General True Crime Shows

[Albino]

Not sure whether to post this on Retro TV thread or here, but I feel like you guys might be more interested.

Just discovered TJN - buried deep in the 300's of my cable channel line-up - and it has all the old forensic shows from the good old days.  The New Detectives (Yay!), I Detective, Murder By The Book, Extreme Forensics, Extreme Evidence, Cold Case Files, Body of Evidence etc. etc.  

I'm in forensics heaven!

[auntjess]

Who is your cable provider?
I see Cold Case Files on Reelz.

[Albino]

My provider is the dreaded Comcast which "provides" random outages or just freezing for no good reason.

Cold Case Files is one of my all time favorites.  So well done, without the OTT drama and hussies in red bras.

[auntjess]

Thanks, I have U-verse, and don't see that channel.
And don't forget the red stilleto heels.

[One Tough Cookie]

• So my fellow True Crime posters I just found out the most fascinating info:  Remember Russ Faria who was charged with killing his wife and "good friend" Pam Hupp  wound up with the children's insurance money? Russ was convicted but later acquitted in a retrial when this time around he was allowed to present the alternate theory that Pam did it.  Hold onto your lunches!  She's been arrested for murdering a man in connection with the Faria murder:  This case is absolutely riveting! Cant wait for the Keith Morrison update

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/pamela-hupp-charged-with-murder-in-alleged-frame-up-tied/article_916845ac-de2f-5d1e-ae5d-2b11a25b7287.html

I thought this was informative:

http://heavy.com/news/2016/08/pamela-hupp-pam-missouri-charged-louis-gumpenberger-russell-faria-betsy-russ-murder-trial-shooting-intruder-photos-st-louis-ofallon/

Edited September 29, 2016 by One More Time

[Minivanessa]

@Albino, I also enjoy The Justice Network. It's available as an over the air channel in several cities across the country, and in some places also as a cable channel. In my town it's both OTA and a Comcast SD channel. This map shows where it is.

[smittykins]

I don't get it.  Damn.(I have Time Warner, Finger Lakes region, between Rochester and Syracuse).

[millennium]

On 9/25/2016 at 8:28 AM, ButterQueen said:

Whoever decides the programming for this channel, stinks.  They show the same shows repeatedly in the same day and week.  It's ridiculous since they have so many shows to pick from.  

And the new shows are odes to boredom.

I've been watching ID for a few years now but not until this year have I started switching off shows at the 20-30 minute mark (or sooner).   The trouble is, they're trying to stretch out the drama to a full hour when these cases are relatively simple and could be told in less than 15 minutes.   Also, having already mined most of the "sexy" or sensational cases of the past 20 years, they're veering into more pedestrian murders that don't exactly pique the imagination.   Or they delve so far back in time to find previously unfilmed cases that the recreations look goofy due to the limited budget of these shows.

And just when you think it can't get worse, a promo for "Cry Wolfe" comes on.

[millennium]

The most irksome time-wasting device on the shows I watch is the dramatization of the case detectives' consideration of different scenarios.   These usually consist of two community-theater actors seated in an office setting, spitting in the face of Occam's Razor as they spin far-reaching "theories" of the case.  Cue the "rewind" effect as they lay it out:

A witness said they saw a compact car driving down the street about the same time as the murder.   So how about this: a clown car pulls up to the victim's residence.   Fifteen creepy, crazy clowns pile out.   They trick the victim into opening the door, blind her with a bucket of confetti, drag her inside and bludgeon her to death with their big clown shoes.

Meanwhile, you're on your couch shouting "IT WAS THE HUSBAND, YOU DOLTS!"

And then a promo for "Cry Wolfe" comes on.

[auntjess]

39 minutes ago, millennium said:

The most irksome time-wasting device on the shows I watch is the dramatization of the case detectives' consideration of different scenarios. 

This is the way they get a lot of the sleeze in.
"Was the victim really a nice kindergarten teacher, OR did she play after school as a truck-stop prostitute?"
 

[Minivanessa]

I agree about the time-wasting stuff. The worst offender is, IIRC, Perfect Murder, in which they dramatize the phony scenarios that are considered by the cops while we're shouting at the TV about the obvious suspect. I won't even have that show on for background noise anymore because of that.

[millennium]

55 minutes ago, Jeeves said:

I agree about the time-wasting stuff. The worst offender is, IIRC, Perfect Murder, in which they dramatize the phony scenarios that are considered by the cops while we're shouting at the TV about the obvious suspect. I won't even have that show on for background noise anymore because of that.

Yes, that's exactly what I meant -- the dramatizations.   In fact, I think it's probably Perfect Murder that inspired my rant.  And WHAT is with the shoes in the opening of that show?   

[Minivanessa]

Oh, oops. I was reading too fast and missed that you also mentioned dramatization. Good Lord, have I finally killed too many brain cells watching these ID shows? 

Edited October 2, 2016 by Jeeves

[Maizie131]

Did anyone happen to watch Paula Zahn last night?  How about that black dress she was wearing at the beginning of the episode with what appeared to be a white bra underneath?!?   White nipples - I swear to God!  Maybe it was the sheen from the material, but it was NOT a good look!  All I could do is look at her boobs & wonder what the hell the camera guys were thinking & why nobody said anything.  Is it just me?  Anyone else notice this?  Should I adjust the color on my TV? 

[tobeannounced]

Lol, Maizie131.  I didn't notice the boobage, but I'm usually playing games on my phone while I listen to my murder and mayhem shows.

Edited October 3, 2016 by tobeannounced

[Brattinella]

2 hours ago, Maizie131 said:

Did anyone happen to watch Paula Zahn last night?  How about that black dress she was wearing at the beginning of the episode with what appeared to be a white bra underneath?!?   White nipples - I swear to God!  Maybe it was the sheen from the material, but it was NOT a good look!  All I could do is look at her boobs & wonder what the hell the camera guys were thinking & why nobody said anything.  Is it just me?  Anyone else notice this?  Should I adjust the color on my TV? 

I haven't seen this episode yet, but all women know to wear a black bra under a black dress, and a white bra under white clothing.  Duh!  To do otherwise is kind of slutty.

[auntjess]

OK, I watched that episode this afternoon, and I think it had to with the material, which had a sheen where the lights hit it a certain way, or so it seemed to me.
Too, this probably could have been avoided if the star was on better terms with the lighting and photographers.

[FormerMod-a1]

We merged a number of posts from elsewhere to here, since they were all about True Crime shows.  Carry on.

[Albino]

Does anyone know if A Crime To Remember is returning to ID?  

This was probably my favorite ID show and kept my attention even when I knew whodunit from the start.  So well done, and each episode perfectly captured the look, tone and culture of the year it featured.   No OTT drama, violence or sex.

I checked online, as well as the dizzying ID website to no avail.  :(  

[ButterQueen]

I just watched the Fear Thy Neighbor with the Lyme disease/deer feeder neighbors.  I found all of them obnoxious and mean.  I just cannot imagine things getting so out of hand, but it does.  No sympathetic victims in this episode, imo.  I did want to smack the woman whose husband ended up in jail.....she was so smug.

[ButterQueen]

Speaking of episodes I cannot watch one.more.time, the Disappeared episode where Michael goes missing while duck hunting.  His mom has her hair in pigtails, and the wife ended up with her husband's best friend.  It's so obviously a murder.  That poor mom.

[glowlights]

On 9/29/2016 at 2:45 PM, One More Time said:

• So my fellow True Crime posters I just found out the most fascinating info:  Remember Russ Faria who was charged with killing his wife and "good friend" Pam Hupp  wound up with the children's insurance money? Russ was convicted but later acquitted in a retrial when this time around he was allowed to present the alternate theory that Pam did it.  Hold onto your lunches!  She's been arrested for murdering a man in connection with the Faria murder:  This case is absolutely riveting! Cant wait for the Keith Morrison update

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/pamela-hupp-charged-with-murder-in-alleged-frame-up-tied/article_916845ac-de2f-5d1e-ae5d-2b11a25b7287.html

I thought this was informative:

http://heavy.com/news/2016/08/pamela-hupp-pam-missouri-charged-louis-gumpenberger-russell-faria-betsy-russ-murder-trial-shooting-intruder-photos-st-louis-ofallon/

HOLY-MOLY! I remember this from 48 Hours or Dateline! Thanks for the update. Can't say I'm surprised. :(

I wonder if there is any more footage of her running in high heels... with a spine disability that prevents her from being able to work. :/

[Shelly]

Any opinions on "Grave Secrets"? Just saw the ad for it on ID. Also, is the show "Betrayed" another show repackaged with a new title? It seems so familiar to me. Does anyone have suggestion for other channels besides ID and Reelz (sometimes OWN) that have good true crime shows? My TV provider is Direct TV. I have all the Showtime, HBO, etc. networks  I also have Netflix  Any suggestions of shows or channels would be great! 

I just found this thread and am super excited  Thanks in advance. 

[auntjess]

So the ID topic has been just rolled into this, and ID done away with?

[Jaded]

5 minutes ago, auntjess said:

So the ID topic has been just rolled into this, and ID done away with?

Yep.

[auntjess]

Sometimes I'll find something on CIN,http://www.crimeandinvestigationnetwork.com/ , and First 48 is on A&E.

[Shelly]

The Justice Network sounds interesting.. as of now I don't have that one, but I will sure check with my provider to see if it is available. Thank you for suggesting it! Also, yes, I DO have the A& E channel, so will make sure to check that one out to watch for shows. 

Thanks to you both for the suggestions!! I appreciate it! Love True Crime shows... I used to watch TRU TV all the time and then they totally changed their programming up. Was disappointed with that. Also, I did to forget HLN has some shows and lots of Forensic File re-runs. Sometimes I run across one I've not yet seen. Catching Deadly Women on ID now, love Candace DeLong and her assessments. 

Thanks again!!

Shelly

Edited October 9, 2016 by Shelly
Left a word out!

[NewDigs]

OWN (Oprah) frequently shows Datelines during the day. And Reelz can be a good spot for episodes of Snapped and Crime 360.

I had not heard of JusticeNetwork so appreciate the heads up though I've been watching fewer true crime things lately. Not only are they really repetitive but they kind of start getting in my head. Of course it doesn't help that I also read true crime.

The only reenactment shows I like include interviews with some of the actual "players" and I hate the lurid stuff. 

And I really miss CourtTv. I used to love watching the actual trials (never forget the Jenny Jones one) and sometimes something interesting would be going on when I got home from work. One time I caught a Manson parole hearing. Yikes. Spooky.

Edited October 9, 2016 by NewDigs

[auntjess]

Justice Network is all the judge shows, isn't it?
I've watched them occasionally.  Good fun sometimes, but I've read they're all fake.

[Minivanessa]

52 minutes ago, auntjess said:

Justice Network is all the judge shows, isn't it?
I've watched them occasionally.  Good fun sometimes, but I've read they're all fake.

Nope. Not if you mean Judge Judy and all that cr*p. Not a single "judge" show in the lineup. Here's their website: http://www.justicenetworktv.com/  The lineup is a mix of forensic and true crime documentary shows, with repeats of ride-along cop shows like Alaska State Troopers, and Bait Car (IMO one of the biggest wastes of bandwith, ever). 

I like a lot of their programming. Except the bits that I really really hate, lol.

Edited October 9, 2016 by Jeeves

[auntjess]

I was think of the one with Judge Mablean, and Judge Ross, and several others, in rotation throughout the day.
I see Comcast has it, but not U-verse, and some shows on a broadcast channel.

 

[Jaded]

20 minutes ago, auntjess said:

I was think of the one with Judge Mablean, and Judge Ross, and several others, in rotation throughout the day.
I see Comcast has it, but not U-verse, and some shows on a broadcast channel.

 

The fake court shows one is Justice Central.

[NewDigs]

2 hours ago, Jaded said:

The fake court shows one is Justice Central.

That must be what DirectTv, and I, have.

Damn.

The judge stuff can be fun but...

[Fable]

Does anyone watch Suspicion?  There was an episode from a couple of weeks ago where a woman moved into a new apartment and all of her neighbors seemed like they were nut jobs.  I don't want to say too much since this is an open thread for all shows, and I have no idea who has seen what.  Anyway, I thought this was an interesting spin and completely different than most things seen on true crime shows.  

[Shelly]

Haven't seen that yet but looks good in the previews... 

[Court]

On 10/10/2016 at 2:47 AM, Fable said:

Does anyone watch Suspicion?  There was an episode from a couple of weeks ago where a woman moved into a new apartment and all of her neighbors seemed like they were nut jobs.  I don't want to say too much since this is an open thread for all shows, and I have no idea who has seen what.  Anyway, I thought this was an interesting spin and completely different than most things seen on true crime shows.  

The ID thread is back now to the way it was. Hope that helps.

[BigBlueMastiff]

If you want some stories you probably haven't seen before, check out Fatal Attraction and For My Man on TV One.

[Maizie131]

Has anyone noticed that this newest season of Blood Relatives (on I.D. Channel) no longer has gross insects crawling around in every other scene?  I think the producers are reading our posts!  Tonight's episode only shows a mouse.  Also, in the very beginning when there's a photo of the whole family, there's no blood dripping down from member to member.  Slight improvement, I'd say.  Now, if Brenda Strong would just talk a little faster, maybe I'd be able to stay awake until the end of the episode.

Mods - could you please post something to let us know where we can talk about shows on I.D.?  It really is very confusing having it now in the General True Crime forum due to the (many) specific shows on this channel - most of which suck -  but we love to snark upon.  If it's staying in this, I'd suggest everyone from now on do as I did in my first sentence & tell which channel the show you're posting about is on.  Thanks.

Edited October 14, 2016 by Maizie131

[Maizie131]

Now this, in my humble opinion, is great news. 

http://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/2016/10/14/nancy-grace-ends-hln-show-after-12-years.html

[azshadowwalker]

On 10/8/2016 at 3:34 PM, Shelly said:

Any opinions on "Grave Secrets"? Just saw the ad for it on ID. Also, is the show "Betrayed" another show repackaged with a new title? It seems so familiar to me. Does anyone have suggestion for other channels besides ID and Reelz (sometimes OWN) that have good true crime shows? My TV provider is Direct TV. I have all the Showtime, HBO, etc. networks  I also have Netflix  Any suggestions of shows or channels would be great! 

I just found this thread and am super excited  Thanks in advance. 

I can't speak to Direct TV. Our local cable company is Cox Communications, and I use them. I did just find a channel called Escape on Cox that has a lot of the old A&E true crime shows, including the FBI Files and some of the Bill Kurtis ones. It also shows Unsolved Mysteries. Supposedly a network aimed at the women 25-54 demographic, but is almost exclusively true crime. 

[Lizzing]

Paula Zahn has a major addiction to the word "brutal".  Every attack and murder is "brutal"; she seems to know no synonyms.  And she has to remind the viewers every ten minutes that the (usually) female victim was beautiful and/or stunning (implying that were the victim some homely looking gal, the murder would be far more understandable?).  I only watch her because her cases usually haven't been done to death by other shows.

[geekgirl921]

Did anyone watch the Evil Kin episode with the man who kidnapped his kids and he and his mother took them to Nicaragua? I'm always amazed at the parents who are way too involved in their adult kids lives/marriages but this one also had his sister involved. I really wanted to know why; don't you have your own life??

[Josette]

That was the one where the guy's father actually killed himself after murdering his ex-daughter-in-law at the courthouse?  I thought the mother in that family might have been a master manipulator because I don't see how her husband was so willing to sacrifice himself.. 

The victim should have taken her kids and moved far away after the ex's parental rights were terminated.   Those people really were evil.

[LexieLily]

Did anyone watch the premiere of Suspicion last week, with the tweenager that went missing?

[tobeannounced]

I'm pretty sure I did, but I watch so many, I get the victims confused.  Sorry!  That sounds horrible!  Was that the one where they had the victim's phone and could trace exactly where she was when she got attacked because of the fitness app?

[Brattinella]

31 minutes ago, tobeannounced said:

I'm pretty sure I did, but I watch so many, I get the victims confused.  Sorry!  That sounds horrible!  Was that the one where they had the victim's phone and could trace exactly where she was when she got attacked because of the fitness app?

Watching that fitness app was a horror!  Poor girl. :(

[ButterQueen]

I actually like Betrayed, but my husband hates it because the victim narrates the story. LOL

[LexieLily]

4 hours ago, tobeannounced said:

I'm pretty sure I did, but I watch so many, I get the victims confused.  Sorry!  That sounds horrible!  Was that the one where they had the victim's phone and could trace exactly where she was when she got attacked because of the fitness app?

That sounds like Cry Wolfe to me, but don't quote me on that.

No, this was the girl named Brenda that got killed by her neighbor for a reason they never really explained. It was set around the time of the Green River Killer because they kept talking about that. Years later the victim's dad went into the woods and shot himself I'm front of his wife and one of his young sons.

The reason I brought it up was that I felt like the way those parents were raising those kids contributed to their fear. A man comes to the door and says he is a plumber and a thirteen year old girls first response is to take the gun that is inexplicably kept in the kitchen in view of all three children and aim to shoot? The six year old son sleeping with a butcher knife in his bed in case the neighbor that (still at that point) was suspected to have hurt his sister comes back? What types of conversations were the parents having in earshot of the kids?

[Maizie131]

4 hours ago, Brattinella said:

Watching that fitness app was a horror!  Poor girl. :(

Brattinella - I forget which show that was on but that murder happened about 20 minutes from where I live!  And you're right - watching that fitness app was something that wasn't in the paper but that was brutal!  That made headlines every day for at least a month.  Her mother certainly isn't doing well, ya think?  Understandable, tho, of course.  I was a little surprised that her dog she was walking just took off & wasn't there to attack that asshole?!?!?  I always wondered about that.

[Fable]

5 hours ago, Maizie131 said:

e.  I was a little surprised that her dog she was walking just took off & wasn't there to attack that asshole?!?!?  I always wondered about that.

I watched news documentary about dogs a few months ago, and surprisingly (or not), most dogs will run in fear from an intruder or attacker.  While true most dogs will bark and make noise, unless they were trained otherwise, most of them won’t do a thing.