Segments never shown on Lifetime - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

UMfan77 · 12-07-2003, 09:58 PM

I first started watching Unsolved Mysteries when it was on Lifetime (I know it's still on), but I never watched the show when it was originallyon NBC. Does anyone know of any segments that were on Unsolved Mysteries from when it first aired on NBC but was never shown on Lifetime?

Brent88 · 12-07-2003, 10:56 PM

I am not sure about NBC... but I know there are some.

Now, many CBS stories never aired... the entire era with the co-host Virginia Madsen has never been shown on Lifetime!

TJ · 12-07-2003, 11:13 PM

Actually, I think all of the segments that Virginia Madsen originally narrated were re-narrated by Robert Stack and aired during the 2001-2002 seasons.

All of the early specials hosted by Raymond Burr or Karl Malden have never aired.

There are some that have been aired on Lifetime but not in many years like the Polaroid missing kids - Tara Calico and Michael Henley Jr. - which is discussed often on here.

There was one that I got on tape in a trade that I had never seen about an author disappearing under bizarre circumstances while writing a novel about a local shop owner who disappeared under similar circumstance one-year prior.

Another one that I never saw on Lifetime that I got in a trade was an interview and session with a psychic who helps police solve murder cases.

The 90 minute Alcatraz episode was cut down to 60 minutes and the live 90 minute episode has never aired on Lifetime as far as I know.

Apparently, there are some segments (like the Polaroid one) that only aired in the 30 minute episodes and not the 60 minute ones.

Brent88 · 12-07-2003, 11:21 PM

Yeah, but my point was the original episodes weren't shown, since they were re-narrated(which seems like a waste of time to me)

TJ · 12-07-2003, 11:22 PM

During the 6 1999 episodes on CBS she narrated like 2 segments per episode.

Big3sCompanyFan · 12-08-2003, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by TJ
During the 6 1999 episodes on CBS she narrated like 2 segments per episode.

I had no idea UM was on CBS. Do you mean national NETWORK TV on CBS, like it was NBC?

What were the dates or years it was on CBS and for how long?

Thanks

TJ · 12-08-2003, 07:33 PM

Yes it first aired as a special on CBS on November 13, 1997.. then they aired 6 episodes in the spring/summer of 1998 and 6 more in the spring/summer of 1999. See the episode guide link at the top of the page for the exact dates.

Kane · 12-08-2003, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by UMfan77
I first started watching Unsolved Mysteries when it was on Lifetime (I know it's still on), but I never watched the show when it was originallyon NBC. Does anyone know of any segments that were on Unsolved Mysteries from when it first aired on NBC but was never shown on Lifetime?

There is one segment that I recall seeing on NBC in early 1994 that, to my best knowledge, has never surfaced on Lifetime: the 1981 Texas murders of a woman and her young son (it's a case that I once mentioned on this message board). Unfortunately, I can't remember their names, but what I remember about the case was that the double homicide occurred in Christmas of 1981 - which happened to be the murdered boy's fifth birthday!

UMfan77 · 12-08-2003, 09:10 PM

I wish that those "lost segments" would be shown on Liftime one of these days, I would love to watch them. Are there any other segments that were never shown on Liftime that anyone can recall watching on either, ABC or CBS?

Brent88 · 12-08-2003, 10:00 PM

You mean NBC... UM never aired on ABC.

rerungirl · 12-10-2003, 09:16 PM

Originally posted by Kane:

"There is one segment that I recall seeing on NBC in early 1994 that, to my best knowledge, has never surfaced on Lifetime: the 1981 Texas murders of a woman and her young son."

I'd love to hear more details about this particular segment if anyone has them. I vaguely remember an UM case about a woman and her young son who were murdered in an apartment complex. It seems like authorities believed the location of her apartment may have had something to do with the murders. Maybe it was close to the parking lot...or in an area where maintenance work was being done? I can't remember much more than that...just the discussion of the apartment's location.

justins5256 · 12-14-2003, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by UMfan77
I first started watching Unsolved Mysteries when it was on Lifetime (I know it's still on), but I never watched the show when it was originallyon NBC. Does anyone know of any segments that were on Unsolved Mysteries from when it first aired on NBC but was never shown on Lifetime?

There are a handful. Why they don't show these episodes, I'll never know. To add a few more to the list:

A 1995 story about a murdered husband and wife. Neighbors reported seeing teenagers on the property at a time when the couple should have already been dead. There was a rumor that the teens broke in, raped the wife, murdered them both, threw a party, and videotaped all of this.

A 1996 or 1997 story about internet harassment, and "Cyber Stalkers".

A 1995 piece called "Greatest Prison Escapes" (or someting similar) that was a recap of the Alcatraz story, and updates on cases involving prison escapees that UM viewers helped find.

A piece about the murder of Jon Benet Ramsey.

The Tupac Shakur and Kurt Cobain stories didn't air on Lifetime for years. They finally resurfaced as part of the "new" series.

I'm sure there are more. We should make a list. Even better, we should all check our collections and see if we have any of these episodes so we can share them with other members to ensure everyone sees them.

I personally have most of them.

Justin

Brent88 · 12-14-2003, 02:35 PM

I want to know why they don't air them?

justins5256 · 12-14-2003, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Brent88
I want to know why they don't air them?

I've thought about this as well. In my opinion, it is most likely a form of censorship on Lifetime's part. Note that most of the stories that have not aired are the more disturbing ones (the Polaroid kids, the cyberstalkers example I brought up etc.)

We have to remember that Lifetime is "television for women". I can't help but wonder if they toned down some of the more controversial/disturbing bits for the female audience.

I don't think this is true in all cases however. There could be a licensing hangup with the Burr/Malden episodes. It could also be that they don't want to show anything pre-Stack (or maybe didn't purchase broadcast rights to those earlier shows).

You also have to remember that many cases on UM have been solved since their original broadcast. The addition of updates may cause other stories to be dropped since the show is only 1 hour long, and the original airings did not contain updates (obviously).

Presentations that were originally over an hour have either not been shown, or majorly edited down (the original Alcatraz special for example, not to mention most of the "season premiere" type episodes which were 2 hours on NBC).

Perhaps some family members have asked that their stories not be repeated.

I'm sure there are methods to Lifetime's madness.

Justin

Brent88 · 12-14-2003, 06:12 PM

Oh please... cenorship? You should see some of the movies they air on that channel! Very degrading to women...

12-07-2003, 09:58 PM	#1
UMfan77 Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 28, 2003 Posts: 1,064	Segments never shown on Lifetime I first started watching Unsolved Mysteries when it was on Lifetime (I know it's still on), but I never watched the show when it was originallyon NBC. Does anyone know of any segments that were on Unsolved Mysteries from when it first aired on NBC but was never shown on Lifetime?

12-07-2003, 10:56 PM	#2
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	I am not sure about NBC... but I know there are some. Now, many CBS stories never aired... the entire era with the co-host Virginia Madsen has never been shown on Lifetime!

12-07-2003, 11:13 PM	#3
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,668	Actually, I think all of the segments that Virginia Madsen originally narrated were re-narrated by Robert Stack and aired during the 2001-2002 seasons. All of the early specials hosted by Raymond Burr or Karl Malden have never aired. There are some that have been aired on Lifetime but not in many years like the Polaroid missing kids - Tara Calico and Michael Henley Jr. - which is discussed often on here. There was one that I got on tape in a trade that I had never seen about an author disappearing under bizarre circumstances while writing a novel about a local shop owner who disappeared under similar circumstance one-year prior. Another one that I never saw on Lifetime that I got in a trade was an interview and session with a psychic who helps police solve murder cases. The 90 minute Alcatraz episode was cut down to 60 minutes and the live 90 minute episode has never aired on Lifetime as far as I know. Apparently, there are some segments (like the Polaroid one) that only aired in the 30 minute episodes and not the 60 minute ones.

12-07-2003, 11:21 PM	#4
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	Yeah, but my point was the original episodes weren't shown, since they were re-narrated(which seems like a waste of time to me)

12-07-2003, 11:22 PM	#5
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,668	During the 6 1999 episodes on CBS she narrated like 2 segments per episode.

12-08-2003, 07:33 PM	#7
TJ Site Owner Administrator Forum Star Join Date: Feb 03, 2000 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 10,668	Yes it first aired as a special on CBS on November 13, 1997.. then they aired 6 episodes in the spring/summer of 1998 and 6 more in the spring/summer of 1999. See the episode guide link at the top of the page for the exact dates.

12-08-2003, 09:10 PM	#9
UMfan77 Member Senior Member Join Date: Nov 28, 2003 Posts: 1,064	I wish that those "lost segments" would be shown on Liftime one of these days, I would love to watch them. Are there any other segments that were never shown on Liftime that anyone can recall watching on either, ABC or CBS?

12-08-2003, 10:00 PM	#10
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	You mean NBC... UM never aired on ABC.

12-10-2003, 09:16 PM	#11
rerungirl Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Sep 23, 2002 Location: Midwest Posts: 295	Originally posted by Kane: "There is one segment that I recall seeing on NBC in early 1994 that, to my best knowledge, has never surfaced on Lifetime: the 1981 Texas murders of a woman and her young son." I'd love to hear more details about this particular segment if anyone has them. I vaguely remember an UM case about a woman and her young son who were murdered in an apartment complex. It seems like authorities believed the location of her apartment may have had something to do with the murders. Maybe it was close to the parking lot...or in an area where maintenance work was being done? I can't remember much more than that...just the discussion of the apartment's location.

12-14-2003, 02:35 PM	#13
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	I want to know why they don't air them?

12-14-2003, 06:12 PM	#15
Brent88 Member Forum Star Join Date: Aug 01, 2003 Location: Alabama Posts: 16,174	Oh please... cenorship? You should see some of the movies they air on that channel! Very degrading to women...