Changes in UM Through the Years

[SomeofShane]

I have a few questions about changes in UM, both thematically and stylistically, over the years, specifically when the show moved from NBC to CBS.

1. Did the segments change from categories (Wanted, Unexplained Death etc.) to having specific titles ("Trailer Terror") when the show moved to CBS, or did this begin on NBC?

2. Can anyone confirm whether one of the categories in the very early seasons was Vanished? I feel like I remember this, but perhaps I'm simply confusing with the show Vanished.

3. Did the show stick to a diverse mix of four segments during the CBS years, or did they start leaning more towards the supernatural? I was a huge UM fan during most of the NBC run, but went off to college during the CBS era and sort of lost track of the show. Years later, when Lifetime did reruns, I caught what I believe were some of the CBS episodes and found them less effective. I chalked this up to nostalgia, but when I caight reruns of the NBC era, I was like "no, something really did change during the CBS era." Still can't put my finger on what, exactly.

4. What would you say are some of the more memorable segments from the later CBS era? Entirely subjective, I know.

5. Did any segments from UM also feature on the more recent series Disappeared?

Thanks for any feedback!

[wiseguy182]

Originally Posted by SomeofShane

I have a few questions about changes in UM, both thematically and stylistically, over the years, specifically when the show moved from NBC to CBS.

1. Did the segments change from categories (Wanted, Unexplained Death etc.) to having specific titles ("Trailer Terror") when the show moved to CBS, or did this begin on NBC?

2. Can anyone confirm whether one of the categories in the very early seasons was Vanished? I feel like I remember this, but perhaps I'm simply confusing with the show Vanished.

3. Did the show stick to a diverse mix of four segments during the CBS years, or did they start leaning more towards the supernatural? I was a huge UM fan during most of the NBC run, but went off to college during the CBS era and sort of lost track of the show. Years later, when Lifetime did reruns, I caught what I believe were some of the CBS episodes and found them less effective. I chalked this up to nostalgia, but when I caight reruns of the NBC era, I was like "no, something really did change during the CBS era." Still can't put my finger on what, exactly.

4. What would you say are some of the more memorable segments from the later CBS era? Entirely subjective, I know.

5. Did any segments from UM also feature on the more recent series Disappeared?

Thanks for any feedback!

1. I believe they always had both, although the segment titles aren't common knowledge. As with most other shows, TvGuide used to just describe the episodes/segments rather than give their titles.

2. Missing Persons but no Vanished. There are 2 shows called Vanished. Most recently a show called Vanished hosted by Beth Holloway (I have the entire run and it includes some of the most mysterious post-UM cases and extra info on others). ABC also had a show called Vanished that aired in 1999 and I'd love to track some of these episodes down. I know they did Jacob Wetterling.

3. There was always a good mix of segments. Most people, myself included, believe the drop in quality in later years had to do with sillier supernatural segments, not-as-good production values and unnecessary cohosts and correspondents.

4. I'm drawing a blank.

5. Oh yes, quite a few. I'm sure there are other posts about it, but off the top of my head, Amy Bechtel, Moses Lall and Lila Buerretan, Colleen Wood, Susan Walsh, Niqui McCown, Molly Bish, Leah Roberts, Rachel Cooke, Bible/Freeman and Jodi Huisentruitt.

[dynoguy88]

They ditched the iconic UM theme song when the show moved to CBS. That was a travesty. The new theme was barely even a song. Just some random notes arranged to sound like some 80's supernatural D-List TV movie over a sky blue background. Thankfully, the theme song was brought back when new segments were produced on Lifetime in 2001. But that version couldn't touch the original tune from the NBC years.

I can only think of two segments from the CBS years that were truly memorable; Molly Bish and Jesse James Hollywood. The production wasn't as good but the stories gave the type of mysterious intrigue, sympathy for the family members and anger for the killers that happened all the time during the NBC years.

[SomeofShane]

Thanks for the feedback so far!

Now I'm confused. I didn't realize that Lifetime produced original episodes. I'm wondering if some of the ones I assumed were CBS, like Lauria Bible, the burning bed, the angry female neighbor who was into anarchist literature, and the religious man who moved on to a farm and made the owner sleep in the basement, were actually Lifetime originals. I'll have to spend even more time with the episode guide I guess.

Yeah, the original theme song was by far the best/creepiest.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by SomeofShane

Thanks for the feedback so far!

Now I'm confused. I didn't realize that Lifetime produced original episodes. I'm wondering if some of the ones I assumed were CBS, like Lauria Bible, the burning bed, the angry female neighbor who was into anarchist literature, and the religious man who moved on to a farm and made the owner sleep in the basement, we're actually Lifetime originals. I'll have to spend even more time with the episode guide I guess.

None of the ones you described were CBS episodes. Lauria Bible went missing in December 1999, seven months after CBS canceled UM. They were all produced for Lifetime, except for the one with the religious man who enslaved the farm owner (David Freeman and Tim Good, respectively). That was an NBC segment.

[wiseguy182]

Originally Posted by SomeofShane

the burning bed

Lynn Amos?

Originally Posted by SomeofShane

the angry female neighbor who was into anarchist literature

Malaika Griffin.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by wiseguy182

Lynn Amos?

That is one of a few segments involving a burning bed. Another was the 2001 death of Eric Tamiyasu, which UM covered in 2002 on Lifetime. The Lynn Amos case was highlighted during the 1996-97 season, the show's final season on NBC.

Malaika Griffin.

That was on UM in 2001 (on Lifetime).

[MegtheEgg86]

The Megan Curl segment was another latter-era story that involved a burning bed.

[Dude111]

Originally Posted by dynoguy88

They ditched the iconic UM theme song when the show moved to CBS. That was a travesty. The new theme was barely even a song.

Yea the show is crap now,I dont watch it.......

I stopped watching when they stopped showing Mr. Stacks original show which was the best!