How would you improve THE NEW UNSOLVED MYSTERIES ?? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

ComedyGuy · 11-06-2008, 12:20 PM

How would you improve the new UM and who would you want to host it ??

I would like them to use the old music and maybe have Peter Graves as host of UM.

justins5256 · 11-06-2008, 02:46 PM

I would cancel it and bring back reruns of the old shows. The host would be Robert Stack.

Lunarisx718 · 11-06-2008, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justins5256

I would cancel it and bring back reruns of the old shows. The host would be Robert Stack.

is the new show that bad? i haven't had a chance to watch it yet

UM Zealot · 11-06-2008, 03:45 PM

I would actually like the show to tackle all new cases, but revert to the old show's slow, eerie format and brilliant music. Farina doesn't "stack" up, but I suppose I could eventually live with him if all the other changes were made. Announcing dates is also an absolute must, and I don't like the new show's irritating over-reliance on on-screen text.
The sole aspect of the new show I prefer to the old one is the concentration on crime cases. I always disliked the segments on miracles and ghosts, and other such supernatural drivel.

Arnold_OldSchool · 11-06-2008, 05:20 PM

Dates would be nice.

The 1st case today named clues that were dependant on when a certain poison was purchased, but they gave no dates.

crystaldawn · 11-06-2008, 05:26 PM

Give the dates these stories happened.

Only put in 4 segments per hour and knock off all the editing.

Give a phone number in addition to an email address for people that have tips.
That would give all those actors in the call center something to do, lol.

RUDOLPH LYRICS · 11-06-2008, 06:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justins5256

I would cancel it and bring back reruns of the old shows. The host would be Robert Stack.

i agree. it's not that bad of a show, but the new host just doesn't have the voice to scare me and the music doesn't scare me either. and what's the point in showing old shows with new commentary? just show reruns of the old shows.. i wonder who was the genius behind this. they should do more current events too.

Mastermind · 11-07-2008, 12:58 PM

I would replace Dennis Farina with one of these actors

1. Dennis Haysbert (actor who starred in 24, Major League, The Unit)
2. The narrator who does "City Confidential" {not the late Paul Winfield, the current guy}
3. Martin Sheen
4. Jeremy Irons
5. Jonathan Frakes (played Commander Riker in Star Trek)

browneyes106 · 11-07-2008, 02:53 PM

^ I think Jonathan Frakes could be a good narrator. I would lose less music and sound effects on certain segments.

Kane · 11-07-2008, 03:45 PM

Sometimes, there's no better way to improve a show than by returning it to its roots. Although some changes may be inevitable, there will always be things that don't need to be changed.

Having said that, if I had the chance to improve the show, I would do so by curtailing the fast-paced nature of the re-edited segments. However, I would keep Dennis Farina as the host. I would just have him change his vocal interpretation so that it would be more compatible with the atmosphere of the show. I believe that Farina can and will improve his performance on the show. It just may take some time, especially since he is still the new host.

Being typecast in law enforcement roles (including that of Eliot Ness) was something that Robert Stack parlayed into UM. He did it so well that it is one of those qualities that makes the host. Dennis Farina himself, of course, was a cop before he became an actor. He too became typecast as cops and tough guys. The combination of that typecasting and his history of working in law enforcement made him an appropriate selection to be the new host.

It is interesting to note that neither Stack nor Farina had a lot of narrating experience prior to hosting UM. So one has to wonder if that was just a coincidence, or if the UM staff had advance knowledge of it and preferred to hire someone who was not "typecast" as a narrator.

Kane · 11-07-2008, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastermind

The narrator who does "City Confidential" {not the late Paul Winfield, the current guy}

That would be Keith David. But he's not "the current guy" anymore, since City Confidential is no longer in production. Of the people you listed, he's the most ideal.

As for the others you listed, Jonathan Frakes is a good actor. PRO: He hosted the show Beyond Belief: Fact of Fiction, which gave him a presence that he was able to work into the show. CON: He doesn't offer much in terms of providing a law enforcement image.

Martin Sheen is a good actor, and has shown his talents in a lot of work, such as the Stephen King movie The Dead Zone. But he would be a controversial choice for a show like UM (hint: google his name and "cop killer"). For this reason, bringing someone like Sheen onboard would be counterproductive.

Dennis Haysbert has that authoritative-sounding voice, but he would be unlikely to take the hosting job at this point, even if he wanted it. He is currently busy with his own TV show (The Unit) and will probably remain so for another couple of years.

Jeremy Irons is another good, talented actor, but I'm not sure what he would add to UM. Besides, with his busy schedule as a movie actor, it's unlikely that he would commit to a long TV run.

UM Zealot · 11-07-2008, 06:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kane

Being typecast in law enforcement roles (including that of Eliot Ness) was something that Robert Stack parlayed into UM. He did it so well that it is one of those qualities that makes the host. Dennis Farina himself, of course, was a cop before he became an actor. He too became typecast as cops and tough guys. The combination of that typecasting and his history of working in law enforcement made him an appropriate selection to be the new host.

Farina may have the law enforcement credentials, and he may be a nice guy, but I think most people here agree, he doesn't have the somber, mysterious presence of someone like Stack. His affect, voice, and inflection are not appropriate for the show, at least in comparison to the version of old. All those nonsensical pauses he injects into his narration don't confer authority onto it.

browneyes106 · 11-07-2008, 07:28 PM

I thought today's episodes were actually reedited well and Dennis did good narration.

Kane · 11-07-2008, 08:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UM Zealot

Farina may have the law enforcement credentials, and he may be a nice guy, but I think most people here agree, he doesn't have the somber, mysterious presence of someone like Stack. His affect, voice, and inflection are not appropriate for the show, at least in comparison to the version of old.

Well, maybe Dennis Farina will do some tweaking on that as time goes on. Who knows?

However, IMHO, some of the host ideas mentioned on this thread leave something to be desired. But I realize that no matter who eventually became the new host, and no matter how compatible that new host was, not everyone was going to be satisfied. Needless to say, Robert Stack is a tough act to follow.

By the way, I must admit that I sometimes wonder who Robert Stack would have wanted as his UM successor. Has anyone here ever wondered the same thing?

Mastermind · 11-09-2008, 05:32 PM

---Farina may have the law enforcement credentials, and he may be a nice guy, but I think most people here agree, he doesn't have the somber, mysterious presence of someone like Stack. His affect, voice, and inflection are not appropriate for the show, at least in comparison to the version of old.---

The problem with Farina's voice is that he has too much of a trace of Chicago/Italian accent in his voice.

It's kind of like having Robert DeNiro or Paul Sorvino doing Unsolved Mysteries.

if you are looking for someone with a law enforcement image, how about Andre Braugher of Homicide fame?

Also Sam Shepard of L & O fame. I'm pretty sure he;s coming close to the end of his run on that show.

11-06-2008, 12:20 PM	#1
ComedyGuy King Of TV Trivia Senior Member Join Date: Sep 17, 2007 Location: Eastlake Ohio Posts: 1,255	How would you improve THE NEW UNSOLVED MYSTERIES ?? How would you improve the new UM and who would you want to host it ?? I would like them to use the old music and maybe have Peter Graves as host of UM.
	__________________ Classic TV, the way life ought to be

11-07-2008, 03:45 PM	#10
Kane Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 07, 2001 Location: MA, United States Posts: 3,367	Sometimes, there's no better way to improve a show than by returning it to its roots. Although some changes may be inevitable, there will always be things that don't need to be changed. Having said that, if I had the chance to improve the show, I would do so by curtailing the fast-paced nature of the re-edited segments. However, I would keep Dennis Farina as the host. I would just have him change his vocal interpretation so that it would be more compatible with the atmosphere of the show. I believe that Farina can and will improve his performance on the show. It just may take some time, especially since he is still the new host. Being typecast in law enforcement roles (including that of Eliot Ness) was something that Robert Stack parlayed into UM. He did it so well that it is one of those qualities that makes the host. Dennis Farina himself, of course, was a cop before he became an actor. He too became typecast as cops and tough guys. The combination of that typecasting and his history of working in law enforcement made him an appropriate selection to be the new host. It is interesting to note that neither Stack nor Farina had a lot of narrating experience prior to hosting UM. So one has to wonder if that was just a coincidence, or if the UM staff had advance knowledge of it and preferred to hire someone who was not "typecast" as a narrator.
	Last edited by Kane; 11-10-2008 at 12:01 PM.

11-06-2008, 02:46 PM	#2
justins5256 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2002 Posts: 3,866	I would cancel it and bring back reruns of the old shows. The host would be Robert Stack.

11-06-2008, 03:45 PM	#4
UM Zealot Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 24, 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 55	I would actually like the show to tackle all new cases, but revert to the old show's slow, eerie format and brilliant music. Farina doesn't "stack" up, but I suppose I could eventually live with him if all the other changes were made. Announcing dates is also an absolute must, and I don't like the new show's irritating over-reliance on on-screen text. The sole aspect of the new show I prefer to the old one is the concentration on crime cases. I always disliked the segments on miracles and ghosts, and other such supernatural drivel.

11-06-2008, 05:20 PM	#5
Arnold_OldSchool Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jul 16, 2006 Posts: 681	Dates would be nice. The 1st case today named clues that were dependant on when a certain poison was purchased, but they gave no dates.

11-06-2008, 05:26 PM	#6
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	Give the dates these stories happened. Only put in 4 segments per hour and knock off all the editing. Give a phone number in addition to an email address for people that have tips. That would give all those actors in the call center something to do, lol.

11-07-2008, 12:58 PM	#8
Mastermind Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 16, 2008 Posts: 1,843	I would replace Dennis Farina with one of these actors 1. Dennis Haysbert (actor who starred in 24, Major League, The Unit) 2. The narrator who does "City Confidential" {not the late Paul Winfield, the current guy} 3. Martin Sheen 4. Jeremy Irons 5. Jonathan Frakes (played Commander Riker in Star Trek)

11-07-2008, 02:53 PM	#9
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	^ I think Jonathan Frakes could be a good narrator. I would lose less music and sound effects on certain segments.

11-07-2008, 07:28 PM	#13
browneyes106 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 01, 2008 Posts: 6,094	I thought today's episodes were actually reedited well and Dennis did good narration.

11-09-2008, 05:32 PM	#15
Mastermind Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 16, 2008 Posts: 1,843	---Farina may have the law enforcement credentials, and he may be a nice guy, but I think most people here agree, he doesn't have the somber, mysterious presence of someone like Stack. His affect, voice, and inflection are not appropriate for the show, at least in comparison to the version of old.--- The problem with Farina's voice is that he has too much of a trace of Chicago/Italian accent in his voice. It's kind of like having Robert DeNiro or Paul Sorvino doing Unsolved Mysteries. if you are looking for someone with a law enforcement image, how about Andre Braugher of Homicide fame? Also Sam Shepard of L & O fame. I'm pretty sure he;s coming close to the end of his run on that show.