Anyone Hate Dennis Farina? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

SageSlowdive · 11-06-2010, 02:02 PM

I do - there is nothing special about him that makes him an "interesting" host.

With Robert Stack, you get a cold, yet emotional tone in his voice that makes the cases feel real & special. With Farina, you get some tacky "cool" sounding voice that fades in and out only when he feels like adding a little wisecrack.

Ugh, if the new UM wasn't bad enough...

DarkDante · 11-06-2010, 02:38 PM

Nah I don't hate Farina. That is a bit too strong for me. Plus, the thing I always keep in mind with Farina is he wasn't allowed to narrate the segments as he saw fit. He's just redoing Stack's old monologues down to the last word. I'm saw Stack had somewhat of a script to follow as well but what Farina was asked to do, well it is what it is.

TracyLynnS · 11-06-2010, 11:11 PM

Since we can't have Stack, I'm okay with Farina hosting the show. However, I think he's capable of doing a much better job than we're seeing.

He might have even been a half way decent alternative to Stack if Spike just hadn't gone and made such a mess out of the segments. IMO, Farina really has almost no material to work with, which makes the Spike segments even harder to watch.

TheCars1986 · 11-07-2010, 04:39 PM

Stack cannot be replaced...but Farina doesn't do a bad job IMO.

Kane · 11-07-2010, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

Since we can't have Stack, I'm okay with Farina hosting the show. However, I think he's capable of doing a much better job than we're seeing.

I agree.

biscuitgirl · 11-08-2010, 04:49 PM

Yeah, I agree with the others. I don't hate Farina either, I think it's the crappy mess they have made of UM that makes it so bad. The old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind. I wonder if the show had never moved to Spike in the first place and just stayed on Lifetime where it belongs, would we have gotten these new "rock" versions of UM?

justins5256 · 11-08-2010, 05:04 PM

I think "hate" is too strong a word. I don't like Farina as the host, but I'm at a loss to suggest someone who could replace Stack and do the job just as good or better. That being said, I do "hate" the editing and attempts to modernize the show by omitting dates, adding heavy metal music, flashy effects, hyper edits etc. If the episode content was exactly the same and just re-narrated by Farina I could probably live with that.

burbqueen · 11-08-2010, 06:29 PM

hate is a strong word, but yes he is aweful!!

Guardian · 11-08-2010, 06:42 PM

My guess is bottom line: they felt that the show needed to be updated. I will say that I will always be a fan of the original and I don't care for the re-edits they have done. But I will say that if you look at it from a network perspective, they probably feel that to the casual viewer, the show has a more current tone to it. They tend to emphasize words like csi, and forensics, because those are much more popular in pop culture han they were 20 years ago.

Farina is an ok host, but I feel like this is just a weekend job for him. If they were doing new shows, there might be a bit more heart put into it. His narrative isn't bad, but he can never replace Stack.

In a perfect world, (even one where Stack would not live forever as host) I would choose... ready for this, William Shatner. His narrative on rescue 911, back in the day was good. And that show was quite similar to UM. That's just my 2 cents on the issue.

tsny82 · 11-08-2010, 11:32 PM

I wont go as far to say I hate Dennis Farina,but in my mind Robert Stack IS Unsolved Mysteries. Farina has had roles that I have enjoyed him in. The new Unsolved Mysteries just isnt on the same level as before.

badcompany · 11-08-2010, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guardian

My guess is bottom line: they felt that the show needed to be updated. I will say that I will always be a fan of the original and I don't care for the re-edits they have done. But I will say that if you look at it from a network perspective, they probably feel that to the casual viewer, the show has a more current tone to it. They tend to emphasize words like csi, and forensics, because those are much more popular in pop culture han they were 20 years ago.

Farina is an ok host, but I feel like this is just a weekend job for him. If they were doing new shows, there might be a bit more heart put into it. His narrative isn't bad, but he can never replace Stack.

In a perfect world, (even one where Stack would not live forever as host) I would choose... ready for this, William Shatner. His narrative on rescue 911, back in the day was good. And that show was quite similar to UM. That's just my 2 cents on the issue.

I was thinking Christopher Lee, but thinking about it now perhaps he would be too creepy. And besides that he's no spring chicken so chances are you'd be looking for a new host sooner than you'd want to. Shatner might be ok or Leonard Nimoy.

Guardian · 11-09-2010, 03:00 AM

Stack portrayed Elliott Ness, Shatner portrayed T.J. Hooker. I rest my case.

comicbookwriter · 11-09-2010, 03:57 AM

I dont hate Farina, he just reads like he isn't interested and he is possibly the most boring voiceover talent I have ever heard in my entire life.

CBW

TheCars1986 · 11-09-2010, 09:21 AM

That guy that does the Geico commercials could be a suitable replacement for Stack, IMO.

Steve W. · 11-09-2010, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

That guy that does the Geico commercials could be a suitable replacement for Stack, IMO.

yes. i believe his name is Mike McGlone. i think all the put-together episodes with Farina hosting were all completed last year or two years ago. somebody call Cosgrove, Meurer, or whoever has the rights to the show now and make a sales pitch for McGlone as their next host! :-)

11-06-2010, 02:02 PM	#1
SageSlowdive the real hank queen Forum Regular Join Date: Feb 10, 2010 Posts: 659	Anyone Hate Dennis Farina? I do - there is nothing special about him that makes him an "interesting" host. With Robert Stack, you get a cold, yet emotional tone in his voice that makes the cases feel real & special. With Farina, you get some tacky "cool" sounding voice that fades in and out only when he feels like adding a little wisecrack. Ugh, if the new UM wasn't bad enough...

11-08-2010, 06:29 PM	#8
burbqueen Master of My Domain Frequent Poster Join Date: Dec 11, 2009 Location: texas Posts: 160	hate is a strong word, but yes he is aweful!!
	__________________ Baby Huba due 06/20/10!!!!

11-08-2010, 06:42 PM	#9
Guardian Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: WA Posts: 522	My guess is bottom line: they felt that the show needed to be updated. I will say that I will always be a fan of the original and I don't care for the re-edits they have done. But I will say that if you look at it from a network perspective, they probably feel that to the casual viewer, the show has a more current tone to it. They tend to emphasize words like csi, and forensics, because those are much more popular in pop culture han they were 20 years ago. Farina is an ok host, but I feel like this is just a weekend job for him. If they were doing new shows, there might be a bit more heart put into it. His narrative isn't bad, but he can never replace Stack. In a perfect world, (even one where Stack would not live forever as host) I would choose... ready for this, William Shatner. His narrative on rescue 911, back in the day was good. And that show was quite similar to UM. That's just my 2 cents on the issue.
	__________________ For every mystery there is someone, somewhere, who knows what happened. Perhaps... it's you...

11-06-2010, 02:38 PM	#2
DarkDante Member Senior Member Join Date: Jul 27, 2002 Posts: 1,569	Nah I don't hate Farina. That is a bit too strong for me. Plus, the thing I always keep in mind with Farina is he wasn't allowed to narrate the segments as he saw fit. He's just redoing Stack's old monologues down to the last word. I'm saw Stack had somewhat of a script to follow as well but what Farina was asked to do, well it is what it is.

11-06-2010, 11:11 PM	#3
TracyLynnS Don't Look Up Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Jan 07, 2009 Posts: 3,107	Since we can't have Stack, I'm okay with Farina hosting the show. However, I think he's capable of doing a much better job than we're seeing. He might have even been a half way decent alternative to Stack if Spike just hadn't gone and made such a mess out of the segments. IMO, Farina really has almost no material to work with, which makes the Spike segments even harder to watch.

11-07-2010, 04:39 PM	#4
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	Stack cannot be replaced...but Farina doesn't do a bad job IMO.

11-08-2010, 04:49 PM	#6
biscuitgirl Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Oct 01, 2009 Posts: 86	Yeah, I agree with the others. I don't hate Farina either, I think it's the crappy mess they have made of UM that makes it so bad. The old saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" comes to mind. I wonder if the show had never moved to Spike in the first place and just stayed on Lifetime where it belongs, would we have gotten these new "rock" versions of UM?

11-08-2010, 05:04 PM	#7
justins5256 Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 08, 2002 Posts: 3,866	I think "hate" is too strong a word. I don't like Farina as the host, but I'm at a loss to suggest someone who could replace Stack and do the job just as good or better. That being said, I do "hate" the editing and attempts to modernize the show by omitting dates, adding heavy metal music, flashy effects, hyper edits etc. If the episode content was exactly the same and just re-narrated by Farina I could probably live with that.

11-08-2010, 11:32 PM	#10
tsny82 Member Occasional Poster Join Date: Jun 22, 2010 Location: Utica,New York Posts: 15	I wont go as far to say I hate Dennis Farina,but in my mind Robert Stack IS Unsolved Mysteries. Farina has had roles that I have enjoyed him in. The new Unsolved Mysteries just isnt on the same level as before.

11-09-2010, 03:00 AM	#12
Guardian Member Forum Regular Join Date: May 19, 2010 Location: WA Posts: 522	Stack portrayed Elliott Ness, Shatner portrayed T.J. Hooker. I rest my case.

11-09-2010, 03:57 AM	#13
comicbookwriter Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jun 15, 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 140	I dont hate Farina, he just reads like he isn't interested and he is possibly the most boring voiceover talent I have ever heard in my entire life. CBW

11-09-2010, 09:21 AM	#14
TheCars1986 #VLSKMS Forum Fanatic Join Date: Nov 22, 2008 Location: Maryland Posts: 8,606	That guy that does the Geico commercials could be a suitable replacement for Stack, IMO.