My issues with Unsolved Mysteries (on Spike) - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

some one new · 12-07-2009, 12:09 PM

Hi, I'm new

Is it just me or is Spike's presentation of of the show less compelling as it was on cbs/lifetime. I mean it doesn't seem as personal, nor is it as chilling. Typically people say "its because your older" but it really isn't about that. Does anyone know what I mean? And the new music theme, rock-esque etc. vs the original semi-techno atmospheric tune. The older theme (especially the one from 1997 to 2001) was a lot more effective IMO.

cuba_libre · 12-07-2009, 01:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by some one new

Hi, I'm new

Is it just me or is Spike's presentation of of the show less compelling as it was on cbs/lifetime. I mean it doesn't seem as personal, nor is it as chilling. Typically people say "its because your older" but it really isn't about that. Does anyone know what I mean? And the new music theme, rock-esque etc. vs the original semi-techno atmospheric tune. The older theme (especially the one from 1997 to 2001) was a lot more effective IMO.

Hello there...and welcome!

There's a choppiness and lack of cohesion to the newer version of UM. But I'm just so happy to have the show return to TV....

egswanso · 12-07-2009, 01:56 PM

I think your feelings tend to be shared by everyone on these boards; I had yet to hear anyone who likes the new format - whether it's the bad music, the bad host, the 'extreme' graphics and editing, that 20+ year old cases are being presenting devoid of context, or the fact that the time-slot (and shifting times) means it's basically just junk-time filler.

I honestly don't know why Spike bothered.

justins5256 · 12-07-2009, 02:01 PM

It's times like this that I wish Lifetime just renewed the contract to run UM for another 10 or however many years in the same format.

If they want to do new cases with a new host and format, fine.

But, rehashing the same tired stories and trying to make them seem "modern" with snazzy effects and editing is just lame.

some one new · 12-07-2009, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by justins5256

It's times like this that I wish Lifetime just renewed the contract to run UM for another 10 or however many years in the same format.

If they want to do new cases with a new host and format, fine.

But, rehashing the same tired stories and trying to make them seem "modern" with snazzy effects and editing is just lame.

IMO the modern "high-tech" theme (along with the new music) takes away from the chilling factor and pathos of the show. Before you felt empathy for the families in the stories you actually got to know the victims before they introduced the mystery. It seems more mechanical now. But I'm sure someone likes the new theme.

Kane · 12-07-2009, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by some one new

IMO the modern "high-tech" theme (along with the new music) takes away from the chilling factor and pathos of the show.

Some TV/studio executives just don't get it. What works for other shows won't necessarily work for UM (or vice versa). Needless to say, the "modernizing" was way overdone. It's almost as if someone was desperately trying to make the show look more "hip." One has to wonder if this was (at least in part) the result of Cosgrove/Meurer listening more to the industry than to themselves.

ScaryFog · 12-07-2009, 04:01 PM

I feel the same as everyone else in this thread.

I enjoy the show so much, that I still watch the new format, and I've become used to it now. But the old format had a way of making every story very eerie and interesting, even if the content wasn't that scary to begin with. Watch the new format episodes, and then compare that to the same episode with the old format on YouTube. Its like comparing Jaws 1 to Jaws 4.
As I said though, I still DVR it everytime its on. They don't update the unsolved cases, but they have been updating the solved ones. I wish they'd make new ones, even in the new format.

I think getting older has something to do with it. Some of the stuff was easier to believe when I was a kid. I don't enjoy the ghosts shows at all anymore and I just skip them. I don't enjoy the Bigfoot/UFO stories as much but I'll still watch them. With the monster/UFO stuff, at the very least, something is in the photo's and videos, even if its just a guy in a suit or a man made aircraft. For example, the Valentich Disappearance could have been a UFO incident, or a more simple explaination like he crashed. Something happened to Frederick Valentich whether it was out of this world or not. I don't believe any of the ghost stories at all.

My biggest gripe is the inconsistent scheduling. When it first came on late 08' early 09, the schedule was something like MonTues and ThurFri, 9am to 8pm, and then on during the middle of the night. Then some days I'd come home looking forward to UM, and instead it was "CSI: Some Random City" marathon, even though UM was scheduled in the TV Guide. Then it goes off the air for a bit. Just recently it came back on Tue/Wed/Thur from 3am-4am and sunday 9am-11am. A couple weeks ago they took off the Tuesday show. Can't they just pick a consistent time? Like M-F same hour every day? 5 hours on sunday? I don't really have a problem with them putting it on in the middle of the night. Its 2009, there are VCR's, DVR's, TIVO, so you can always record and watch the next day.

Mastermind · 12-07-2009, 05:34 PM

Three things made unsolved mysteries popular (the same things I feel that made "In Search of" so great as well..IMHO)

1. The narrator's voice and delivery
2. The music
3. The production values that leaned toward creating a scary atmosphere.(even in the CBS days)

To the original poster: If you think Unsolved Mysteries was great, you might be interested in the old 70s show "In Search of.." with Leonard Nimoy. It is three times scarier than UM.

Zlatko · 12-07-2009, 05:55 PM

Mastermind already mentioned the reasons why the original UM is way better. However, there's one aspect that I loved about the old UM. UM had a very documentary-like feel to it. The viewer felt like they were immersed in each case. Robert Stack's great narrating and the creepy music combine with it to make a great show.

Thiussat · 12-08-2009, 01:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by some one new

Hi, I'm new

Is it just me or is Spike's presentation of of the show less compelling as it was on cbs/lifetime. I mean it doesn't seem as personal, nor is it as chilling. Typically people say "its because your older" but it really isn't about that. Does anyone know what I mean? And the new music theme, rock-esque etc. vs the original semi-techno atmospheric tune. The older theme (especially the one from 1997 to 2001) was a lot more effective IMO.

Well I assume you know that the show began on NBC in 1987. But I agree that the new version isn't as good -- it's now just a cheap version of Forensic Files (which is the best true crime show on TV right now). The new Spike segments are cut too short, the music isn't scary and the whole atmosphere just doesn't cut it.

Actually, I think the newest incarnation of UM is almost as bad as when UPN tried to revive The Twilight Zone back in 2002 with Blair Underwood as narrator.

Apostapler · 12-08-2009, 02:21 AM

I can't watch the new UM. At all. CM totally screwed the pooch on this one.

VikingsGal · 12-10-2009, 08:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mastermind

To the original poster: If you think Unsolved Mysteries was great, you might be interested in the old 70s show "In Search of.." with Leonard Nimoy. It is three times scarier than UM.

Mastermind, I was a HUGE fan of "In Search Of" and I watched it religiously back in the 70's.

And to the original statement of "Oh they are not as scary because you are older" well I must disagree. I am over 40 (just a little) and I watched "A Haunting in Conneticut" a few years back and it scared THE CRAP OUT OF ME.

burbqueen · 12-11-2009, 11:50 AM

OMG the Spike TV version is the worst. UM is still greatness, but the meatl music and the digital whirly noise doing the recreations is just dumb. The host seems like some lame private eye from the 50's but a really bad one.

cordwainer1453 · 01-22-2019, 11:05 PM

Here's hoping they do better with the Netflicks version

ChandlerMurielB1 · 02-06-2019, 10:39 AM

I have a soft spot for the Dennis Farina version because it was the highlight of my 8 month unemployment about two years ago (it was on at 5pm every weekday on CBS Reality here in the UK). I didn't see the original Robert Stack version of the show until it became available on Amazon Prime.

There are a few things that niggle me about the Farina (Spike) version though, such as scenes and information clearly being edited out, and the annoying typewriter/computer(?) sound effect whenever text shows on the screen.

12-07-2009, 12:09 PM	#1
some one new Member Forum Cub Join Date: Dec 07, 2009 Posts: 2	My issues with Unsolved Mysteries (on Spike) Hi, I'm new Is it just me or is Spike's presentation of of the show less compelling as it was on cbs/lifetime. I mean it doesn't seem as personal, nor is it as chilling. Typically people say "its because your older" but it really isn't about that. Does anyone know what I mean? And the new music theme, rock-esque etc. vs the original semi-techno atmospheric tune. The older theme (especially the one from 1997 to 2001) was a lot more effective IMO.

12-07-2009, 01:56 PM	#3
egswanso Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 06, 2009 Location: NYC Posts: 463	I think your feelings tend to be shared by everyone on these boards; I had yet to hear anyone who likes the new format - whether it's the bad music, the bad host, the 'extreme' graphics and editing, that 20+ year old cases are being presenting devoid of context, or the fact that the time-slot (and shifting times) means it's basically just junk-time filler. I honestly don't know why Spike bothered.

12-07-2009, 02:01 PM	#4
justins5256 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2002 Posts: 3,866	It's times like this that I wish Lifetime just renewed the contract to run UM for another 10 or however many years in the same format. If they want to do new cases with a new host and format, fine. But, rehashing the same tired stories and trying to make them seem "modern" with snazzy effects and editing is just lame.

12-07-2009, 04:01 PM	#7
ScaryFog Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 25, 2009 Posts: 222	I feel the same as everyone else in this thread. I enjoy the show so much, that I still watch the new format, and I've become used to it now. But the old format had a way of making every story very eerie and interesting, even if the content wasn't that scary to begin with. Watch the new format episodes, and then compare that to the same episode with the old format on YouTube. Its like comparing Jaws 1 to Jaws 4. As I said though, I still DVR it everytime its on. They don't update the unsolved cases, but they have been updating the solved ones. I wish they'd make new ones, even in the new format. I think getting older has something to do with it. Some of the stuff was easier to believe when I was a kid. I don't enjoy the ghosts shows at all anymore and I just skip them. I don't enjoy the Bigfoot/UFO stories as much but I'll still watch them. With the monster/UFO stuff, at the very least, something is in the photo's and videos, even if its just a guy in a suit or a man made aircraft. For example, the Valentich Disappearance could have been a UFO incident, or a more simple explaination like he crashed. Something happened to Frederick Valentich whether it was out of this world or not. I don't believe any of the ghost stories at all. My biggest gripe is the inconsistent scheduling. When it first came on late 08' early 09, the schedule was something like MonTues and ThurFri, 9am to 8pm, and then on during the middle of the night. Then some days I'd come home looking forward to UM, and instead it was "CSI: Some Random City" marathon, even though UM was scheduled in the TV Guide. Then it goes off the air for a bit. Just recently it came back on Tue/Wed/Thur from 3am-4am and sunday 9am-11am. A couple weeks ago they took off the Tuesday show. Can't they just pick a consistent time? Like M-F same hour every day? 5 hours on sunday? I don't really have a problem with them putting it on in the middle of the night. Its 2009, there are VCR's, DVR's, TIVO, so you can always record and watch the next day.

12-07-2009, 05:34 PM	#8
Mastermind Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 16, 2008 Posts: 1,843	Three things made unsolved mysteries popular (the same things I feel that made "In Search of" so great as well..IMHO) 1. The narrator's voice and delivery 2. The music 3. The production values that leaned toward creating a scary atmosphere.(even in the CBS days) To the original poster: If you think Unsolved Mysteries was great, you might be interested in the old 70s show "In Search of.." with Leonard Nimoy. It is three times scarier than UM.

12-07-2009, 05:55 PM	#9
Zlatko Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Aug 04, 2008 Location: Nowhereland Posts: 367	Mastermind already mentioned the reasons why the original UM is way better. However, there's one aspect that I loved about the old UM. UM had a very documentary-like feel to it. The viewer felt like they were immersed in each case. Robert Stack's great narrating and the creepy music combine with it to make a great show.

12-08-2009, 02:21 AM	#11
Apostapler Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 06, 2009 Location: Indiana Posts: 872	I can't watch the new UM. At all. CM totally screwed the pooch on this one.

12-11-2009, 11:50 AM	#13
burbqueen Master of My Domain Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 11, 2009 Location: texas Posts: 160	OMG the Spike TV version is the worst. UM is still greatness, but the meatl music and the digital whirly noise doing the recreations is just dumb. The host seems like some lame private eye from the 50's but a really bad one.

01-22-2019, 11:05 PM	#14
cordwainer1453 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 05, 2011 Location: Mass Posts: 268	Here's hoping they do better with the Netflicks version

02-06-2019, 10:39 AM	#15
ChandlerMurielB1 Chandler Muriel Bing Frequent Poster Join Date: May 16, 2017 Location: England Posts: 185	I have a soft spot for the Dennis Farina version because it was the highlight of my 8 month unemployment about two years ago (it was on at 5pm every weekday on CBS Reality here in the UK). I didn't see the original Robert Stack version of the show until it became available on Amazon Prime. There are a few things that niggle me about the Farina (Spike) version though, such as scenes and information clearly being edited out, and the annoying typewriter/computer(?) sound effect whenever text shows on the screen.