The Blotter Presents

[Dohknutty]

You hit on the reason I cannot watch On The Case with Paula Zahn. The constant repetition of the (usually terrible) reenactments drives me nuts. She does have interesting cases but the presentation is so bad it's a struggle to make it to the end. 

[panthergirl13]

Ah, I thought Sarah (like me) had watched the original trial literally gavel-to-gavel in which case I don't think she would have thought the boys were full of shit. At the time I recorded the trial every day and watched the whole thing each night, and a/ could not believe how many prosecution witnesses blatantly lied on the stand (not just Jamie P, plenty of others including a NYC cop and the guy who drove Lyle to the airport...Leslie and exposed them all in real time; b/ the news recaps of the trail bore no resemblance to what actually took place ("fake news"! but it really was; c/ Dominick Dunne's Vanity Fair article was also bullshit. So, long-winded way of saying that I always believed them and although this show is cheesy and has major flaws, I'm glad to see the story told from that perspective. I don't know as much about the subsequent trial (other than how it turned out) but I lived and breathed this one. Kept Leslie's closing argument on a VHS tape for years...absolutely brilliant, regardless of the outcome.

[Primetimer]

The jury puts the 'deliberate' back in 'deliberations,' and the Harry Hamlinassaince continues, on Law & Order: True Crime.

View the full article

[Primetimer]

Smash-ologists Tara Ariano, Kevin O'Keeffe, and Adam Grosswirth play judge and jury for a Lifetime movie and the next great crime-story musical!

View the full article

[Stowaway]

Would 100% download a "Smash" podcast (a Smashcast?) featuring the four of you.

[veronicamers]

Highly entertaining episode! Dogging on Smash will never get old. 

I don't know if I can bring myself to watch this movie...as y'all said, what exactly is this bringing to the table other than yet another attempt to make Kat McPhee happen? 

[txhorns79]

I just loved the Robert Durst/Smash mash-up.  If only the Lifetime movie could have been the making of a Robert Durst-inspired musical with lyrics (and scarves) by Julia Houston and Tom Levitt.  Maybe it could be called "Slasher!"       

[Isabel C.]

Also read all the John Douglas in my youth--and a fair amount of Harold Schechter, for that matter. Didn't mind the pacing of the first few episodes myself, or the discovery process, but then I also enjoyed the "have a cigarette for your health, pregnant lady" bits of Mad Men, so my TV tastes may include "serial killers" and "feeling superior to people in the past."

And while we're admitting things, I...would not object to seeing more of the twig 'n' Groffies, myself. Or more Rando FBI Trainees Jogging in Very Short Shorts. Thanks, Netflix.) Speaking of which, the first ten minutes was amusingly Did We Mention We're Not On Basic Cable? before settling down to mostly people talking and driving, the occasional crime scene photo, and Holden's sex life.

Which...I sort of agree about Debbie up until late season, where he starts being an uptight asshole. *First* of all, if your GF's extreeemely mild fetish costuming is bothering you because you can't leave the job behind, say *that*, and not this "it's not you" BS. (I mean, he is named Holden, I guess he had to imply phoniness somewhere.) And second, uuuugh, the jealousy thing. I hate it, and I hate that he's right, except: if I was her and I'd already gotten dictatorial dadly attitude about my lab partner (like, no, I am not "calling you next time" my car breaks down* if a friend can give me a right, and please do stuff it) I would probably start banging the guy out of principle.

*And...just hoping you'll answer, because this is before answering machines, let alone smart phones? Hell with that.

[WInterfalls]

That was seriously a pleasure to listen to. 

On 11/8/2017 at 7:05 PM, Stowaway said:

Would 100% download a "Smash" podcast (a Smashcast?) featuring the four of you.

100% agree.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

thanks! also, hmm!

[Primetimer]

As The Menendez Murders comes to a close, Tara and Sarah render their verdicts on the finale's accidental insights, and the season as a whole.

View the full article

[Primetimer]

Sarah D. Bunting and Eve Batey wonder whether a supercomputer, a smoker, and some circumstantial evidence is enough to crack a 50-year-old case.

View the full article

[Primetimer]

The story that made, then destroyed, Truman Capote -- and the trials of the man who played Perry Smith -- as Mark Blankenship returns to the pod.

View the full article

[MCMLXXVII]

Thought you’d enjoy this

http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/movies/g13092790/best-true-crime-movies/?src=arb_fb_m

[ReallySpecial]

Thank you for talking about the Robert Blake case! I hadn't heard of Mugshots either until I watched this episode, but I did enjoy it. I wonder what happened to their daughter. She would be in high school now, I expect.

[YoSaffBridge]

Sarah, did you mention the name of the book about that oral history of RFK? I'm interested, but I think I missed the title.

[pagooey]

The Clutter house is still standing and was sold and/or renovated within the last...decade, I think? I knew I'd seen something about it as a real estate listing, and then Google turned up this WaPo nightmare gem all about "stigmatized properties." Great read, and I may never sleep again. Happy Thanksgiving! https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/murder-houses-the-haunting-final-chapter-in-true-crime-stories/2015/11/02/3a2dbe70-7de1-11e5-beba-927fd8634498_story.html?utm_term=.61734744a2dc

[Sarah D. Bunting]

I didn't mention the title because I couldn't remember it offhand; it's American Journey: The Times of Robert Kennedy. Well worth a look.

 

@pagooey thanks for the intel! And that article...[shudder]

[KlavdiaVavilova]

I've only watched the first ep of Cold Blooded, but co-sign basically all you guys said.   In Cold Blood has always been one of my favourite books, and stood up on re-reading last year (EXCEPT for the long bit where he just puts in Perry's memoirs which I had to skim after a while.)   I took an Amtrak from Flagstaff, AZ to Kansas City last year and the train rolls through Holcomb and briefly stops at Garden City - this was not I hasten to add the reason I took the train but I admit I did think "oh!" when I saw Garden City on the timetable and it's what prompted the re-reading.  

[4Sibes Redux]

My mother had be read “In Cold Blood” when I was 12. I reread it at 27 and my mother admitted she’d had me read it when I was too young. Upon rereading it, I realized I’d overlooked a lot. Around that age, my mom also had me watch the British series “The Prisoner.” My mother had odd child rearing ideas.

[bethster2000]

I first read In Cold Blood in 1987. I became convinced, and I remain convinced today, that it is the best book written in the 20th century.

A day has not gone by in thirty years where I haven't thought about the Clutters at least once.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

Interesting! What'd you think of the rankings? I haven't seen everything on the list but I was gratified to see Summer Of Sam on it/not dead last (although putting it ahead of Zodiac = blasphemy).

[Primetimer]

Dan Patrick Brady on a cursed town and a not-so-magic bullet.

View the full article

[smmoe1997]

Have you checked out the Nova episode that looks into the JFK assassination? I recently watched it on Netflix. 

Cold Case JFK

Nova: Season 40, Episode 22

They think they prove the 2 bullets version of events. I'm a little fuzzy on the details at the moment, but it was an interesting watch.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

I think I saw the Nova when it aired? Not sure when I'll have time to rewatch, but even Oliver Stone, whose film was the one I could never resist believing despite how baroque the explanation was, could not survive Donahue's theory for me.

[MCMLXXVII]

I haven’t seen all of them either. I love that “Bully” was on it, it’s a personal favorite and was one of my rare “had to read the book after seeing the movie” films. I thought “Casino” could have been higher. I’m  also a “Summer if Sam” fan, but agree that “Zodiac” was better.

[Bob Lassiter]

I can’t BELIEVE I have never heard about this theory.

[helent]

The weird Australian connection sent me down a google hole here, with a fair amount of cultural cringe. I looked at the imdb for that movie; never heard of one of those actors, probably not surprising. Then to Colin McLaren's wikipedia, which is a weird mix of overly complimentary commentary, as though it's self-written, but so poorly written that you'd hope this wasn't the work of a 'professional' writer ("It was during 2005 that Colin discovered that he could write."), plus very lacking in detail and citations. 

One detail though is that he worked on the Walsh Street murders - this was one of the real-life crimes that is fictionalised in Animal Kingdom. From a time when the Vic Police were barely better than the crims. The police went to arrest a suspected armed robber and shot him; in retaliation, a couple of his friends made a fake 000 call, and shot the police who responded. The men likely involved were acquitted. One of them was Victor Peirce - after his death, his wife admitted she lied on the stand to give him an alibi. He was one of the sons of Kath Pettingill, the inspiration for Smurf. And if you think Ellen Barkin is a pretty glamourous version of the character as played by Jackie Weaver, here's Kath:

[Sarah D. Bunting]

Wow, this is amazing. Not least because you have given me the excuse I need to talk about Animal Kingdom on THIS pod. And

 

Quote

("It was during 2005 that Colin discovered that he could write.")

is still making me chuckle. Oh did he, then? Hee hee.

[KlavdiaVavilova]

In a FB true crime group I'm a member of a couple of weeks ago someone (presumably) from Dryden made a VERY impassioned plea for people to boycott this show because it would bring up painful memories for the people of Dryden who just want to be left to heal in peace.  Oh well.

I only watched the first episode as its the only one freely available on the channel website but I also assumed the mother of the missing baby was shady af based on the cigarette and the way she (re-enactment) phoned in her toddler's disappearance with all the anxiety and urgency you might a pizza delivery.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

Interesting how smoking has become such a reliable shorthand for 1) evil or 2) fecklessly trashy.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

Hello there listeners! Hoping to do a best-of episode to wrap up the year (and give folks some holiday marathoning possibilities). What was YOUR favorite true-crime property of the year? Post it here*! As many as you like; definitely feel free to nominate stuff I didn't get around to on the pod; it doesn't need to have debuted in 2017, but should have had episodes air/drop this year.

 

Questions, let me know!

 

*Not registered/just reading? You should register! But you can also email me your list at sarah at previously dot tv.

[veronicamers]

Sarah, are you thinking tv properties? Or are you soliciting book suggestions too? 

[KlavdiaVavilova]

It wasn't so much the act of smoking but the stereotypical louche manner of smoking that reminded me of Patty and Selma on The Simpsons.   There's a worried, furtive sort of pretend smoking that would've made you think "anxious mother stressed out of her mind" rather than "day drinking at the Golden Spike just off the highway."

[Sarah D. Bunting]

Just TV please!

[Sarah D. Bunting]

Quote

 "day drinking at the Golden Spike just off the highway."

HA HA HA, perfect.

[veronicamers]

Got it!

At the top of my list is Mommy Dead and Dearest (HBO). Expertly directed and just a completely bonkers story aka everything I want from a true crime doc in 2017

Honorable mention: Mindhunter

Enjoyed but maybe cannot endorse fully: Chandra Levy: An American Murder Mystery, The Murder of Laci Peterson, Law & Order True Crime: The Menendez Murders

Things I hope to catch up on during the holiday break: Cold Blooded: The Clutter Family Murder, The Confession Tapes

All these shows have so many hyphens!

[formerlyfreedom]

So many good options - The Keepers was excellent, as was Cold Blooded. But I'd say hands down, my favorite thing this year was American Vandal. It was just what the doctor ordered!

[Sarah D. Bunting]

Thanks, guys! Can't wait to make DBP watch Vandal over the break. Keep 'em coming!

[Primetimer]

First-time guest Stephanie Cangro digs into a Thanksgiving murder, and yet another take on the demise of Dave Schultz.

View the full article

[txhorns79]

Ah Thankskilling, my favorite holiday after Muderkah and Deathkot.

[txhorns79]

The Witness (about Kitty Genovese) that was on PBS much earlier this year was pretty interesting. 

[helent]

Just a heads up, there is a lot of overlapping sound in this podcast - it seems to get worse as it goes on, eg the last clip, there's about 5 seconds that overlap at the start, and then the same in dead air at the end. 

[Sarah D. Bunting]

Ugh, sorry about that! We'll have mission control look into it.

[Primetimer]

But the REAL crime is the vandalism of a guest's internet connection: Sarah D. Bunting's going solo for an all-Felicity look at the Jeffrey MacDonald and Butch Pratt cases.

View the full article

[EAG46]

The Casey Anthony story as presented on Investigation Discovery was a good program. It had BOTH sides of the case, how the defense poked holes in the state's case, and how Mr. and Mrs. Anthony were doing. And you did a good job handling this episode by yourself.

[Sarah D. Bunting]

thanks! I'd rather have had Juanito on the case (so to speak) but stuff happens. 

[veronicamers]

Great job SDB! I share the same long-running fascination with the MacDonald case. So much to mine there. I haven't gotten around to watching Final Vision, but perhaps it will be a present wrapping companion.

I know I have shared this before, but one of my favorite pieces of true crime writing is this gem from the Washington Post magazine: https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/since-1979-brian-murtagh-has-fought-to-keep-convicted-murderer-jeffrey-macdonald-in-prison/2012/12/05/3c8bc1c6-2da8-11e2-89d4-040c9330702a_story.html?utm_term=.5b563645904a

[shyguygamer]

In a FB true crime group I'm a member of a couple of weeks ago someone (presumably) from Dryden made a VERY impassioned plea for people to boycott this show because it would bring up painful memories for the people of Dryden who just want to be left to heal in peace.  Oh well.

I only watched the first episode as its the only one freely available on the channel website but I also assumed the mother of the missing baby was shady af based on the cigarette and the way she (re-enactment) phoned in her toddler's disappearance with all the anxiety and urgency you might a pizza delivery.

I lived in Dryden for most of the 2000's, and live on the outskirts now, I know many of the people there, although do not know the victims nor the people in the show. While one person in particular was the catalyst for wanting the show to be stopped, we're actually talking between 3000-4000 residents (overall population is around 15,000 including children mind you), who petitioned to cease and desist the show. ID producers bullied, harassed, stalked, and lied to the victims and those they interviewed. One of the main reasons was that the interviewees was told that the show was going to focus on the healing period. That was a lie. Producers told interviewees they had permission from victims to discuss the events with community members. That was a lie. Furthermore, the facts aren't well represented, and most of these events did not even happen in Dryden.

[MaryPatShelby]

I can't imagine anything being better or at least, better for me, than the original Fatal Vision. But I'll give this a shot.