Is there a stigma today about Unsolved Mysteries? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

lettucesolve1 · 05-27-2015, 07:14 PM

I think there is a stigma about the old Unsolved Mysteries after the original from Lifetime was cancelled that lasts all the way up to today.

1st) The funny and low budget acting on the original show.
2nd) The farina episodes pissed original UM fans off due to all re-runs.
3rd) It is just so old school and today's people do not want that.

My view: I thought some of the acting was pretty good especially in the scary murder cases. Having 4-5 different segments in one hour, mixing it up with murder and ghosts and ufos, was great to me because I was a kid.

Do you think there is a stigma and that is why it will never come back to TV despite murder shows all over cable tv today and there is a 24 hours murder show called ID? Plus, all night long at varying times there is rerun murder shows on OWN and Oxygen. Lifetime has the farina reruns every morning except maybe Sunday. I think there is a stigma. But UM could exist today if it were on the ID channel and all its segments are about murder and missing only. No more ghosts or spirits or ufos.

Unfortunately, if UM is on today and on the ID channel do not call it UM, give it a brand new name. Keep the same format as UM with a host, but instead of 5 or 6 ten minute tiny segments only have 3 segments. I think the days of 10 minute murder and ghost spots are a thing of the past. People today are so used to seeing one murder case on Dateline for 1 or 2 hours. (honestly 2 hours is way too long for 1 murder case and it just drags on for me). Many other ID murder shows are 30 minutes long or 1 hour long while some are 1 hour long with 2 different stories.

On a side note - any of you know if "I Survived" is back on Lifetime or is it on Lifetime Movie Network? I see its on Lifetime website but I am never able to watch a new one on their site! Lots of people complained online when this show first came out lol because it has 3 segments, yet they switch back and forth. At first I was ok with it and after season one I got annoyed with moving back and forth lol. I think they do this to force us to watch the entire hour! I was pissed when it moved from one cable channel to another.

lettucesolve1 · 05-27-2015, 07:30 PM

also John Walsh is back on CNN with his own 2 hour special that airs just once in a while like UM first did. When writing earlier I forgot that HLN (CNN 2) is all about murder too every night with Nancy Grace and Forensic Files, especially the weekends. CNN and HLN is a great place for Unsolved Mysteries (specials) to debut on. Heck on late night Saturdays and sunday mornings while HLN has FF shows on.... CNN too has FF on! lol. I am tired of HLN always havin reruns for FF. Why not have Unsolved Mysteries type of show on HLN every Saturday night at 11pm eastern?

TheUntouchables · 05-27-2015, 07:38 PM

The theme song and chilling narration by Robert Stack were the main selling points. It certainly wasn't meant to be lauded for its acting, dramatizations don't do real life any justice.

lettucesolve1 · 05-27-2015, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheUntouchables

The theme song and chilling narration by Robert Stack were the main selling points. It certainly wasn't meant to be lauded for its acting, dramatizations don't do real life any justice.

Today people no longer are tuned into a murder show because of a creepy sounding host or creepy music. They want other stuff instead like sex, hot actors, and the actual case itself.

Hops3098 · 05-28-2015, 01:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lettucesolve1

Today people no longer are tuned into a murder show because of a creepy sounding host or creepy music. They want other stuff instead like sex, hot actors, and the actual case itself.

It's not on par with RS or the UM music, but I think Forensic Files is pretty solid in both music and tone of narration. The segments are longer by about 10 mins but otherwise I find the show to be extremely similar to UM. Its current and has enjoyed pretty decent success, so I don't think all viewers today are as shallow as you suggest, although you certainly have a point.

DALLASTEXAN!! · 05-28-2015, 02:08 PM

This has been a debate on here for a long time. Forensic files is a good comparison because the format seems to have a lot in common with UM although it is a completely different show in other ways. It's interesting to me that several months ago I found out through posters on here that ff is no longer making episodes yet CNN plays it constantly. so I believe that there still is now and always will be a place for shows like this. Lifetime is also playing farina shows a lot more as of late as well.

tarheelslim · 05-28-2015, 04:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hops3098

It's not on par with RS or the UM music, but I think Forensic Files is pretty solid in both music and tone of narration. The segments are longer by about 10 mins but otherwise I find the show to be extremely similar to UM. Its current and has enjoyed pretty decent success, so I don't think all viewers today are as shallow as you suggest, although you certainly have a point.

Love FF, but you missed the most crucial difference: it is only about solved cases.

UMFaninMD · 05-28-2015, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tarheelslim

Love FF, but you missed the most crucial difference: it is only about solved cases.

That's a major factor. The overwhelming majority of true crime shows are about solved cases. I think this is why ID dropped Disappeared from their lineup. They feel most viewers probably don't want to see a show which has no closure. But just from social media alone, many fans loved Disappeared. They even profiled some UM cases and added more details. It was probably the most similar to UM we've had in a while. Networks can really underestimate their viewers at times.

Kane · 05-28-2015, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMFaninMD

That's a major factor. The overwhelming majority of true crime shows are about solved cases. I think this is why ID dropped Disappeared from their lineup. They feel most viewers probably don't want to see a show which has no closure. But just from social media alone, many fans loved Disappeared. They even profiled some UM cases and added more details. It was probably the most similar to UM we've had in a while. Networks can really underestimate their viewers at times.

Apparently, in the eyes of today's television executives, programs such as Disappeared, UM, and America's Most Wanted are "uncool." So yes, networks have a tendency to underestimate viewers. It is like a new music genre becoming so popular that any music artist who doesn't follow that trend won't be touched with a ten foot pole.

DALLASTEXAN!! · 05-29-2015, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kane

Apparently, in the eyes of today's television executives, programs such as Disappeared, UM, and America's Most Wanted are "uncool." So yes, networks have a tendency to underestimate viewers. It is like a new music genre becoming so popular that any music artist who doesn't follow that trend won't be touched with a ten foot pole.

And that's when you get a rather large stream of wait for it....poo

Thiussat · 05-31-2015, 05:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMFaninMD

That's a major factor. The overwhelming majority of true crime shows are about solved cases. I think this is why ID dropped Disappeared from their lineup. They feel most viewers probably don't want to see a show which has no closure. But just from social media alone, many fans loved Disappeared. They even profiled some UM cases and added more details. It was probably the most similar to UM we've had in a while. Networks can really underestimate their viewers at times.

I really liked Disappeared. I didn't know they cancelled it. I agree it was the most UM-like true crime show that has been on TV in a long time.

Browsing ID's website, it looks like there's now a similar show called "Last Seen Alive" which appears to profile missing people.

Also, is Beth Holloway still doing that show "Vanished?" It is along the lines of Disappeared.

Thiussat · 05-31-2015, 05:25 AM

Double Post

lettucesolve1 · 05-31-2015, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thiussat

Double Post

huh?

lettucesolve1 · 05-31-2015, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by UMFaninMD

That's a major factor. The overwhelming majority of true crime shows are about solved cases. I think this is why ID dropped Disappeared from their lineup. They feel most viewers probably don't want to see a show which has no closure. But just from social media alone, many fans loved Disappeared. They even profiled some UM cases and added more details. It was probably the most similar to UM we've had in a while. Networks can really underestimate their viewers at times.

what UM cases are on disapp?

Awsi Dooger · 05-31-2015, 02:46 PM

Shows like Disappeared have too much filler. We don't know what happened so the producers are forced to occupy an hour with either low percentage flings or outright fluff. For every satisfying episode I thought there were at least two disappointing ones. Eventually they had to force things. SiberianKiss appeared briefly a couple of years ago to describe that problem very well, people who didn't qualify for examination on a show called Disappeared.

Unsolved Mysteries didn't have enough time to mess with filler. Not often, anyway.

The typical true crime show is allowed to follow a very familiar lazy format. Introduce the subjects and situation first, and then essentially apply a shell game. Handful of possibilities. The order varies in which the true perpetrator is introduced. I don't mind it because I'm fairly good at identifying the key variable and therefore who was the guilty party. But I always keep in mind that the shows are not particularly satisfying because they are merely splicing together known quantities. It's almost like the golf reality show Big Break, if anyone has seen that. The producers know the outcome, which was filmed months before airing, so they intentionally use clips to try to camouflage what really happened, often applying intrigue that doesn't belong.

I remember late night half hour version of Unsolved Mysteries on Lifetime a decade or so ago. Seems like that would be viable, as long as certain segments were used, the good stuff like Resurrection Mary.

Of course, I'm still wondering why I can't find the original series The Fugitive anywhere. Heck, I'd watch that all day compared to modern offerings. A&E played it every afternoon in the early '90s.

05-27-2015, 07:14 PM	#1
lettucesolve1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2013 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 175	Is there a stigma today about Unsolved Mysteries? I think there is a stigma about the old Unsolved Mysteries after the original from Lifetime was cancelled that lasts all the way up to today. 1st) The funny and low budget acting on the original show. 2nd) The farina episodes pissed original UM fans off due to all re-runs. 3rd) It is just so old school and today's people do not want that. My view: I thought some of the acting was pretty good especially in the scary murder cases. Having 4-5 different segments in one hour, mixing it up with murder and ghosts and ufos, was great to me because I was a kid. Do you think there is a stigma and that is why it will never come back to TV despite murder shows all over cable tv today and there is a 24 hours murder show called ID? Plus, all night long at varying times there is rerun murder shows on OWN and Oxygen. Lifetime has the farina reruns every morning except maybe Sunday. I think there is a stigma. But UM could exist today if it were on the ID channel and all its segments are about murder and missing only. No more ghosts or spirits or ufos. Unfortunately, if UM is on today and on the ID channel do not call it UM, give it a brand new name. Keep the same format as UM with a host, but instead of 5 or 6 ten minute tiny segments only have 3 segments. I think the days of 10 minute murder and ghost spots are a thing of the past. People today are so used to seeing one murder case on Dateline for 1 or 2 hours. (honestly 2 hours is way too long for 1 murder case and it just drags on for me). Many other ID murder shows are 30 minutes long or 1 hour long while some are 1 hour long with 2 different stories. On a side note - any of you know if "I Survived" is back on Lifetime or is it on Lifetime Movie Network? I see its on Lifetime website but I am never able to watch a new one on their site! Lots of people complained online when this show first came out lol because it has 3 segments, yet they switch back and forth. At first I was ok with it and after season one I got annoyed with moving back and forth lol. I think they do this to force us to watch the entire hour! I was pissed when it moved from one cable channel to another.

05-27-2015, 07:30 PM	#2
lettucesolve1 Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Jul 08, 2013 Location: Duluth, MN Posts: 175	also John Walsh is back on CNN with his own 2 hour special that airs just once in a while like UM first did. When writing earlier I forgot that HLN (CNN 2) is all about murder too every night with Nancy Grace and Forensic Files, especially the weekends. CNN and HLN is a great place for Unsolved Mysteries (specials) to debut on. Heck on late night Saturdays and sunday mornings while HLN has FF shows on.... CNN too has FF on! lol. I am tired of HLN always havin reruns for FF. Why not have Unsolved Mysteries type of show on HLN every Saturday night at 11pm eastern?

05-27-2015, 07:38 PM	#3
TheUntouchables Fearless & Incorruptible Occasional Poster Join Date: Nov 18, 2013 Posts: 75	The theme song and chilling narration by Robert Stack were the main selling points. It certainly wasn't meant to be lauded for its acting, dramatizations don't do real life any justice.

05-28-2015, 02:08 PM	#6
DALLASTEXAN!! Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 31, 2007 Location: Devil's Backbone Posts: 3,137	This has been a debate on here for a long time. Forensic files is a good comparison because the format seems to have a lot in common with UM although it is a completely different show in other ways. It's interesting to me that several months ago I found out through posters on here that ff is no longer making episodes yet CNN plays it constantly. so I believe that there still is now and always will be a place for shows like this. Lifetime is also playing farina shows a lot more as of late as well.

05-31-2015, 05:25 AM	#12
Thiussat Member Forum Regular Join Date: Mar 09, 2007 Posts: 601	Double Post

05-31-2015, 02:46 PM	#15
Awsi Dooger Member Senior Member Join Date: Feb 18, 2003 Location: Miami Posts: 1,537	Shows like Disappeared have too much filler. We don't know what happened so the producers are forced to occupy an hour with either low percentage flings or outright fluff. For every satisfying episode I thought there were at least two disappointing ones. Eventually they had to force things. SiberianKiss appeared briefly a couple of years ago to describe that problem very well, people who didn't qualify for examination on a show called Disappeared. Unsolved Mysteries didn't have enough time to mess with filler. Not often, anyway. The typical true crime show is allowed to follow a very familiar lazy format. Introduce the subjects and situation first, and then essentially apply a shell game. Handful of possibilities. The order varies in which the true perpetrator is introduced. I don't mind it because I'm fairly good at identifying the key variable and therefore who was the guilty party. But I always keep in mind that the shows are not particularly satisfying because they are merely splicing together known quantities. It's almost like the golf reality show Big Break, if anyone has seen that. The producers know the outcome, which was filmed months before airing, so they intentionally use clips to try to camouflage what really happened, often applying intrigue that doesn't belong. I remember late night half hour version of Unsolved Mysteries on Lifetime a decade or so ago. Seems like that would be viable, as long as certain segments were used, the good stuff like Resurrection Mary. Of course, I'm still wondering why I can't find the original series The Fugitive anywhere. Heck, I'd watch that all day compared to modern offerings. A&E played it every afternoon in the early '90s.