will I.

It will undoubtedly be difficult to see UM returning without Robert Stack, and I don't think that can be said enough times. But considering the inevitability of a new host, in addition to the show's revival, I am glad to hear that they have chosen the right candidate for the job.

Hopefully, Dennis Farina will do a great job. The more I look at pictures of him, the more I can imagine his presence on Unsolved Mysteries.

[An 80s Guy]

Originally Posted by Zero

I'll miss Robert.

Me Too.Does anyone know who Dennis Farina was he just casted through an audition or does he have a history in acting or narration or something.Is there a movie or a tv show i can see him in or something?

[Todd Mueller]

Thanks for the awesome update, Shek! That's great stuff. We appreciate it!

I have mixed feelings about this. On one hand I am geeked up to see UM again and see some updates to old cases.

But on the other hand with new music and graphics and no Robert Stack, I am a little nervous. Hopefully they keep enough of the "old flavor" to keep us long-time fans happy.

I hope it doesn't end up like what happened to "Wayne's World" in the movie. They had a great show and they it got Hollywood-ized. I love that part in the movie where the announcer says, "Party on Wayne... And party on Garth!" The look on Wayne and Garth's faces was priceless!

[Todd Mueller]

Originally Posted by An 80s Guy

Me Too.Does anyone know who Dennis Farina was he just casted through an audition or does he have a history in acting or narration or something.Is there a movie or a tv show i can see him in or something?

Yep. He is been an actor for a long time, mostly in cop or mobster roles. He does a great job.

Here is some stuff from Wikipedia:

Dennis Farina (born February 29, 1944) is an American film and television actor. He is a character actor, often typecast as a mobster or cop.

Farina began his work in show business working for director Michael Mann as a police consultant on Mann's early works. This led to an interest in acting when Mann cast him in a small role in the 1981 film Thief. Farina proceeded to moonlight as an actor in the Chicago theater scene before Mann chose him for his Crime Story series. Farina played the mobster Albert Lombard in Michael Mann's other television show Miami Vice.

One of his most well-known movie characters is Jimmy Serrano, the mob boss from Midnight Run. Other movies in Farina's filmography include Manhunter, Striking Distance, Another Stakeout, Get Shorty, Saving Private Ryan, Big Trouble, Snatch, The Mod Squad and Out of Sight. He has also acted opposite Bette Midler in the romantic comedy That Old Feeling. In early 2005 Farina provided the voice of aging boxer-turned-superhero Wildcat on Justice League Unlimited.

Farina starred as Det. Joe Fontana on NBC's long-running television series Law & Order from 2004 to 2006. In May 2006, it was announced that Farina was leaving Law & Order to pursue other projects.

His role of Lt. Mike Torello on Crime Story was as a Chicago police officer. Farina's Law & Order character, Joe Fontana, worked for Chicago Homicide before his transfer to the NYPD. As is common on Law & Order, Fontana shares a number of other characteristics with the actor who plays him: they hail from the same Chicago neighborhood, attended the same parochial school, and have the same tastes in both clothes and music (Dean Martin).

[justins5256]

So Stack is going the way of Burr, Malden and Virginia Madsen. Maybe in 20 years those "pre-Farrina" episodes will be in high demand.

[DarkDante]

^ Justin brings up a great point. The "Lifetime" episodes are going to become rare now. Its a good thing between Justin, myself and Crystaldawn we've seem to have preserved most if not all the "important segments".

Any ideas how the group is going to proceed once UM resumes on SPIKE. I'm considering putting two episodes per DVD (assuming the show is still an hour long) anything more you might have pixelation issues. Still I'm heavily leaning towards taping "the new UM" just like I would/do other series.

[justins5256]

Originally Posted by DarkDante

^ Justin brings up a great point. The "Lifetime" episodes are going to become rare now. Its a good thing between Justin, myself and Crystaldawn we've seem to have preserved most if not all the "important segments".

Any ideas how the group is going to proceed once UM resumes on SPIKE. I'm considering putting two episodes per DVD (assuming the show is still an hour long) anything more you might have pixelation issues. Still I'm heavily leaning towards taping "the new UM" just like I would/do other series.

I think 2 per disc is the way to go. I've done that for my NBC/Lifetime episodes coming from VHS and I think they look not too bad. With the commercials removed, two shows are about 90 minutes give or take. If your DVD recorder allows you to custom set the bitrate you can safely adjust it to a number that is still higher than 4820 kbps with 256 k audio - the equivalent of the 2 hour "SP" mode.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by An 80s Guy

Me Too.Does anyone know who Dennis Farina was he just casted through an audition or does he have a history in acting or narration or something.Is there a movie or a tv show i can see him in or something?

I noticed that Todd Mueller has answered your question regarding Dennis Farina's history as an actor. But here are some details regarding his experience in narration.

He narrated the 2006 documentary Wait 'Til Next Year: The Saga of the Chicago Cubs. He is also the narrator of a new documentary titled The American Gangster (not to be confused with the Denzel Washington movie). This new documentary is about Lucky Luciano, Bugsy Siegel, and Meyer Lansky.

Admittedly, Dennis Farina has limited experience as a program host/narrator. But believe it or not, so did Robert Stack. That is, before he became the host of Unsolved Mysteries. So as you can see, Dennis Farina has something in common with his predecessor.

[Todd Mueller]

Originally Posted by Kane

Admittedly, Dennis Farina has limited experience as a program host/narrator. But believe it or not, so did Robert Stack. That is, before he became the host of Unsolved Mysteries. So as you can see, Dennis Farina has something in common with his predecessor.

Thanks for the additional info, Kane!

It's funny you mention that about Robert Stack. Before UM, he was just "some actor who played Elliot Ness."

I never thought of it that way before. . . I think Dennis will do just fine.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by Todd Mueller

Thanks for the additional info, Kane!

It's funny you mention that about Robert Stack. Before UM, he was just "some actor who played Elliot Ness."

I never thought of it that way before. . . I think Dennis will do just fine.

That's true about Robert Stack. I like that, the part about him being "some actor who played Elliot Ness." As for Dennis Farina, well, I'd say that he is "some policeman-turned-actor who plays tough guys." Or something to that effect.

Dennis Farina and the late Robert Stack definitely have a lot in common.

Both have been typecast as tough guys. Both have been known to play law enforcement characters. Both were in public service (Stack was in the U.S. Navy during World War II; Dennis Farina was policeman for the Chicago Police Department). Both had limited experience as a narrator/host prior to getting the hosting job at UM. Both have been known to support gun rights. Both men were in their sixties when they were offered to host Unsolved Mysteries (Dennis Farina will be 64 on February 29). Both have tended to avoid controversy or scandal. Both have been generally likable and well respected.

If I missed anything, please feel free to let me know.

[SP4CE INV4DERZ]

Is the new version of the show going to be called Unsolved Mysteries? Or some variation? Does anyone know for sure?