20/20

Back in the days of Barbara Walters and Hugh Downs, 20/20 was the best news magazine show on TV. I especially liked their undercover investigations, busting scams and criminals. John F. Stossel did his "Give Me A Break" part very well at the time. The older 20/20 shows were the best! And I never missed a show. But ever since Hugh Downs left, the show just hasn't been the same. And now that Barbara Walters has left too, the show has become much of a joke. 20/20 used to be all about protecting the consumer and busting scams and criminals. But now, all they do on 20/20 (besides covering stories that are already all over the news, a lot of which is simply entertainment news) is bust myths. This is sadly, the exact same concept that has also brought down the Discovery Channel. The Discovery Channel used to be all about shows investigating both a lot in science and law, but now all they do is show stupid "reality" shows and bust urban myths. I just can't understand all of this, obviously the people in control of these TV networks today are just some really stupid (and lazy) people.

The show is interesting...however LOWER the cotton-picking background music!! If you want people to watch and hear what the shows about... LOWER the cotton-picking background music!!! I'm going to keep watching for a few more episodes, and if you haven't LOWERED the cotton-picking background music...you've lost me as a watcher. Don't know how much weight my little review carries, but maybe there are others who feel the same as I do. Let's hear it folks, I can't be the only one who thinks the background music is overpowering. How can you decide if you like the show if you have no idea what's being said. Thank you for listening!

I miss the days of old when 20/20 did an hour long 60 Minutes investigative journalism style that covers several diverse stories. Now they do a single story that's two hours long about murder or kidnappings like Dateline does. They must've saw how good NBC's ratings were and decided to completely copy their format. Although the stories are competently researched & reported, they just aren't as well paced or hold my interest as well as those on Dateline. They also don't have a great narrator/reporter like Keith Morrison to give it that extra flair. But, if they could make it just an hour or get a better narrator, I might watch a little more.

They keep repeating the same information over and over again after every commercial break. Lots of filler material as if they're trying to outstretch the segment longer than it needs to be. Lots of dramatization and loud music, which is necessary to keep attention but less is more when it comes to these things. It doesn't have to be THAT loud.

Usually it's instrumental music, but sometimes they decide to play corny radio songs that are supposed to go with the theme of the crime. Which is just blatantly disrespectful to dramatize crimes real people and families have suffered from. I get that we're all here for entertainment but it wouldn't hurt to have some empathy.

This show used to be so good, their episode 'A Monster Among Us' got me hooked. It was done right with a good musical score which was not overbearing or seemed like it was romanticizing the crime. Just the right amount of information and not a bunch of filler crap. PLEASE go back to that.

Guess I should have figured John Stossel was becoming corrupt. The minute he said that drug companies should be charging high prices to seniors, he lost me as a fan.

The show truely became stale when Hugh Downs left. :( Hugh and Barbara were a team. No wonder she's leaving. Probably can't stand John.

Frankly when she leaves, the closest competitor to 20/20? Bill O Rielly. I'm guessing it won't last long if John's the sole host.

Give me a break!!