Unsolved Mysteries Explained

Country:United States
Language:English
Num Seasons:17
Num Episodes:607
List Episodes:List of Unsolved Mysteries episodes
Network5:Netflix

Unsolved Mysteries is an American mystery documentary television series, created by John Cosgrove and Terry Dunn Meurer. Documenting cold cases and paranormal phenomena, it began as a series of seven specials, presented by Raymond Burr, Karl Malden, and Robert Stack, beginning on NBC on January 20, 1987, becoming a full-fledged series on October 5, 1988, hosted by Stack. After nine seasons on NBC, the series moved to CBS for its 10th season on November 13, 1997. After adding Virginia Madsen as a co-host during season 11 failed to boost slipping ratings, CBS canceled the series after only a two-season, 12-episode run on June 11, 1999. The series was revived by Lifetime in 2000, with season 12 beginning on July 2, 2001. Unsolved Mysteries aired 103 episodes on Lifetime, before ending on September 20, 2002, an end that coincided with Stack's illness and eventual death.

After a six-year absence, the series was resurrected by Spike in 2007, and began airing on October 13, 2008. This new, revived version was hosted by Dennis Farina, who mainly tied together repackaged segments from the original episodes. Farina hosted 175 episodes before the series ended again on April 27, 2010. Cosgrove-Meurer Productions maintains a website for the show, featuring popular accounts and ongoing cold cases (murder or missing persons), with a link to an online form should a viewer have information on an unsolved crime. As of 2017, the show maintains a YouTube page where viewers can submit their own mysteries. If accepted, Unsolved Mysteries posts a video of the viewer describing the mystery. That same year, FilmRise acquired worldwide digital distribution rights to the series and announced its intent to release updated versions of its episodes. These shows are currently streaming on Amazon Prime, Tubi TV, and on its own dedicated channel on Pluto TV in the United States and the United Kingdom.[1] [2] Since February 2017, the Spike episodes have been officially posted on YouTube, split into eight seasons.[3] In July 2017, the series began streaming on Hulu in the United States.[4] Between February and March 2019, FilmRise began posting digitally restored and re-edited episodes, hosted by Stack, on YouTube.[5]

On June 22, 2018, Terror Vision Records released the official soundtrack for the series.[6] In 2017, the show's creators expressed interest in reviving the series.[7] On January 18, 2019, Netflix picked up a reboot of the series[8] which premiered on July 1, 2020. The first season of the reboot was split into two volumes containing six episodes each.[9] In September 2022, Netflix announced that a third volume of new episodes would begin streaming in October 2022.[10] In February 2024, it was announced that a fourth volume would begin streaming in 2024.[11] It was confirmed that the fourth volume would begin streaming in July 2024.[12] A fifth volume, consisting of four episodes, was announced on July 31, 2024. It is set to premiere in October the same year. [13]

Overview

Unsolved Mysteries used a documentary format to profile real-life mysteries[14] and featured re-enactments of unsolved crimes, missing persons cases, conspiracy theories and unexplained paranormal phenomena (alien abductions, ghosts, UFOs, and "secret history" theories).

The concept was created in a series of three specials produced by John Cosgrove and Terry-Dunn Meurer, which were pitched to NBC in 1985 and shown in 1986 with the title, "Missing... Have You Seen This Person?" The success of the specials led Cosgrove and Meurer to broaden the series to include mysteries of all kinds.

The pilot of what eventually became Unsolved Mysteries was a special that aired on NBC on January 20, 1987, with Raymond Burr as host/narrator. Throughout the 1987–88 television season, six more specials aired, the first two hosted by Karl Malden and the final four by Robert Stack. Because of the incorporation of paranormal mysteries, NBC News disowned the series when the network aired on NBC and required that a disclaimer aired before each show clarify that it was "not a news broadcast."

In 1988, the show debuted as a weekly program on NBC. Ratings steadily dropped after the 1993–94 season. Until 2002, it was hosted by Stack. In its second season on CBS in 1999, Stack was joined by co-host Virginia Madsen. Episodes released between 1995 and 1997 featured journalist Keely Shaye Smith and television host Lu Hanessian as correspondents in the show's "phone center", where they provided updates on previous stories as information for "special bulletin" segments. A March 14, 1997, episode featured journalist Cathy Scott in the reenactment of rapper Tupac Shakur's 1996 unsolved murder.[15] This broadcast was one week after the murder of Biggie Smalls. In 2002, the series was canceled by Lifetime. In 2008, television network Spike revived the series with Dennis Farina as its host; the Spike revival ended in 2010.

The show was known for its eerie theme song composed by Michael Boyd and Gary Remal Malkin, and for Stack's grim presence and ominous narration. The theme music was changed seven times, in 1993, 1995,[16] [17] 1997, 1999, 2001, 2008, and 2020. The 2020 version of the theme was arranged, performed, and recorded by West Dylan Thordson.

Updates

Viewers were occasionally given updates on success stories, where suspects were brought to justice and loved ones were reunited.

The show itself has been credited for bringing increased attention to certain cases and thus allowing them to be solved. One episode featured a video of an arsonist filming an unidentified house being burned down while he was giving strange commentary. Once it had been featured on the show, viewers were able to identify the house involved, and two suspects were arrested.[18]

Broadcast history

NBC (1987–1997)

The show first aired on NBC from 1987 to 1997. The pilot episode was hosted by actor Raymond Burr. Karl Malden and Robert Stack were also hired to host further specials. When the series became a full-fledged television program in 1988, Stack became the full-time host. Unsolved Mysteries was also one of the few prime-time shows of its era to appeal to fans of the supernatural and used effective special effects to enhance tales of the unexplained.In 1992, NBC aired a short-lived dramatized court show spin-off program called Final Appeal: From the Files of Unsolved Mysteries, also hosted by Stack. The premise of this program was to try to give the unjustly accused a final appeal for help, with the debut episode taking an in-depth look at the Jeffrey MacDonald case. The program was canceled after only a few episodes due to poor ratings.

CBS (1997–1999)

The ratings for Unsolved Mysteries had been steadily declining ever since it was moved from its original Wednesday evening timeslot to Friday evenings in the fall of 1994. At the end of the 1996–97 season, it was canceled by NBC. Upon the cancelation from NBC, CBS picked up the series for a tenth season. The first episode aired in November 1997 as an Unsolved Mysteries special. When CBS canceled its Block Party line-up in the spring of 1998, the network moved the show to its Friday 9:00 pm timeslot. During the show's run on CBS, the series was limited to only six-episode seasons, and was airing only on a sporadic schedule. Reruns aired during the summer of 1998 with heavy promotion of the return of the NFL on CBS with the upcoming 1998 NFL season. When the series returned for its abbreviated 11th season in the spring of 1999, Stack was joined by actress Virginia Madsen for hosting duties in an attempt to boost its female audience.[19] The effort failed, and CBS canceled the show soon afterwards. Later cable reruns of segments originally narrated by Madsen were re-dubbed with Stack's voice.

Lifetime (2001–2002)

Lifetime Television, which had been airing re-runs of the NBC episodes since the early 1990s, had ordered a two-season run of new episodes which began airing in 2001. Consisting of a mixture of new and old cases, these episodes were produced between 2001 and 2002, and usually aired on weekdays between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The program ceased producing new episodes when Stack was diagnosed with prostate cancer in late 2002. He died of heart failure in May 2003.[20]

After Stack's death, old episodes continued to run in syndication on several television networks in the U.S., Canada, and Australia.During some shows, callers gave tips to the telecenter. When the show was in active production, the Toll Free number was displayed on the bottom of the screen below the title logo at the end of each segment. When the show left active production following Stack's death and went into reruns, the number was removed and replaced with a P.O. box address.

Spike TV (2008–2010)

According to Broadcasting & Cable, in 2007, HBO Distribution announced plans to bring back Unsolved Mysteries when the cable channel Lifetime's contract expired in 2008. The show featured a new set, a new logo, new music, and updates on old cases. In addition, actor Dennis Farina became the new host, as Stack had died five years earlier. The show debuted on Spike on October 13, 2008.[21]

This repackaged series run was criticized by fans for its presentation of past cases only, with no new case segments being produced. The existing segments were also edited to be shorter so the show could be expanded to present five cases in an hour rather than the four of the original series. Because the majority of the cases were now between 20 and 40 years old, the re-edited segments usually did not reference the years in which the events presented originally occurred. When updates for solved cases aired, Dennis Farina's voiceover would refer to cases "in a recent broadcast...", when the case may have already been solved during the show's original run or during the series' hiatus from 2002 onward. Unsolved Mysteries ended its run on Spike on April 27, 2010.

Netflix (2020–present)

A 12-part reboot was announced by Deadline Hollywood on January 18, 2019. The series is being "refreshed" by Stranger Things executive producer Shawn Levy and his company 21 Laps Entertainment along with Cosgrove-Meurer Productions and Netflix. Cosgrove and Meurer are showrunners for the series, with Levy and Josh Barry being executive producers. Robert Wise is a co-executive producer, along with showrunner Dunn Meurer. Each episode focuses on a single mystery.[8] Cosgrove stated that the reboot would be "pure documentary style" and would have no host or narrator;[22] however, an image of longtime host Robert Stack can be seen in the title sequence for each episode as an homage to his impact on the show.[23] The first six episodes of the new season became available to stream starting July 1, 2020.[24] In August 2020, it was reported that 13.7% of subscribers had watched the series over its first month.[25] On September 1, 2021, Netflix formally announced that it had ordered an additional season of the series set to launch in the summer of 2022.[26] On September 6, 2022, Netflix announced a third volume of nine new episodes, billed as a "three-night event", would begin streaming October 18, October 25, and November 1, 2022.[10] Netflix announced in February 2024 that a fourth volume of episodes would air sometime that same year.[11] On June 20, 2024, it was announced that the fourth volume would begin streaming on July 31, 2024. A fifth volume consisting of 4 episodes will premiere in October 2024.[13]

Episodes

See main article: List of Unsolved Mysteries episodes.

Notable actors and celebrities

Famous actors and celebrities have appeared on the show, both as role actors (before finding stardom) and also in episodes where they had a connection with the events being portrayed.

As role actors

In 1992, Unsolved Mysteries filmed in Texas and cast Matthew McConaughey to play a murder victim. This was one of McConaughey's earliest on-screen roles.[27] Cheryl Hines, Stephnie Weir, Bill Moseley, Ned Bellamy, Scott Wilkinson, Daniel Dae Kim, David Ramsey, Diane Franklin, Steve Reevis, Donna Mitchell and Taran Killam also appeared on the program before receiving more notable work in Hollywood.[28] [29] [30] Hill Harper also appeared in an episode about a woman looking for a childhood friend whom she later discovered was indeed her sister.

Connections with episodes

U.S. television ratings and awards

Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of Unsolved Mysteries.

Note: U.S. network television seasons generally start in late September and end in late May, which coincides with the completion of May sweeps.

The figure reflected starting with the 1988–89 season and ending with the 1996–97 season represents the total number of households viewing the program. Starting with the 1997–98 season, the viewing figure is based on total number of viewers.

SeasonTV SeasonRankViewers
(in millions)
11988–89
  1. 17[32]
15.7
21989–90
  1. 11[33]
16.6
31990–91
  1. 16[34]
14.6
41991–92
  1. 13[35]
15.2
51992–93
  1. 21[36]
13.2
61993–94
  1. 36
12.0
71994–95
  1. 75
9.0
81995–96
  1. 59
9.4
91996–97
  1. 53
8.6
101997–98
  1. 86[37]
9.9
111998–99
  1. 75[38]
9.7

The original NBC telecast was nominated six times for an Emmy Award for outstanding informational series in 1989–1993 and 1995.[39] The series won the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers Award for Top TV Series twice, in 1992 and 1993; both times, the recipients were Michael Boyd and Gary Malkin for their work on the show's music theme.[40]

Home media

First Look Studios released six theme-based DVD sets in Region 1 in 2004/2005. The sets were re-released on June 21, 2005 with a lower suggested retail price. On March 21, 2006, a compilation set called The Best of Unsolved Mysteries was released, which contained selected segments from each of the earlier DVD sets along with some previously unreleased-on-DVD content. A special boxed set featuring the first six sets along with the new content from the Best of collection was also produced.

DVD NameNo. of Ep. #Release Date
Volume 1: UFOs26September 7, 2004
Volume 2: Ghosts34September 14, 2004
Volume 3: Miracles33October 26, 2004
Volume 4: Incredible Psychics28January 25, 2005
Volume 5: Bizarre Murders32January 25, 2005
Volume 6: Strange Legends27February 15, 2005
Special Volume: Treasures & Ghosts10September 14, 2004
The Best of Unsolved Mysteries33March 21, 2006
Unsolved Mysteries: The Ultimate Collection190April 25, 2006
DVD Title/VolumeDiscEpisode/Segment TitleOriginal TitleOriginal Air DateCommentariesSpecial Features
UFOs1Bentwaters UFORendlesham Forest IncidentSeptember 18, 1991Creator Introduction
Allagash AbductionsThe Allagash AbductionsSeptember 18, 1994Allagash Abductions
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Raymond Bridgers
Crop CirclesCanada Crop CirclesAugust 8, 2002
Phoenix UFOPhoenix LightsMay 29, 1998Phoenix UFO
Commentary by David Vassar
Behind the Scenes the 150th Solve
Nazca LinesNovember 10, 1995
Mexico UFOMexico City UFOOctober 28, 1994Robert Stack Tribute
Vancouver LightsDecember 12, 1990
UFOs2RoswellRoswell CrashSeptember 20, 1989Roswell
Commentary by Raymond Bridgers
Roswell/Area 51 ConnectionArea 51September 18, 1994
Hudson Valley UFOHudson River UFOSeptember 16, 1992
Belgian UFOBelgium UFONovember 20, 1991Belgian UFO
Commentary by David Vassar
Falcon Lake UFONovember 4, 1992
UFO HealingLynne PlaskettApril 25, 1997
UFOs3Australian UFOFrederick ValentichSeptember 29, 1993
Missing TimeRobert Matthews; Kristina FlorenceNovember 30, 1988Missing Time
Commentary by Raymond Bridgers
Socorro Close EncounterLonnie Zamora UFO SightingDecember 1, 1995
Kecksburg UFOSeptember 19, 1990
Texas UFOBetty Cash and Vickie LandrumFebruary 6, 1991Texas UFO
Commentary by John Cosgrove
Face on MarsFebruary 1, 1989
UFOs4Men in BlackApril 18, 1997
Canadian UFOGuardian UFOFebruary 3, 1993Canadian UFO
Commentary by Bob Wise
Wheatfields VisitationsUnited Kingdom Crop CirclesJanuary 31, 1990
Life on MarsNovember 1, 1996Life on Mars
Commentary by David Vassar
InterceptorsMarch 2, 1994
The BlobOakville BlobsMay 9, 1997
UFO OdysseyWytheville UFO SightingsFebruary 19, 1992
Ghosts1Friendly GhostPawley's IslandOctober 31, 1990Creator Introduction
Resurrection MaryResurrection CemeteryFebruary 9, 1994
Matchmaker GhostDelta Queen RiverboatApril 9, 1999
Queen Mary GhostsThe Queen MaryOctober 26, 1988Queen Mary Ghosts
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Keva Rosenfeld
Behind the Scenes the 200th Solve
Grace's GhostCovewood LodgeJanuary 5, 1996
Voice from the GraveTeresita BasaApril 25, 1990
Ghosts Go To CourtLoews CottageApril 16, 1999Ghosts Go To Court
Commentary by David Vassar
Robert Stack Tribute
The EntityThree Partners RanchApril 19, 1996
Ghost BoyJones HouseJuly 25, 2001
Ghosts2Black Hope CurseBlack HopeJuly 17, 2002Black Hope Curse
Commentary by John Cosgrove
Tallman's GhostTallman HouseOctober 26, 1988
Ghost BlimpThe Crew of the L-8May 19, 1993
Gordy's GhostWyrick HouseOctober 21, 1994Gordy's Ghost
Commentary by Bob Wise
Highway VisionHighway 50 PhantomFebruary 21, 1997
Civil War GhostsDrum BarracksOctober 28, 1992
Profiling the ParanormalHOPEJune 11, 1999
Ghost LightsMarfa LightsOctober 25, 1989
Ghosts3Lizzie Borden's HouseLizzie Borden HouseJuly 23, 2001
Tatum's GhostTatum HouseOctober 26, 1988
Ghostly AttractionHarden HouseOctober 30, 1991
Ghost WriterMargaret WilsonDecember 9, 1994
Mary CelesteDecember 2, 1994
Comedy Store GhostsThe Comedy StoreFebruary 23, 1996
Myrtles PlantationAugust 1, 2001Myrtles Plantation
Commentary by David Vassar
General Wayne's InnThe General Wayne InnOctober 26, 1988General Wayne's Inn
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Keva Rosenfeld
Devil's BackboneThe Devil's BackboneJanuary 12, 1996
Ghosts4Gettysburg GhostsGettysburg National Military ParkMarch 15, 1996Gettysburg Ghosts
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Raymond Bridgers
Frightened FamilySmith HomeApril 4, 1997
Moss Beach GhostMoss Beach DistilleryOctober 28, 1992
Lady in BlackRobert DavidsonMay 3, 1996
Bullock DeadwoodHotel BullockDecember 9, 1992
Lake Wales HauntingMann HouseOctober 27, 1993
Mystery HumE.L.F.May 19, 1995Mystery Hum
Commentary by Bob Wise
Always, KarenKaren WalkerOctober 21, 1994
Miracles1Lucky SchoolCokeville Elementary School ExplosionDecember 13, 1996Creator Introduction
Miracle of LourdesFebruary 16, 1994
Fertility StatuesOctober 18, 1996
Shroud of TurinThe Shroud of TurinOctober 2, 1991
Ice WomanJean HilliardFebruary 9, 1996Ice Woman
Commentary by David Vassar
Robert Stack Tribute
Lucky ChoirWest End Baptist ChurchJanuary 3, 1990Lucky Choir
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Keva Rosenfeld
Coma HealerAudrey SantoApril 2, 1999
AngelsJanie Halliday; Estela VeraMay 25, 1994
Miracles2Miracle of FatimaNovember 3, 1993Miracle of Fatima
Commentary by Bob Wise
Baby's BreathLogan CarrollNovember 3, 1995
Healing from the GraveCharlene RichardJune 11, 1999Healing From The Grave
Commentary by John Cosgrove
Power of PrayerKathleen Burghardt; Eric DanowskiMay 5, 1995
Candy and RoxyApril 4, 1997
Trisha's MiracleTrisha ZembaSeptember 20, 1996
Father Solanus CaseyOctober 9, 1994
Christmas MiracleChucky McGivernDecember 23, 1992
Miracles3Medjugorje MiraclesFebruary 5, 1992
Police Woman SaviorSaviors of Doris SmithMay 28, 1999
Healing TouchMichael Ziegler; George and MarieApril 13, 1994
Miracle StaircaseLoretto ChapelNovember 21, 1990Miracle Staircase
Commentary by John Cosgrove
Miracle ChildKristina SmithApril 4, 1990
Kentucky VisionsValley Hill LightsOctober 27, 1995
Life Saving PetsMia; ShadowJuly 15, 2002Life Saving Pets
Commentary by David Vassar
Miracle BuffaloMiracle the White BuffaloDecember 8, 1995
Coma RecoveryDon HamiltonNovember 15, 1989
Miracles4Image of GuadalupeApril 7, 1993
Car Crash LazarusDavid ShublakMay 9, 1997
MS MiracleMary ClamserMarch 29, 1996MS Miracle
Commentary by David Vassar
Padre PioJanuary 20, 1995
Christmas Miracle BabyTeryn HedlundDecember 23, 1994
Miracle CrossBlinking CrucifixSeptember 27, 1989Miracle Cross
Commentary by Stuart Schwartz
Signs from HeavenJoe McCarthy; Herman Stegos; Michael LandonNovember 13, 1997
Money from HeavenMatt and Wendy JamesonApril 26, 1996
Incredible Psychics1Life After LightningDannion BrinkleyOctober 21, 1994
Pix of the DeadCoral PolgeNovember 28, 1990Pix of the Dead
Commentary by Mike Mathis
RainboyDon DeckerFebruary 10, 1993Rainboy
Commentary by David Vassar
Reincarnated SubmarinerBruce KellySeptember 22, 1993
James Van PraaghFebruary 3, 1995
Epilepsy PoochesVictoria DoroshenkoNovember 14, 1990
Plateau VisionMilly McGregorMay 17, 1996
Incredible Psychics2George AndersonNovember 18, 1992
TwinsMark S. Newman and Gerald I. Levy; Donald M. and Louis G. Keith; Lavona and Lavelda Rowe-RichardsonMay 2, 1990Twins
Commentary by David Vassar
Suddenly PsychicJohn Holland; Elizabeth JoyceApril 16, 1999
Bible CodeMichael DrosninApril 3, 1998
Storm In HellHoward StormNovember 15, 1996
POW DreamJoe O' BrienOctober 20, 1995Gulf POW Dream
Commentary by Mike Mathis
Murder PremonitionEtta SmithFebruary 3, 1995
Lottery MiracleSam ZeliksonOctober 25, 1996
Incredible Psychics3Electric LadyJeanine PriceFebruary 3, 1995
ReincarnationGeorgia RudolphFebruary 14, 1990Reincarnation
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Raymond Bridgers
Dorothy AllisonDorothy Allison, Police PsychicDorothy AllisonMay 6, 1988Dorothy Allison
Commentary by John Cosgrove
Mother's InstinctCarolyn Hebert; Elaine Emmi; Linda BabbMarch 23, 1994
Twin ESP ConnectionsKaren and Kathy MillsAugust 23, 2001
After Death VisitsJohn and Patti Eggleston; Paige RoarkMay 4, 1994
Incredible Psychics4Past LivesSharon JohnsonNovember 6, 1991Past Lives
Commentary by Mike Mathis
Incredible JourneysNova; LadyMarch 2, 1994Incredible Journeys
Commentary by Jim Lindsay
Psychic DetectiveJohn CatchingsNovember 10, 1991
Life After LifeKristle Merzlock; Thomas SawyerFebruary 22, 1989
Powers of Miss KatieKatieOctober 31, 1990
Dreams Come TrueRhonda and Roxanne Anderson; Catherine WebbOctober 21, 1992
Silent WitnessNancy MyerDecember 2, 1994
Bizarre Murders1Colorado Cop KillersJason McVean and Alan PilonApril 9, 1999
Boston StranglerMay 11, 1994
Texas Most WantedEdward BellApril 21, 1993Texas Most Wanted
Commentary by David Vassar & John Cosgrove
Trailer TerrorDanny and Kathy FreemanJuly 3, 2001
Bad ChiefGreg WebbApril 28, 1993
Marie HilleyNovember 3, 1991
Journalist's MurderDanny CasolaroMarch 10, 1993Journalist's Murder
Commentary by David Vassar
Bizarre Murders2Scared To DeathCindy JamesFebruary 13, 1991
Murdered HeiressCamilla LymanJune 11, 1999Murdered Heiress
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Stuart Schwartz
Unicorn's SecretIra EinhornJanuary 5, 1996
Women's Prison KillingJesslyn RichNovember 4, 1992
Skull DuggeryLinda ShermanJuly 2, 2001
Backyard BonesMonika RizzoNovember 13, 1997Backyard Bones
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Mike Mathis
World LeadersJames Fox; Elliott Leyton; Reid MaloyNovember 3, 1991
Burning BedMegan CurlDecember 10, 2001
Bizarre Murders3Mistake HitCharles MorganFebruary 13, 1991Mistake Hit
Commentary by Jim Lindsay
Friends To The EndDon Henry and Kevin IvesOctober 12, 1988
Whistle BlownDave BocksMarch 2, 1994
Richard's RampageRichard ChurchNovember 7, 1990
Plane Crash SabotageGander Plane CrashMay 5, 1993
Burned EvidenceEric TamiyasuJuly 26, 2002
Jesse James HollywoodAugust 2, 2002Jesse James Hollywood
Commentary by Bob Wise
Two Mary MurdersMary Morris and Mary MorrisJune 17, 2002
Bizarre Murders4Bordello MurdersCandy Belt and Gloria RossNovember 13, 1997Bordello Murders
Commentary by Jim Lindsay
Campus MurderBrook BakerApril 2, 1999
Dakota's DoubleArnold Archambeau and Ruby BruguierApril 14, 1995Dakota's Double Death
Commentary by Bob Wise
Margo FreshwaterAugust 26, 2002
Zodiac UnabomberZodiac KillerSeptember 20, 1996
The Other InternChandra Levy and Joyce Chiang; Christine MirzayanJune 10, 2002
Social Security MurdersJulius Patterson and Paulette HiteNovember 17, 1993
Civil Rights MurdersO'Neal MooreNovember 14, 1990
Campus CalamityBryan NisenfeldJuly 4, 2001
Strange Legends1Elvis' Last NightElvis PresleyNovember 13, 1997
Brandon LeeOctober 20, 1995Brandon Lee
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Raymond Bridgers
Eliot NessButcher of Kingsbury RunFebruary 20, 1991
Holy GrailNanteos CupApril 10, 1998
Amelia EarhartNovember 7, 1990Holy Grail
Commentary by David Vassar
AlcatrazFrank Morris and the Anglin BrothersFebruary 8, 1989
Strange Legends2Noah's ArkApril 29, 1992Noah's Ark
Commentary by Stuart Schwartz
Martin L. KingDr. Martin Luther KingMarch 31, 1993
Big Foot in OregonBigfootMay 25, 1994
Sonny ListonNovember 22, 1989
Who Killed Superman?George ReevesDecember 8, 1995
Billy The KidBrushy Bill RobertsMarch 1, 1989
BC Sea MonsterCaddyDecember 15, 1995BC Sea Monster
Commentary by Bob Wise
Strange Legends3Elvis' TwinJessie PresleyFebruary 9, 1996
YetiFebruary 12, 1992
DB CooperD. B. CooperOctober 12, 1988
Huey LongSeptember 30, 1992Huey Long
Commentary by David Vassar
Who Plugged BugsyBugsy SiegelApril 2, 1999Who Plugged Bugsy
Commentary by Bob Wise
John Wilkes BoothSeptember 25, 1991
Mona LisaThe Mona LisaNovember 17, 1993
Strange Legends4Agatha ChristieNovember 11, 1994Agatha Christie
Commentary by John Cosgrove & Christine Lenig
Skunk ApeThe Skunk ApeApril 9, 1999
Chair of DeathMay 22, 1998
RFK PixScott EnyartMay 3, 1996RFK Pix
Commentary by John Cosgrove
AnastasiaAnna AndersonOctober 6, 1993
Bermuda TriangleSeptember 26, 1990
MothmanJuly 26, 2002
Treasures & Ghosts1Ghost-FightersLa Posada HotelOctober 2, 1994Behind the Scenes the 200th Solve
Haunting on 37th StreetWoods HomeApril 17, 1998
Direct ContactMichelle O'MalleyFebruary 16, 1996
Mummy's CurseThe Curse of King TutMay 10, 1996
Haunted MansionBeaty CastleFebruary 19, 1992
Dutch Schultz TreasureApril 27, 1994Robert Stack Tribute
Marcos' Buddha & UpdateYamashita's TreasureJanuary 27, 1993
Lost Dutchman's MineLost Dutchman MineMarch 15, 1989
Nazi War TreasureLunersee Lake TreasureOctober 17, 1990
Plummer's BootyBannack TreasureMay 2, 1990

Soundtrack

In 2018, Terror Vision Records made a deal with program creator John Cosgrove to release the show's official score on vinyl, Unsolved Mysteries: Ghosts/Hauntings/The Unexplained. Two sets on color vinyl were released on June 22, 2018 – the first, a three vinyl set collecting the scores written for each of the show's ghost and missing/wanted segments along with three theme songs; the second, a 34 tracks single vinyl collection featuring the best cuts off the first three vinyl set. Segment cues were taken from the show's original DAT tapes.[6] A second collection entitled Unsolved Mysteries Volume Two: Bizarre Murders/UFOs/The Unknown was released in December 2019.[41]

Podcast

On October 21, 2020, it was announced that Cosgrove/Meurer Productions had struck a deal with Entercom-owned Cadence13 for an official Unsolved Mysteries weekly podcast.[42] The podcast is narrated by voice-over artist Steve French.[43]

Documentary

A 35th anniversary documentary special titled, Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy, was formally announced on September 7, 2023. The documentary, produced by FilmRise, hit Alamo Theaters nationwide on October 4, 2023. The AVOD premiere took place the following day, October 5.[44]

Spin-offs

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 'Unsolved Mysteries' Solved? Amazon to Stream Updated Episodes in 2017 . The Wrap . December 15, 2016 . 2017-01-21.
  2. Web site: Pluto TV Just Added a 24/7 Channel That Streams "Unsolved Mysteries" Nonstop. September 20, 2018.
  3. Web site: Unsolved Mysteries with Dennis Farina, Season 1 – YouTube. YouTube.
  4. Web site: season-1-hulu-robert-stack – Unsolved Mysteries.
  5. Web site: - YouTube. YouTube.
  6. Web site: Unsolved Mysteries: Ghosts / Hauntings / The Unexplained Single LP Version. Terror Vision Records and Video.
  7. Web site: Unsolved Mysteries could be creeping up on you shockingly soon. Elizabeth. Rayne. August 22, 2017.
  8. Web site: Netflix Reboots True Crime & Paranormal Series 'Unsolved Mysteries' With 'Stranger Things' EP Shawn Levy. Peter. White. January 18, 2019. Deadline.
  9. Web site: Season 2 of 'Unsolved Mysteries' Coming to Netflix in October 2020 . What's on Netflix. August 19, 2020.
  10. Web site: "Unsolved Mysteries" Will Return With a 3-Night Netflix Event This October. Bloody Disgusting. September 6, 2022.
  11. News: "Unsolved Mysteries: Volume 4" Coming to Netflix in 2024. February 1, 2024. February 2, 2024. Squires. John. Bloody Disgusting.
  12. Web site: 2024-06-20 . Everything Coming To and Leaving Netflix in July 2024 . 2024-06-20 . Hypebeast.
  13. Web site: 2024-07-31 . 'Unsolved Mysteries' Co-Creator Breaks Down Season 4's Severed Head Case and Teases 'Most Baffling Mystery' Ever as Netflix Renews Series (Exclusive) . 2024-07-31 . Variety.
  14. Web site: Unsolved Mysteries . Unsolved.com . 2012-11-13 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121103070744/http://www.unsolved.com/about.html . November 3, 2012 . dead . mdy-all .
  15. Web site: Cathy Scott . Behind the scenes of 'Unsolved' Shakur mystery – Las Vegas Sun News . March 14, 1997 . Lasvegassun.com . 2013-04-08.
  16. aired during 1995 World Series, including an Unsolved Mysteries promo featuring a revamped theme song
  17. http://www.televisiontunes.com/Unsolved_Mysteries_-_Update.html Unsolved Mysteries theme song from 1995
  18. News: Suspected videotape arsonists arrested. UPI. 2018-09-03. en.
  19. Web site: True Crime Factor Interview: John Cosgrove. February 10, 2017.
  20. Web site: Robert Stack Touched Success Many Times. May 16, 2003 .
  21. Web site: Married with Children Comes to TBS This Fall, In Addition to Spike TV; Spike TV Fall 2008 Update . Sitcomsonline.com . June 24, 2008 . 2012-11-13.
  22. Web site: Interview with John Cosgrove Co-Creator of 'Unsolved Mysteries,' Show with New Episodes on Netflix. January 28, 2019.
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