Unsolved Mysteries v. America's Most Wanted

[LooksLikeCRicci]

Because I've been going through UM withdrawls lately, I've found that I've been watching a lot more AMW on television. While I feel that both shows have their strong and weak points, does anyone else feel that AMW has gotten totally campy over the years?

I don't mean any disrespect to the show. I respect John Walsh's work and how the show has captured so many fugitives in its 20 years on the air. However, the format doesn't seem to agree with me. I'm not a fan of all of the different correspondants. It also seems like the show is moving at a MUCH faster pace as compared to the show in it's early 1990's.

I don't know... I'm putting it to the boards. In the red corner: Unsolved Mysteries. In the blue corner: America's Most Wanted. Who comes out on top?

Let's get it on!

[Dislimb]

UM in a landslide. I haven't cared for AMW in over ten years. UM was great all the way until the end.

EDIT:

For those who don't agree with me, I will send "Megadeth guy" over to your house with some cigarettes!

[oicvah]

Definitely UM and not just because I'm a member of this board. I think the objective person would probably say UM as well because UM is more of a production, i.e. it tells stories, while AMW is basically an informative show. I think the UM disclaimer sums it up: "this is not a news broadcast", whereas AMW could easily have said "this is a news broadcast". The segments on AMW could easily be shown on your local news, and oftentimes are. Some of UM's segments obviously wouldn't be shown on the local news. So as far as which is suited better for television, I think UM wins because it's more of a production drama while AMW is more of a production news broadcast.

[jeeps]

No contest. Unsolved Mysteries.

I'm in agreement with everything you said CRicci about the pace, amount of "reporters", etc.

But what puts UM miles ahead of AMW is the host. Robert Stack was flawless on this show. There's something about John Walsh that just doesn't set right with me - and that's excluding all the gossip about her personal life. I guess for me it comes down to sincerity and I don't get that vibe with Walsh.

jeeps

[Kane]

I generally like UM better. But I am still devoted to AMW. Indeed, there are differences between the two shows, especially the production, but I think that was meant to be. While UM and AMW shared the same type of format, I like the fact that UM was generally its own show as much as AMW was generally its own show. But it was (and still is) their success in solving cases that truly mattered.

[Huskerz85]

UM all the way.......

Mainly because I think they go much more in depth with their cases and actually do (somewhat) detailed reenactments, whereas AMW could easily pass for a weekly edition of your local town's 'Crime Stoppers'.

I respect John Walsh, what he does and why he does it.......but he doesn't have the sheer presence that Robert Stack does........Walsh reminds me more of the cop that hosts 'World's Scariest Police Chases'. Stack, IMO, has much more of that old-school 'noir'-type presence that allows him to be intimidating & mysterious at the same time.

Plus.......did AMW ever have to have a disclaimer that ran before any segments?? I think not.

[LooksLikeCRicci]

Originally Posted by Huskerz85

Stack, IMO, has much more of that old-school 'noir'-type presence that allows him to be intimidating & mysterious at the same time.

You can't be Eliot Ness without having that "old-school noir" type of presence. Just sayin'

[GoldenGirlsFan92]

I much rather UM.

[Awsi Dooger]

Rock 'em, sock 'em wipeout. Block off early. AMW can't even hold my attention anymore. I'll have it on but by the end of the hour I'm looking at the summary pictures trying to remember a single aspect of any of the segments. That happens time after time now, as opposed to the early years when I'd be riveted throughout and retain every detail.

I'm sure most of it is due to production changes, things CRicci mentioned. But it's partially that John Walsh simply lacks the class and aura of a Robert Stack. I can't imagine Stack with the vicious facial expressions that Walsh often features, or juvenile reliance on terms like dirt bag or slime ball. There is absolutely no need for that and it IMO it lessens Walsh, and therefore the show. The comparison to the host of the police chase videos is excellent. He relies on the same pathetic language and emphasis.

Don't get me wrong, I greatly respect everything Walsh is done. He also cut some excellent and much appreciated commercials for a candidate I did some work for this cycle. I'm simply turned off by demeaning terms when they are unnecessary. Make your point with specifics from the case, and the put downs are superfluous.

[peachysquirt21]

I use to watch AMW all the time, now it is a rare thing that I watch it. I much prefer UM. I think it's great that AMW is on & they help in captures but to me UM is a much better show.

[kadrmas15]

Hmm, I know John Walsh endorsed Ross Miller who now is the Secretary of State in Nevada but I wont ask whether or not that was who you worked for Awsi since it was obvious you didnt wanted to keep that private. I like John Walsh and greatly respect the guy and I hope he runs for congress. I know they have been trying to run for congress down in Florida as a republican so we will see what happens whether or not he runs against one of the two new Florida dems Ron Klein or Tim Mahoney. I know Walsh still has a h ome there in addition to a home in the DC suburbs. AMW has a more fast paced format than it used to and it has its positives and negatives like any other show but I watch it wheneveR I can and I think they produce some good segments and profile some unique people. If I had to pick between the two I would pick UM but I think AMW is still a very good show and obviously well loved. The ratings are still good, they still catch fugitives and when they canceled it in 1996 or 1997 there was a large public outcry and they put it back on the air. I like both shows and AMW does a good mix of homicide, fugitives, missing people, e tc. While Unsolved mysteries did that too, they did lost loves which I didnt mind but some people disliked.

[kadrmas15]

I actually think Walsh's personality and abrasive nature actually add to the show and make people like him and the show more not less. I agree that Walsh overdoes it sometimes with the "lets get this slimeball off the streets tonight" or "this punk needs to go down and find his way into a 6 x 9 cell right now." An earlier poster remarked that Walsh reminded them of the guy that hosts World's wildest police videos. I agree with that. I had never thought of the similiarity between the two before but they are quite similiar. I cant remember the cops name, John something, John Burnell? He was a Sergeant I believe with either the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department or the Broward County Sheriff's Department. I know it was in south Florida. But I think Walsh is largely genuine in the way he acts on the show, due to his personal background he has an attitude towards criminals that even your most pro punishment person wouldnt have unless they have experienced what Walsh has. I think he overdoes it on the dramatics a little bit but I think he is genuine and I will give it to Walsh for being a straight shooter and telling it like it is. Like when he found Ira Einhorn in France and confronted him on the streets over there and was getting in his face and stuff.

[Awsi Dooger]

John Walsh didn't use that type of language early in AMW's run. He was much more matter-of-fact and let the cases speak for themselves. I appreciated that approach much more, although it's certainly possible the bulk of the audience feels the other way. You might need a gimmick to maintain audience level with so many alternatives. Funny, in my previous post I almost used the Ira Einhorn example as one where I knew Walsh had lost it. I was almost wishing Einhorn had laughed in his face, asking Walsh if he was running for something.

Speaking of that, Florida is severely and ridiculously gerrymandered. The Mahoney seat is extremely vulnerable so Walsh or any top Republican could probably take that one, especially in a presidential year. I would stay away from the Klein district, which is much tougher in comparison. The other competitive district is the Buchanon/Jennings race in the Sarasota area but it looks like Buchanon will hold that seat after the electronic machine controversy with the surreal percentage of undervotes. BTW, the new Florida gov Crist has been surprisingly moderate to begin his term and will apparently propose to do away with the electronic machines next week in favor of optical scan with paper trails.

[LooksLikeCRicci]

Originally Posted by Awsi Dooger

John Walsh didn't use that type of language early in AMW's run. He was much more matter-of-fact and let the cases speak for themselves. I appreciated that approach much more, although it's certainly possible the bulk of the audience feels the other way.

I totally agree! That was what I was trying to say in the original post. I remember being totally into AMW when I was younger, mainly because UM scared the hell out of me. I used to watch both shows with my mother religiously, but as a pre-teen, my loyalties were with AMW. The reason I brought up the thread to begin with was because I've watched 2 or 3 episodes of AMW in the last couple of weeks and I severely dislike the direction the show has went in.

As a "junior" prosecutor, I do understand how Walsh wants to tag these criminals "scumbags," etc. The problem that I have with it now is that this sort of language would NEVER get past a judge in a court of law. I've done criminal prosecutions, and I think I would get tossed out of court if I called an alleged perp "a scumbag," or if I urged a jury to put them in a "6x9 cell where they belong." I've found, as a lot of people have already mentioned, that it's easier to show the facts to a jury and let the folks decide for themselves. Stack used this approach, and I do believe it IS what made UM so effective. Walsh DOES seem to cram it down our throats and it's starting to appear insincere to me.

[Awsi Dooger]

Originally Posted by LooksLikeCRicci

I think I would get tossed out of court if I called an alleged perp "a scumbag,"

Give it a shot