Does anyone else think it's a shame...

[Zlatko]

that there's lack of true crime shows that involve unsolved murders/crime to fill UM's void? I thought about this a couple of days ago. AMW does focus a little bit on this but not to the same extent UM did. There are loads of these cases that don't get any national attention.

To make matters worse, Discovery ID could make a show that could solve unsolved murders, but instead focus on cases that have already been solved. Any thoughts? I do think it's good to have shows like Disappeared and Beth Holloway's vanished but we need more of these shows.

[scc1222]

Originally Posted by Zlatko

that there's lack of true crime shows that involve unsolved murders/crime to fill UM's void? I thought about this a couple of days ago. AMW does focus a little bit on this but not to the same extent UM did. There are loads of these cases that don't get any national attention.

To make matters worse, Discovery ID could make a show that could solve unsolved murders, but instead focus on cases that have already been solved. Any thoughts? I do think it's good to have shows like Disappeared and Beth Holloway's vanished but we need more of these shows.

I agree.call me old school,but TV has changed so much now that I wonder if UM debuted in this day and age,if it would have even made it.

[Apostapler]

No, you're right scc, if UM premiered today it would be swallowed up. That's why they had to try to revamp it with crappy rock music and enough bells and whistles to keep the attention deficient viewers occupied. What happened to setting the scene, playing some creepy music, and just listening to the story? And Zlatko, I'm bored to tears of 3/4 of the fodder on ID. I love 48 hours and dateline, but really, we need something real, and spooky, and gosh darn it, even goofy. I'd even watch them if they brought the magic rock back for an interview.

[scc1222]

Originally Posted by Apostapler

No, you're right scc, if UM premiered today it would be swallowed up. That's why they had to try to revamp it with crappy rock music and enough bells and whistles to keep the attention deficient viewers occupied. What happened to setting the scene, playing some creepy music, and just listening to the story? And Zlatko, I'm bored to tears of 3/4 of the fodder on ID. I love 48 hours and dateline, but really, we need something real, and spooky, and gosh darn it, even goofy. I'd even watch them if they brought the magic rock back for an interview.

agreed,and magic 8 ball for me.lol.
I'd happily settle for Sightings if it were to come on again.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by Apostapler

No, you're right scc, if UM premiered today it would be swallowed up. That's why they had to try to revamp it with crappy rock music and enough bells and whistles to keep the attention deficient viewers occupied. What happened to setting the scene, playing some creepy music, and just listening to the story?

It is as though UM has to emulate current non-fiction shows in order to stay current. That's like a veteran music group changing its musicial direction in order to remain commercially and critically relevant. Not only do both situations increase the possibility of alienating audiences and accusations of "selling out," but they also reek of appeasement.

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by Kane

It is as though UM has to emulate current non-fiction shows in order to stay current. That's like a veteran music group changing its musicial direction in order to remain commercially and critically relevant. Not only do both situations increase the possibility of alienating audiences and accusations of "selling out," but they also reek of appeasement.

I agree. I also think that shows like "Vanished" and "Disappeared" are decently produced, and are the closest shows that fill the "void" left by the original UM. IMO the ID Channel is the best one out there in terms of true crime shows.

[Zlatko]

Originally Posted by Apostapler

No, you're right scc, if UM premiered today it would be swallowed up. That's why they had to try to revamp it with crappy rock music and enough bells and whistles to keep the attention deficient viewers occupied. What happened to setting the scene, playing some creepy music, and just listening to the story? And Zlatko, I'm bored to tears of 3/4 of the fodder on ID. I love 48 hours and dateline, but really, we need something real, and spooky, and gosh darn it, even goofy. I'd even watch them if they brought the magic rock back for an interview.

*Gasp* You don't like Discovery ID shows such as "My Maid was a Mass Murderer"?

No, I concur. What bugs me about Discovery ID is that 95% percent of the shows are based on solved cases. It's mind boggling that they don't have a show based on unsolved murders.

Also, should UM come back with new episodes, the only thing I would change is the music. By that, I mean keeping the creepy music but using instruments like the piano and violin over synthesizer music.

[UMFaninMD]

Some of the cases ID has profiled on Disappeared are still unsolved but I just think the majority of cases they feature (sometimes a different show will discuss the same case) are solved because the majority of the viewers want it that way. It all has to be open-and-shut or they can't hold the interest.

[everybodylovesrs]

UM should revise their production again. No one would be mad at them for it. I still doubt the whole taking submissions for new cases thing--and a Gmail address ??!

[TracyLynnS]

Originally Posted by everybodylovesrs

I still doubt the whole taking submissions for new cases thing--and a Gmail address ??!

I noticed the gmail address on their website the other day and wondered what that was all about. They must be running on a super tiny budget. You'd think their email would be UMnewstories@unsolvedDOTcom The free email thing looks so hokey.

[everybodylovesrs]

Originally Posted by TracyLynnS

I noticed the gmail address on their website the other day and wondered what that was all about. They must be running on a super tiny budget. You'd think their email would be UMnewstories@unsolvedDOTcom The free email thing looks so hokey.

There's been no valid outside sources (Broadcasting and Cable or even SitcomsOnline) to give proof they're actually working on a new show. Also I've seen nothing from reading WebSleuths about Unsolved contacting anyone etc.

Also...how would the general public know they are new cases as opposed to the reruns most of them aren't watching anyway? How do they plan on convincing the public the show is worth watching again? Sounds like BS.

[asmitty]

I have to say I agree on this matter. There are just very few shows committed to try to solve unsolved crimes these days. I really enjoy Vanished and like to watch Disappeared when it's on but have a hard time with so many true crime shows now.

I blame this on the "CSI Effect." CSI has been such a popular show and has led to a huge number and variety of fictional crime shows. To compete in this arena, true crime shows had to change their tone and subject matter. Take Forensic Files, for example. The interesting and novel methods employed to solve these cases have little merit and validity to the audience unless they can see them play out to the conclusion of the case. It is a sad reality that the average viewer of these shows would rather see how people did these evil and horrendous things to each other rather than help catch the murdering psychopath who committed these transgressions.

While America's Most Wanted attempted to fill the void in providing help in catching criminals, I do not feel that they completely managed to satisfy the same niche in this respect that UM did. AMW focused more of its time and energy showing viewers what UM classified as "Wanted" cases. AMW, in my experience, dealt very little with cases such as UM's "Unexplained Deaths" and the more mysterious of the "Missing" segments. UM always thrilled me most with cases where they had very few leads or evidence to go on. A person was last seen by friends or loved ones hours earlier and went missing or turned up dead later with no explanation of what happened. I feel that these are the cases that are truly missing from the public eye now that UM is no more and that nothing has truly replaced it in investigating unsolved cases.

I hope that UM really is taking new case submissions, but, like the rest here, I have my doubts that it is really true. I guess that only time will tell on this one.

[everybodylovesrs]

Originally Posted by asmitty

While America's Most Wanted attempted to fill the void in providing help in catching criminals, I do not feel that they completely managed to satisfy the same niche in this respect that UM did. AMW focused more of its time and energy showing viewers what UM classified as "Wanted" cases. AMW, in my experience, dealt very little with cases such as UM's "Unexplained Deaths" and the more mysterious of the "Missing" segments. UM always thrilled me most with cases where they had very few leads or evidence to go on. A person was last seen by friends or loved ones hours earlier and went missing or turned up dead later with no explanation of what happened. I feel that these are the cases that are truly missing from the public eye now that UM is no more and that nothing has truly replaced it in investigating unsolved cases.

That's true about AMW not taking on cases like UM did. Wish they did other types of segments. But when there is so little programming out there that even focuses on the Wanted cases, guess we have to take what we can get..