Unsolved Mysteris Downfall - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

marlins3 · 08-09-2009, 02:55 PM

First off, let me state I do not feel UM ever Jumped The Shark. because of its format, it could never jump in the way a sitcom might. Now there were plenty of ridiculous segments (Magic Rock, Busby's Chair, Gold Foil Katie, etc.) but those were few and far between. Those segments were also presented in such a way that they were entertaining.

However, the UM downfall for me was the move to CBS in 1997. It actually started a couple seasons prior to that (1995 or so). I preferred the gritty look and feel of the early NBC seasons (For my money, nothing beats UM from 1988 - 1992). The the reenactments, Stack's narration, etc made for an edgier show (when the show's budget was lower). Once the production values went up and the segments developed a "cleaner" look, the show lost some appeal to me. This is especially true towards the end of the show's run when Stack's voice was weak. This is still my all-time fave show and there were some great segments in the later seasons. However, the early run on NBC was "it" for me.

What are your thoughts?

Apostapler · 08-09-2009, 03:32 PM

I'd say the death of Robert Stack. *rimshot*

bugnpinky · 08-09-2009, 03:55 PM

I would agree his death didn't help, but the show was taken off new episodes before then. I have to agree that the move didn't help it, and I wish it would be resurrected in any format. It needs to be on a major network...TruTV would be the best bet but I wish it would return to one of the big three, since not everyone has cable or satellite and it would reach the most people this way.

crystaldawn · 08-09-2009, 06:26 PM

I think a big downfall was when they started adding people to the show to help. Of course I'm talking about Keely Shaye Smith and then they actually thought someone else needed to help share narration with Virginia Madsen. As if Robert Stack needed any help! That was definitely a stupid move imo.

marlins3 · 08-09-2009, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crystaldawn

I think a big downfall was when they started adding people to the show to help. Of course I'm talking about Keely Shaye Smith and then they actually thought someone else needed to help share narration with Virginia Madsen. As if Robert Stack needed any help! That was definitely a stupid move imo.

I have to agree, CD. Even when Stack's voice started to go late in the show's run (there is a very noticable difference in the strength of his voice), he didn't need help. BTW, CD who is the rather lovely lady in your avatar?

marlins3 · 08-09-2009, 08:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apostapler

I'd say the death of Robert Stack. *rimshot*

Funny, but in poor taste. The show was over before Stack bought the farm.

crystaldawn · 08-09-2009, 08:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marlins3

I have to agree, CD. Even when Stack's voice started to go late in the show's run (there is a very noticable difference in the strength of his voice), he didn't need help. BTW, CD who is the rather lovely lady in your avatar?

The lady in my avatar is Marilu Geri. It was one of those rarely shown UM segments but Spike did air it. She was murdered and her husband was a suspect. Very interesting case. Here's more info:

http://www.unsolved.com/murder.html

(Not sure if thats a direct link but if not you'll see her listed and just click on it).

kadrmas15 · 08-09-2009, 09:54 PM

Yes, I would say where UM started changing the format it lost its edge. UM was a top 20 show for the first several years it was on the air. The last season it was in the top 20 was 1992-1993. I do believe in 1993 or 1994 the show actually changed its graphics and switched the way they shot the scenes so yeah I would say by 1995 or or 1996 it was not even in the top 40. NBC cancelled the show in 1997 and then it moved over to CBS for their brief run over there, then it was off to lifetime. Yes by 2000, 2001, Stack's voice was cracking and getting weaker but I think that was due not only to his being in his early 80's by that time but he was undergoing treatment for cancer at the time, his hair just did not fall out.

Apostapler · 08-09-2009, 11:31 PM

Okay, my poor taste joke aside, I agree it was when they changed the story format...it was more like narration with crap acting than the good dramatic scenes it had before. Oh and when they quit using the ultra-creepy music during the acting scenes.

compulsive dvd · 08-10-2009, 01:12 AM

I actually did not like the newer graphics, really either package. The CBS graphics were the worst (and that theme, ugh). The newer lifetime graphics were fair, and the update sound was scary, especially in surround. Stack's age started to show in his voice, i agree. Besides that, it was how Lifetime aired the episodes. While I was happy to be able to watch it everyday, the fact that they were showing Resurrection Mary so often and the Fertility Statues was silly. With all those segments from so many seasons, it's strange they wouldn't have more to choose from. Maybe C/M only licensed certain ones.

PrettyinPink55 · 08-10-2009, 01:56 AM

...when it moved to Spike TV...

Oldschooler81 · 08-10-2009, 02:33 AM

I have mixed feelings.

I totally agree with marlins (and the basic consensus on the board) that the BEST episodes were from the early years when it had the movielike quality, boxy 80s graphics and Stack was the most involved. The creepiest, most dramatic stories seem to be from then.

I can kinda see why some people didn't like Keely Shame Smith joining, and how it got a major modernizing facelift around 1994 with the newer graphics (even NOW it doesn't look that old), camcorder style filming and more casual stories slipped in. I like that era, I think it still had enough of the "classic UM" feel left... in a way it was the perfect mix of both, even if some people didn't like Keely, I personally did. That was when they started doing the redundant stuff though, like resurrection Mary, fertility statues and the Cokeville school bomb.

I think it started going downhill in the late 90s, not sure exactly when, but probably when Virginia Madsen started co hosting... although as long as it was on in its original incarnation, there were SOME good segments as late as 2001, it just became less and less frequent as time went on. They never totally abandoned their roots until it was picked up by Spike.

Mastermind · 08-10-2009, 10:49 AM

I tend to feel the term "jump the shark" is overused these days.

I personally think UM was still a good show and had good segments well up to it's last years.

Heck some of the most talked about cases on this site are from the later years.

Most shows that run this long are bound to have a few weak episodes and weak seasons here and there. But I usually find that when a show has a good format and structure like UM these shows usually last forever and are very consistent.

I honestly don't feel that UM jumped the shark.

I don;t even think that the change from film to video hurt the mood of the show either. Some of those later video segments are just as scary as the earlier ones.

Sure Stack's voice got weaker, but a weakened Stack is better than no Stack at all IMHO.

The last year was pretty weak, but I think that may have more to do with the lack of budget that was assigned to the show.

hovaslash · 08-10-2009, 02:57 PM

Don't know if there was ever an official jumping of the shark, but the Elvis and Kurt Cobain segments were clearly an aeffort to broaden their fanbase.
Wasn't there a hiphop one too?

Mastermind · 08-10-2009, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Don't know if there was ever an official jumping of the shark, but the Elvis and Kurt Cobain segments were clearly an aeffort to broaden their fanbase.
Wasn't there a hiphop one too?

Actually I think a lot of people consider the Elvis Last Night episode to be one of UMs best and creepiest segments.

The Kurt Cobain segment I thought was pretty interesting in how they presented all the possible evidence.

They did a few segments on hip hop murders. Tupac's segment i felt was indeed warranted.

UM was always interested in celebrity and musician murders as far back as the beginning so I don't think they were straying too far in doing those segments.

08-09-2009, 02:55 PM	#1
marlins3 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 22, 2007 Posts: 474	Unsolved Mysteris Downfall First off, let me state I do not feel UM ever Jumped The Shark. because of its format, it could never jump in the way a sitcom might. Now there were plenty of ridiculous segments (Magic Rock, Busby's Chair, Gold Foil Katie, etc.) but those were few and far between. Those segments were also presented in such a way that they were entertaining. However, the UM downfall for me was the move to CBS in 1997. It actually started a couple seasons prior to that (1995 or so). I preferred the gritty look and feel of the early NBC seasons (For my money, nothing beats UM from 1988 - 1992). The the reenactments, Stack's narration, etc made for an edgier show (when the show's budget was lower). Once the production values went up and the segments developed a "cleaner" look, the show lost some appeal to me. This is especially true towards the end of the show's run when Stack's voice was weak. This is still my all-time fave show and there were some great segments in the later seasons. However, the early run on NBC was "it" for me. What are your thoughts?
	Last edited by marlins3; 08-09-2009 at 07:57 PM.

08-10-2009, 01:56 AM	#11
PrettyinPink55 Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: Feb 11, 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 24,601	...when it moved to Spike TV...
	__________________ ♥♥♥

08-09-2009, 03:32 PM	#2
Apostapler Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 06, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 872	I'd say the death of Robert Stack. rimshot

08-09-2009, 03:55 PM	#3
bugnpinky Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 03, 2009 Location: Where it's hot Posts: 169	I would agree his death didn't help, but the show was taken off new episodes before then. I have to agree that the move didn't help it, and I wish it would be resurrected in any format. It needs to be on a major network...TruTV would be the best bet but I wish it would return to one of the big three, since not everyone has cable or satellite and it would reach the most people this way.

08-09-2009, 06:26 PM	#4
crystaldawn Member Forum 4000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 17, 2002 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,261	I think a big downfall was when they started adding people to the show to help. Of course I'm talking about Keely Shaye Smith and then they actually thought someone else needed to help share narration with Virginia Madsen. As if Robert Stack needed any help! That was definitely a stupid move imo.

08-09-2009, 09:54 PM	#8
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Yes, I would say where UM started changing the format it lost its edge. UM was a top 20 show for the first several years it was on the air. The last season it was in the top 20 was 1992-1993. I do believe in 1993 or 1994 the show actually changed its graphics and switched the way they shot the scenes so yeah I would say by 1995 or or 1996 it was not even in the top 40. NBC cancelled the show in 1997 and then it moved over to CBS for their brief run over there, then it was off to lifetime. Yes by 2000, 2001, Stack's voice was cracking and getting weaker but I think that was due not only to his being in his early 80's by that time but he was undergoing treatment for cancer at the time, his hair just did not fall out.

08-09-2009, 11:31 PM	#9
Apostapler Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 06, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 872	Okay, my poor taste joke aside, I agree it was when they changed the story format...it was more like narration with crap acting than the good dramatic scenes it had before. Oh and when they quit using the ultra-creepy music during the acting scenes.

08-10-2009, 01:12 AM	#10
compulsive dvd Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 27, 2005 Posts: 184	I actually did not like the newer graphics, really either package. The CBS graphics were the worst (and that theme, ugh). The newer lifetime graphics were fair, and the update sound was scary, especially in surround. Stack's age started to show in his voice, i agree. Besides that, it was how Lifetime aired the episodes. While I was happy to be able to watch it everyday, the fact that they were showing Resurrection Mary so often and the Fertility Statues was silly. With all those segments from so many seasons, it's strange they wouldn't have more to choose from. Maybe C/M only licensed certain ones.

08-10-2009, 02:33 AM	#12
Oldschooler81 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: May 03, 2009 Location: Northern CA Posts: 457	I have mixed feelings. I totally agree with marlins (and the basic consensus on the board) that the BEST episodes were from the early years when it had the movielike quality, boxy 80s graphics and Stack was the most involved. The creepiest, most dramatic stories seem to be from then. I can kinda see why some people didn't like Keely Shame Smith joining, and how it got a major modernizing facelift around 1994 with the newer graphics (even NOW it doesn't look that old), camcorder style filming and more casual stories slipped in. I like that era, I think it still had enough of the "classic UM" feel left... in a way it was the perfect mix of both, even if some people didn't like Keely, I personally did. That was when they started doing the redundant stuff though, like resurrection Mary, fertility statues and the Cokeville school bomb. I think it started going downhill in the late 90s, not sure exactly when, but probably when Virginia Madsen started co hosting... although as long as it was on in its original incarnation, there were SOME good segments as late as 2001, it just became less and less frequent as time went on. They never totally abandoned their roots until it was picked up by Spike.

08-10-2009, 10:49 AM	#13
Mastermind Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 16, 2008 Posts: 1,843	I tend to feel the term "jump the shark" is overused these days. I personally think UM was still a good show and had good segments well up to it's last years. Heck some of the most talked about cases on this site are from the later years. Most shows that run this long are bound to have a few weak episodes and weak seasons here and there. But I usually find that when a show has a good format and structure like UM these shows usually last forever and are very consistent. I honestly don't feel that UM jumped the shark. I don;t even think that the change from film to video hurt the mood of the show either. Some of those later video segments are just as scary as the earlier ones. Sure Stack's voice got weaker, but a weakened Stack is better than no Stack at all IMHO. The last year was pretty weak, but I think that may have more to do with the lack of budget that was assigned to the show.

08-10-2009, 02:57 PM	#14
hovaslash Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Apr 10, 2006 Location: ma Posts: 87	Don't know if there was ever an official jumping of the shark, but the Elvis and Kurt Cobain segments were clearly an aeffort to broaden their fanbase. Wasn't there a hiphop one too?