Imagine if UM had been hosted by Ronald Reagan - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Kane · 08-30-2010, 08:51 AM

This is not something I just came up with on my own. In fact, Ronald Reagan's son, Ron Jr., has occasionally remarked that his father might have been the host of Unsolved Mysteries if he hadn't gone into politics. In 1998, ABC aired a one-hour special on Ronald Reagan and, when it came to the question of where the Gipper's life might have gone if he had not become President of the United States, Ron Jr. said, "Unsolved Mysteries might have had a different host." He then went on to say that his father could have given Robert Stack "a run for his money", adding that he would probably have continued hosting UM until he was no longer able to. In addition, when Ron Jr. was later interviewed on 60 Minutes, he expressed the belief his mother Nancy helped bring about his father's presidency, saying: "I think if left to his own devices, he might have ended up hosting Unsolved Mysteries on TV or something."

That's an interesting thing to speculate on. Ronald Reagan was known as "the Great Communicator", so who knows? If it hadn't been for politics, Reagan might have hosted UM, or might have been at least considered for it. In any case, Reagan would most likely have continued his Hollywood career for more years to come.

I can't mention Reagan on this post without acknowledging the fact that he was friends with the late Robert Stack. Both Reagan and Stack had their share of Hollywood friends, and one of their mutual friends was John Wayne.

The Dutchman · 08-30-2010, 12:26 PM

While I believe the UM hosting position was a signature role of Robert Stack, and no one, not even The Gipper, could replace him, I think Ronald Reagan could have been a close second to Robert Stack. I think Reagan, followed by Karl Malden, Raymond Burr and Dennis Farina would have rounded out good hosts if Stack didn't host it. I don't recall Virginia Madsen's co-hosting, and I don't think Keely Shaye Smith even came close to Stack, Malden, Burr, Farina or Reagan.

Reagan was a great communicator, and I think it would have shown on Unsolved Mysteries. I think he would have made for a creepy presentation on some segments! But ultimately, I think Reagan and Stack both fulfilled their best roles as president and UM host, respectively.

Kane · 08-30-2010, 01:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Dutchman

I don't recall Virginia Madsen's co-hosting, and I don't think Keely Shaye Smith even came close to Stack, Malden, Burr, Farina or Reagan.

Well, Keely Shaye Smith was only an update correspondent, so she doesn't count anyway. Virginia Madsen co-hosted the show exclusively for the abbreviated 1998-99 season. Apparently, audiences were lukewarm about the co-host idea, since Virginia's segments were later re-edited for the Lifetime network with Robert Stack's narration and scenes replacing hers.

Quote:

Reagan was a great communicator, and I think it would have shown on Unsolved Mysteries. I think he would have made for a creepy presentation on some segments! But ultimately, I think Reagan and Stack both fulfilled their best roles as president and UM host, respectively.

Agreed.

DP1 · 08-30-2010, 11:58 PM

In The Reagan Diaries book, the last entry is on the day Reagan left office and he writes about returning to CA. He notes that Bob Stack is going to be one of the people there.

mozartpc27 · 08-31-2010, 01:30 AM

This thread has lots of potential for off-topic madness. I had mine all ready to go, but I've decided that discretion is the better part of valor.

wiseguy182 · 09-01-2010, 01:55 AM

Ronald probably would have been a good host. One thing I found out recently: When Ronald was younger, he was a lifeguard, that saved at least 75 lives! That right there would have made him an excellent choice.

who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg.

kadrmas15 · 09-01-2010, 02:06 AM

Hmm, I don't know that one's political beliefs or personal beliefs would necessarily prevent them from being a good host of UM. Whoopi would be a bad host just because her talent is overrated. Ronald Reagan would have been a good host in my opinion. John McCain I think would be a decent one too, mainly due to his unique sounding voice.

wiseguy182 · 09-01-2010, 03:12 AM

William Shatner would have been one of the worst, he is extremely rude and has an explosive personality. I don't think he could have been sympathetic enough to the victims and their families.

robbieasbury · 09-01-2010, 06:11 AM

Robert Stack's voice could heard at the end of Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign ads.

Steve W. · 09-01-2010, 06:18 AM

"who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg."

I can think of a lot of terrible hosts for UM, but staying on the politician route, the first one that came to my mind was George W. Bush:

W. at the beginning of the show: "You shee, they're mysterieshs (pauses longer than he needs to) .....and they're unsholved"

Kane · 09-01-2010, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg.

Well, Wiseguy, any "criminal supporting" person would certainly be a divisive choice for the show, and such a host selection would likely be seen by many UM viewers as an unpleasant surprise.

Your remark is pretty funny, though.

Kane · 09-01-2010, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robbieasbury

Robert Stack's voice could heard at the end of Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign ads.

I wasn't aware of that, although I knew he donated money to Reagan's presidential campaigns. It was generally known in 1980 that Ronald Reagan was Robert Stack's preferred choice for the presidency.

Cori aka ChrisSCrush · 12-06-2014, 11:27 PM

That's a tough one. My interest in the show would have to outweigh my hatred of Reagan, which is pretty heavy.

He is included in insane assassination attempts--mostly not conspiracies:

http://www.cracked.com/article_16705...president.html

Truman attempt not included! http://www.trumanlibrary.org/trivia/assassin.htm

One of David Letterman's best Top Ten lists was of Things Reagan Actually Does Remember. My favorite was "That Jodie Foster is a troublemaker"!

wiseguy182 · 12-08-2014, 12:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg.

Man, those words are as true today as when I first spoke them 4 years ago.

Necco · 12-08-2014, 12:48 AM

"Imagine if UM had been hosted by Ronald Reagan"

No. I won't. And you can't make me.

08-30-2010, 08:51 AM	#1
Kane Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 07, 2001 Location: MA, United States Posts: 3,367	Imagine if UM had been hosted by Ronald Reagan This is not something I just came up with on my own. In fact, Ronald Reagan's son, Ron Jr., has occasionally remarked that his father might have been the host of Unsolved Mysteries if he hadn't gone into politics. In 1998, ABC aired a one-hour special on Ronald Reagan and, when it came to the question of where the Gipper's life might have gone if he had not become President of the United States, Ron Jr. said, "Unsolved Mysteries might have had a different host." He then went on to say that his father could have given Robert Stack "a run for his money", adding that he would probably have continued hosting UM until he was no longer able to. In addition, when Ron Jr. was later interviewed on 60 Minutes, he expressed the belief his mother Nancy helped bring about his father's presidency, saying: "I think if left to his own devices, he might have ended up hosting Unsolved Mysteries on TV or something." That's an interesting thing to speculate on. Ronald Reagan was known as "the Great Communicator", so who knows? If it hadn't been for politics, Reagan might have hosted UM, or might have been at least considered for it. In any case, Reagan would most likely have continued his Hollywood career for more years to come. I can't mention Reagan on this post without acknowledging the fact that he was friends with the late Robert Stack. Both Reagan and Stack had their share of Hollywood friends, and one of their mutual friends was John Wayne.

08-30-2010, 11:58 PM	#4
DP1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 21, 2004 Posts: 394	In The Reagan Diaries book, the last entry is on the day Reagan left office and he writes about returning to CA. He notes that Bob Stack is going to be one of the people there.
	Last edited by DP1; 12-07-2014 at 02:43 AM.

08-31-2010, 01:30 AM	#5
mozartpc27 Vigilante Logician Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2006 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 924	This thread has lots of potential for off-topic madness. I had mine all ready to go, but I've decided that discretion is the better part of valor.
	__________________ "You can't say the words that the rock makes you feel like." - Patty Johnson

08-30-2010, 12:26 PM	#2
The Dutchman Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jan 25, 2006 Posts: 125	While I believe the UM hosting position was a signature role of Robert Stack, and no one, not even The Gipper, could replace him, I think Ronald Reagan could have been a close second to Robert Stack. I think Reagan, followed by Karl Malden, Raymond Burr and Dennis Farina would have rounded out good hosts if Stack didn't host it. I don't recall Virginia Madsen's co-hosting, and I don't think Keely Shaye Smith even came close to Stack, Malden, Burr, Farina or Reagan. Reagan was a great communicator, and I think it would have shown on Unsolved Mysteries. I think he would have made for a creepy presentation on some segments! But ultimately, I think Reagan and Stack both fulfilled their best roles as president and UM host, respectively.

09-01-2010, 01:55 AM	#6
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	Ronald probably would have been a good host. One thing I found out recently: When Ronald was younger, he was a lifeguard, that saved at least 75 lives! That right there would have made him an excellent choice. who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg.

09-01-2010, 02:06 AM	#7
kadrmas15 Retired from Board 03/03/11 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 11, 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,910	Hmm, I don't know that one's political beliefs or personal beliefs would necessarily prevent them from being a good host of UM. Whoopi would be a bad host just because her talent is overrated. Ronald Reagan would have been a good host in my opinion. John McCain I think would be a decent one too, mainly due to his unique sounding voice.

09-01-2010, 03:12 AM	#8
wiseguy182 Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Apr 11, 2006 Location: Wendy's salad bar Posts: 7,030	William Shatner would have been one of the worst, he is extremely rude and has an explosive personality. I don't think he could have been sympathetic enough to the victims and their families.

09-01-2010, 06:11 AM	#9
robbieasbury Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 02, 2005 Posts: 200	Robert Stack's voice could heard at the end of Ronald Reagan's 1980 campaign ads.

09-01-2010, 06:18 AM	#10
Steve W. Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 03, 2010 Posts: 870	"who would be the worst host of UM? I would say the criminal supporting and downright crazy Whoopi Goldberg." I can think of a lot of terrible hosts for UM, but staying on the politician route, the first one that came to my mind was George W. Bush: W. at the beginning of the show: "You shee, they're mysterieshs (pauses longer than he needs to) .....and they're unsholved"

12-06-2014, 11:27 PM	#13
Cori aka ChrisSCrush Member Senior Member Join Date: Dec 30, 2001 Location: USA and still trying to be proud of it! Posts: 2,068	That's a tough one. My interest in the show would have to outweigh my hatred of Reagan, which is pretty heavy. He is included in insane assassination attempts--mostly not conspiracies: http://www.cracked.com/article_16705...president.html Truman attempt not included! http://www.trumanlibrary.org/trivia/assassin.htm One of David Letterman's best Top Ten lists was of Things Reagan Actually Does Remember. My favorite was "That Jodie Foster is a troublemaker"!

12-08-2014, 12:48 AM	#15
Necco Member Senior Member Join Date: Jan 06, 2006 Posts: 1,149	"Imagine if UM had been hosted by Ronald Reagan" No. I won't. And you can't make me.