"Unsolved Mysteries" (1987) TV series 1987-????

User Rating:

8.7/10   

Directors:

Gerald Massimei
Michael Scott
(more)

Writers:

Joshua Alper (writer) (1994-1995)
Jim Lindsay (writer)
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 15 | 16 | unknown

Release Date:

20 January 1987 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Horror | Mystery | Thriller

Plot:

Reality based TV series that combines dramatic re-enactments with interviews to tell stories of REAL mysteries.

Plot Keywords:

Unsolved Mystery | Murder | Reenactment | Host | Reporter

Awards:

Nominated for 6 Primetime Emmys. Another 4 wins & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Tue. Nov. 10	3:00 AM	SPIKETV
Wed. Nov. 11	3:00 AM	SPIKETV

Cast

Dennis Farina

...

Himself (174 episodes, 2008)

(more)

Series Directed by
Kabir Akhtar		(175 episodes, 2008)
Patrick Taulère		(14 episodes, 1998-2001)
Gabe Torres		(13 episodes, 2001-2002)
Keva Rosenfeld		(5 episodes, 1991)
Mike Mathis		(4 episodes, 1991-1996)
Eric Taylor		(4 episodes, 1993-2001)
David Massar		(3 episodes, 1987-2001)
David Vassar		(3 episodes, 1989-1996)
Dan Gomez		(2 episodes, 1993-1995)
Laura Patterson		(2 episodes, 1993)
Bob Wise		(2 episodes, 1995-1998)
Mark Cole		(unknown episodes, 1998)
Gerald Massimei		(unknown episodes)
Michael Scott		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Ron Nelson		(15 episodes, 2000-2001)
Jan Kimbrough		(7 episodes, 1991-1998)
John Cosgrove		(2 episodes, 1989-1993)
Joshua Alper		(2 episodes, 1991-1995)
Jim Lindsay		(unknown episodes)
John McLaughlin		(unknown episodes)
Christopher Meindl		(unknown episodes)
Mitch Rosa		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
John Cosgrove	....	executive producer / producer (181 episodes, 1989-2008)
Terry Dunn Meurer	....	executive producer (175 episodes, 2008)
Stuart Schwartz	....	co-executive producer / supervising producer (175 episodes, 2008)
Jeannie O'Neill	....	field producer (78 episodes, 1993-1998)
Andrea Masamitsu	....	associate producer (45 episodes, 1989-2002)
Stacy Schneider	....	producer / segment producer (9 episodes, 1990-1996)
Carey Lundin	....	assistant producer (3 episodes, 1990-1992)
Michael Palazzolo	....	producer (2 episodes, 1993-1995)
Emily Berry	....	producer (2 episodes, 1995-2001)
Grazia Caroselli	....	segment producer (2 episodes, 1995-1998)
Chris Pye	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes, 1988-1990)
Victoria Dew	....	segment producer (unknown episodes, 2001)
Vera Golakova	....	field producer / segment associate producer (unknown episodes, 2001)
Kimberly Austin	....	segment producer (unknown episodes, 2002)
Shari Adagio	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)
Raymond Bridgers	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Phyllis Coblentz	....	producer (unknown episodes)
Artie Glackin	....	field producer (unknown episodes)
Ed Horwitz	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
Sally Howell	....	senior producer (unknown episodes)
Randall Kirk	....	story producer (unknown episodes)
John Latenser V	....	field producer (unknown episodes)
John McLaughlin	....	segment producer (unknown episodes)
Elizabeth Meeker	....	segment producer (unknown episodes)
Thomas Nelson	....	host producer / segment producer (unknown episodes)
Al Nowicki	....	host producer (unknown episodes)
Christopher Poole	....	segment producer (unknown episodes)
Richard Roraback	....	segment producer (unknown episodes)
Karen S. Shapiro	....	senior producer (unknown episodes)
Timothy Stone	....	segment producer: 2 episodes, 1998 (unknown episodes)
Chris Worthington	....	segment producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Pete Scaturro		(77 episodes, 1987-2008)

Series Cinematography by
Yoram Astrakhan		(unknown episodes)
Paul Desatoff		(unknown episodes)
Bryan Duggan		(unknown episodes)
K. James Peterson		(unknown episodes)
Terence Pratt		(unknown episodes)
Bob Scott		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Ralph Wikke		(6 episodes, 1992-1996)
Sue Hoskins		(5 episodes, 1989-2001)
David Millar		(3 episodes, 1994)
Steve Concotelli		(2 episodes, 2008)
John R. French		(2 episodes, 2008)
Duane Tudahl		(unknown episodes, 1990-1994)
Hank Capshaw		(unknown episodes)
Doug Folkerts		(unknown episodes)
David Massar		(unknown episodes)
Shawn Paper		(unknown episodes)
Mitch Rosa		(unknown episodes)
Keith Shea		(unknown episodes)

Series Casting by
Betty McCormick Aggas		(3 episodes, 1989-1994)

Series Production Design by
Daniel J. Vivanco		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Direction by
Billy Jett		(2 episodes, 1991-1992)
Rudy Matchinga		(unknown episodes)
Nya Patrinos		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Ian Hiebert		(1 episode, 1992)

Series Makeup Department
Joe Rossi	....	makeup department head (3 episodes, 1995-1998)
Rocky Faulkner	....	makeup artist / special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes, 2001-2002)
Melanie Mills	....	key makeup artist (unknown episodes, 2001)
Judith Denny	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)
Bob Romero	....	makeup artist (unknown episodes)

Series Production Management
Jai Cherney	....	assistant production manager (1 episode, 1995)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Regina McLeod	....	second assistant director (1 episode, 2002)
Kyle Koromaldi	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes, 2002-2003)
William Dean	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Michael D. Jones	....	second assistant director (unknown episodes)
Oldrich Mach	....	assistant director (unknown episodes)
Steve Parys	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)
Jeffrey Shepherd	....	first assistant director (unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Roger Baer	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Michael Burnett	....	specialty props (unknown episodes)
Eric Luling	....	assistant art director (unknown episodes)
Mark Wallace	....	set designer (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
David Abrahamsen	....	sound re-recording mixer (171 episodes, 2008)
Joe Kalish	....	sound re-recording mixer (6 episodes, 2008)
John S. Coffey	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Michael Florimbi	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Tim Song Jones	....	sound transferer (unknown episodes)
Lee Strosnider	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)
Wouter van Herwerden	....	sound re-recording mixer (unknown episodes)
David Weinstock	....	sound recordist (unknown episodes)
David Yaffe	....	sound mixer (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Jeff Scott	....	special effects assistant (1 episode, 1997)
Vincent Montefusco	....	special effects: pyro/mech (unknown episodes)
Beecher Tomlinson	....	special effects: pyro/mech (unknown episodes)

Series Visual Effects by
Prudence Fenton	....	visual effects director (1 episode, 1988)
Jennifer McKnew	....	visual effects (1 episode, 1991)
David Kuklish	....	visual effects supervisor (1 episode, 1996)
Gina Di Bari	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)
Victor Scalise	....	visual effects editor (unknown episodes)
Jaison Stritch	....	3D visual effects supervisor (unknown episodes)
Scott Wheeler	....	3D digital artist (unknown episodes)
Chris Zapara	....	digital artist (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Cort Hessler	....	stunts (10 episodes, 1995-1999)
Julie Adair	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Greg Anderson	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Kevin Ball	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Cheryl Bermeo	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Robin Lynn Bonaccorsi	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Chuck Borden	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jackson Burns	....	stunt rigger (unknown episodes)
Rocky Capella	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Edward Conna	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Tanner Gill	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Anita Hart	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Toby Holguin	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Lance King	....	stunt driver (unknown episodes)
Larry Laverty	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Scott Leva	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Tim Meredith	....	stunt performer (unknown episodes)
Sonja Munsterman	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Phil O'Dell	....	stunt diver (unknown episodes)
Carl Paoli	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Gary Paul	....	stunt coordinator (unknown episodes)
Scott Rhodes	....	stunts technical adviser (unknown episodes)
Paul E. Short	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Jimmy Waitman	....	stunt actor (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Al Bruce	....	electrician (5 episodes, 1993)
Rob Mabin	....	electrician (3 episodes, 1992-1993)
Jason Young	....	electrician (unknown episodes, 1998)
Tracy Kilbourne	....	jib operator (unknown episodes, 2000)
Dana Lee Anderson	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
William Brett Haas	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Sean Hoessli	....	grip (unknown episodes)
Dean Jackson	....	key grip (unknown episodes)
Kenji Luster	....	Steadicam operator / camera operator (unknown episodes)
Leslie Otis	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Andrew Parke	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Curtis Pepper	....	gaffer (unknown episodes)
Germano Saracco	....	assistant camera (unknown episodes)
Joseph M. Setele	....	first assistant camera (unknown episodes)
A. Troy Thomas	....	camera operator: video camera (unknown episodes)
Kevin Wehrenberg	....	electrician / grip (unknown episodes)

Series Animation Department
Scott Wheeler	....	supervising animator (unknown episodes)

Series Casting Department
Tona B. Dahlquist	....	extras casting / location casting (unknown episodes)
Howard Meltzer	....	casting: New York (unknown episodes)
Rawleigh Moreland	....	casting: New York (unknown episodes)
Elsie Stark	....	casting: New York (unknown episodes)

Series Editorial Department
CJ	....	post-production coordinator (5 episodes, 2008)
Alpesh Patel	....	assistant editor (2 episodes, 1999)
Tina Trevarrow	....	assistant editor / post-production assistant (unknown episodes, 1994-1996)
Eddie Schmidt	....	telecine coordinator (unknown episodes, 1996-1997)
Mark Hartzell	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes, 1998)
Karen A. White	....	assistant editor (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
David Alfonso	....	composer: theme music (2 episodes, 2008)
Alan Ett	....	composer: theme music (2 episodes, 2008)
Scott Liggett	....	composer: theme music (2 episodes, 2008)

Series Other crew
Susan Reese	....	production assistant (3 episodes, 1998)
Melissa A. Wong	....	script supervisor (3 episodes, 2008)
Jai Cherney	....	location manager (2 episodes, 1995)
Zoe Cote	....	segment producer (2 episodes, 2008)
Symon Mink	....	location manager: New York / production assistant: Buffalo (unknown episodes, 1995-1996)
Tina Trevarrow	....	production assistant (unknown episodes, 1995-1996)
Christopher K. Grap	....	production assistant (unknown episodes, 1998-1999)
Nick Marcou	....	production assistant (unknown episodes, 1999)
Richard Fontenot	....	location scout (unknown episodes, 2001-2002)
Rory Dauson	....	location manager (unknown episodes, 2002)
Robert Bendick	....	office production assistant / set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Joe Cacciotti	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Loren Coleman	....	consultant: suicidology and cryptozoology (unknown episodes)
Rachel Dickson	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Payton Dunham	....	location scout / set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Nan Garcia-Wood	....	baby nurse (unknown episodes)
David T. Huang	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Jiri Husak	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Michael D. Jones	....	host telecenter producer / unit production coordinator (unknown episodes)
Walter H. Norris	....	set production assistant (unknown episodes)
Steve Parys	....	location manager / location scout (unknown episodes)
Errol Reichow	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Michael Sandknop	....	production assistant: St. Louis (unknown episodes)
Matthew Shields	....	production assistant (unknown episodes)
Timothy Stone	....	segment producer (unknown episodes)
Marc J. Ventimiglia	....	location manager (unknown episodes)
Victoria A. Zamora	....	assistant production accountant (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Cosgrove/Meurer Productions
• Lifetime Television (2001-)

Distributors

• National Broadcasting Company (NBC) (1988-1997)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1998-1999)
• Buena Vista Television (2000-2007) (USA) (TV)
• MTV Networks (2008) (USA) (TV)

Special Effects

• Big Machine Design (main title design)

Other Companies

• Redman Movies and Stories  grip and lighting equipment
• Redman Movies and Stories  generators supplied by
• Redman Movies and Stories  trucks provided by
• Chapman/Leonard Studio Equipment  cranes and dollies
• Movie Movers  office trailers
• Movie Movers  star trailers

Runtime:

60 min (including commercials)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Australia:PG | USA:TV-PG

Filming Locations:

Big Bear Valley, San Bernardino National Forest, California, USA

Company:

Cosgrove/Meurer Productions

Trivia:

Although the series was still doing well in the Nielsen ratings, NBC canceled it at the end of the 1996-97 season, citing a desire for television shows designed to attract younger audiences.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Medium: Night of the Wolf (#1.4)" (2005)

Wonderful Mystery Show

I think I read somewhere that America's Most Wanted is considered the first reality show of it's kind; that is so not true. Long before it started on the fledgling Fox network, Unsolved Mysteries was a one time special hosted by Karl Malden, and then a few months later, Raymond Burr hosted for one episode. It was only after AMW began that Unsolved Mysteries was a regular series with Robert Stack as its permanently entrenched host. The show also had a better scope for stories than AMW ever did by pursuing lost legends, ghost stories, lost heirs and strange deaths along with lost criminals. As long as there were mysteries to be solved, Unsolved was there. Even now that the stories is off primetime, the series has made a new life in syndication with the Lifetime channel running new episodes in its huge bank or reruns, some of which have been rerun over a million times long after the criminals had been caught. Someone needs to get on the ball and re-edit the reruns for the little seen mysteries to be rerun.