Netflix UM Revival News

[Todd Mueller]

Originally Posted by alistaircranium

The only people who still watch broadcast networks religiously are the old farts who watch those insipid CBS procedurals.

"Old farts"... as in anyone over 18?

Seriously, how immature are you? Grow up.

[drew790]

Originally Posted by Kane

The show's segments were very effective in saying a lot in 12 to 15 minutes.

Except we know with the benefit of 20+ years of hindsight that this isn't true. That they left out or skewed a lot of details to fit a narrative into an allotted amount of time.

[Kane]

Originally Posted by drew790

Except we know with the benefit of 20+ years of hindsight that this isn't true. That they left out or skewed a lot of details to fit a narrative into an allotted amount of time.

Even so, it doesn't justify limiting the number of cases to one per episode.

[Jon]

IIRC there are shows on Netflix that run under 25 minutes. I'd guess the initial season will be twelve one-segment 20-25 minute episodes, and subject to reception/viewership they'll release seasons later with 2X as many episodes or more.

[yellowVWchase]

Originally Posted by Enid Coleslaw

Hmm... not sure about this. I'm worried they'll make it like one of those cheap, crappy shows on C&I...

I think a character actor who is known for creepy roles would be a good host, though. Someone like Steve Buscemi, Willem Dafoe, Tom Noonan or Clint Howard.

Tom Noonan would be great, but I doubt they would offer it and I doubt he would be interested in taking it.

James Elroy hosted a show on cable a while back, and he was fairly good. But he's not a household name/face.

If Jerry Orbach were still alive, I would love to see him do it; he has a fantastic stage voice that can go from warm to downright ominous.

[EighthStreet]

Originally Posted by tsaun

Jonathan Frakes might be good

You know, Tim Russ from Voyager could be a good choice.

[Labonte18]

Originally Posted by GDAWG

My pick to host is Stacey Keach.

I swear, I just had to look this up.. I thought he was dead.

Originally Posted by drew790

Nothing and no one will ever touch what Robert Stack did.

he *IS* dead, so.. Nothing's going to bring the 80's version back. Personally, I don't get all the hate for the Spike version, other than the fact that they didn't shoot any new episodes. Farina.. He had a tough act to follow, and I think he did a fine job. no matter who was put in there, and no matter who goes in now.. Comparisons to Stack will abound.

Originally Posted by EighthStreet

You know, Tim Russ from Voyager could be a good choice.

Lord.. Are we going through all the Star Trek actors? John deLancie?

The host, if they use one, is very important. I mean, Joe Pesci is a great actor, but.. Put him in there? Well, that'd make one hell of an SNL skit, I think. But not a great run of UM. "After robbin' da bank, dese two a-holes hop into a car.."

Assuming they use an on-air host.. Whoever it is needs to have a distinguishable voice. And a lack of a regional accent. No Boston/New York.. No THICK southern drawl.. Some off the wall names.. James Earl Jones or Morgan Freeman, though they're probably too expensive.. And if it's just off-screen voice work.. Peter Cullen. He certainly has the 80's nostalgia..

[drew790]

Originally Posted by Labonte18

he *IS* dead, so.. Nothing's going to bring the 80's version back.

Which is what I've been saying across the whole thread, including the next sentence that you cut off. "If I go into it expecting to watch a lost episode of the NBC era I'm going to be disappointed. "

The problem with the Farina era was not Farina.

[isotope]

Originally Posted by Labonte18

Assuming they use an on-air host.. Whoever it is needs to have a distinguishable voice. And a lack of a regional accent.

Christopher Walken would be my dream pick.

VERY excited about this. There is huge interest in unsolved crimes (there's a reason the original UM ran for so many years) and I cannot imagine this show would be too expensive to produce - if streaming numbers are solid for the first season, I see Netflix commissioning dozens of further episodes....who knows, we may eventually get to the truth about Resurrection Mary!

[drew790]

Originally Posted by isotope

Christopher Walken would be my dream pick.

VERY excited about this. There is huge interest in unsolved crimes (there's a reason the original UM ran for so many years) and I cannot imagine this show would be too expensive to produce - if streaming numbers are solid for the first season, I see Netflix commissioning dozens of further episodes....who knows, we may eventually get to the truth about Resurrection Mary!

I guess it can be taken as an indicator of the success of Filmrise's release of the classic series as well, we don't get a whole lot in the way of streaming numbers and even less so for rerun series but there's no way this got picked up to series if they weren't doing well on Prime or the Filmrise app.

[TheCars1986]

Am I the only one who likes the concept of one case per episode? That way UM cannot afford to cut additional information out of cases to fit a 12 minute time frame. The more information presented, the better. Also excited that the guys behind Stranger Things are producing this. I definitely think this will be a cool throwback to the original version with Stack.

[drew790]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Am I the only one who likes the concept of one case per episode? That way UM cannot afford to cut additional information out of cases to fit a 12 minute time frame. The more information presented, the better. Also excited that the guys behind Stranger Things are producing this. I definitely think this will be a cool throwback to the original version with Stack.

I prefer smaller segments but I'm not opposed to 1 case per episode either. Until it's an hour of a Lost Love case, then I'll toss something

[TheCars1986]

Originally Posted by drew790

I prefer smaller segments but I'm not opposed to 1 case per episode either. Until it's an hour of a Lost Love case, then I'll toss something

I don't see how they would be able to stretch a lost love case to an hour, especially this day in age with technology helping reunite people more than ever before.

[Labonte18]

Originally Posted by TheCars1986

Am I the only one who likes the concept of one case per episode? That way UM cannot afford to cut additional information out of cases to fit a 12 minute time frame. The more information presented, the better. Also excited that the guys behind Stranger Things are producing this. I definitely think this will be a cool throwback to the original version with Stack.

It can go either way. I certainly agree that on some cases, they needed more time than they had available.. Of course.. We can also look at "Final Appeal" as for how things went with one case for an hour. True that is something of an apples-to-oranges situation, but..

Some of them.. I think "mothman" was one that went 2 breaks? Ugh.. I certainly hope they avoid the truly outlandish things like that. Some of that style (Unsolved Phenomenon) case would be OK.. I mean, the Taos Hum and Marfa Lights cases at least had some proof that they actually existed. Nazca Lines was another good one. But stay away from the monster of the week type stuff.

[DALLASTEXAN!!]

I think the one episode format can be successful. Like it or not the old format did not last the test of time in regards to gaining and keeping viewers. there were too many poor quality segments and in turn the show did not age well. Viewers like myself and many others obviously remained loyal, but even the loyal viewers have all complained about this on here. I think taking one good story and making it high quality is important. In some ways UM were already doing this with their final appeal format as Labonte18 mentioned. I also look back at some of the 20-30 minute segments like Audrey Moate, Rudolph Hess, Huey Long etc. those were high quality and went into more depth than the shorter ones. I enjoy those.