48 Hours

IN 1988,CBS had created "48 Hours",a daring news-magazine show meant to cover one topic(examples: Immigration,police stakeouts,on duty with soldiers in Kuwait,Prom nights,etc.)over the course of(wait for it)forty-eight hours!

This ran for a while,but something changed and the producers at CBS News decided to retool this show. It would no longer truly hinge on the time dynamic of covering a story,but would take on a much more methodical,studied examination of a story or event. For probably the better part of a decade now,it's mostly centered around a murder case,usually ones that have murky results or contentious verdicts.

Perfectly fine filler entertainment for those who don't like sports,are shut-in on Saturday nights or have an interest in cases like the ones they showcase,this show has had a flux of correspondents,but some such as Erin MOriarty,HArold Dow and Susan Spenser,have been staples of the show's run,through the format changes.Probably a bit pulpy to be considered serious journalism anymore,more of a counterbalance to stuff like "DAteline" and "DAteline:To CAtch a Predator". NArrative and somewhat reminiscent of documentaries on A&E. A show one usually doesn't seek out,yet will most likely be drawn in once they give a show a look.

I do enjoy this show and watch it regularly. There are two things that I do not like about the series and one is the return of Susan Spencer.

I don't find her pleasant and her facial expressions and demeanor are unpleasant. Always appears like she is challenging the person she is interviewing. Her voice is not great for an announcer. The second of my dislikes is that they tend to focus far too much on the grief of the victims family and have parents and loved ones upset and crying . Some of these poor people have horrible voices and there participation should be kept to a minimum. They really over do it with this. Just stick to the story and the investigation.

The show is interesting, but it does the unspeakable: It asks viewers to weigh in, as though gossip should ever be considered. The judicial process is problematic enough without armchair jurors. It's a dangerous gimmick, and shame on them.

My Dad loves this show, and openly, admittedly, it's growing on me a bit. Reason being, for not really partaking in viewing this show, although I've never got up off the couch, a couple of episodes, I've seen with Dad, on the ole sofa, is the cases, are not of infamous serial killers. No, these involve obscure known cases, involving some grisly, heartless murders of killers, who's facades are so normal, their creepy and nightmarish. The show is very well put together, which is what I really like, no reenactment, the guises left open. The stories, really go in the killer's history, and how the murderous events unfolded. I've never seen a crime show, go this much into it. A well utilized show, is a must see, for lives of non fiction crime. Some of them, may give the heebie geebies in the after. I do know too, in future, I won't be making a big effort to get off of that couch.

For years being a viewer of "CBS" this award winning real life investigative news program "48 Hours" has always been a must view as the reporting and interviews and cases examined are cutting edge and often open for challenge with both sides of the legal system often making challenges and fighting for answers. Each case featured does involve crime mostly murder and the cases are real life many are cold cases unsolved one's from many years ago it's like a search and find mission a detective show at it's best! It's really interesting and in depth many stories and cases featured are high profile and in depth that involve cases of serial killers. The interviews given with family members, police, and suspects are revealing and eye opening. Plus the reporting is from top notch "CBS" reporters! Overall award winning must see investigative show from "CBS" one of it's real life best!