Dateline

Lately, Dateline has become a poor copy of 20/20, Sixty Minutes, and 48 Hours with hours spent on covering crime such as murders and scams. Much like A&E's American Justice, Investigative Reports, and other series. Dateline covering the Suitcase Murders was kind of inferior to other shows that focused on the same crime. There is plenty of true crime out there but you should pick and choose one that will engage the audience and expand on understanding it. They aired the Suitcase Murders after the verdict and before sentencing Melanie McGuire to life in prison for murdering and dismembering her husband, William McGuire. Even though there was no evidence connecting her to the crime but circumstantial coincidences. THe fact that Court TV was airing the trial made it easier for NBC Dateline to obtain access to the proceedings.

There is no reason each of these cases requires a 2 hour show. Two hours for a special? Sure. Is every episode a special? Hell no. The same cases are thoroughly covered in other series/TV shows in 1 hour or less. Cut out the BS interviews with friends and relatives answering low-brow questions like, "Were you sad when you found out they were dead?", or, "Did you feel relieved when the perpetrator was caught?" These are duhhh questions and answers that offer no added perspective to the story, only a drawn out episode with fading attention from the viewer. I would rather watch the same crime case on another program and get the same information without my back hurting from sitting so long.

I used to love this show. But the old style of presenting with the weird exaggerated inflections of voice is just too much anymore. The worst offenders are Andrea Canning and Keith Morrison. The rest of the cast is fine, but I can't listen to the unnatural voice cadence of either Andrea or Keith anymore. It almost sounds like a parody. I just started watching The Ultimate Betrayal episode on Peacock and couldn't last five minutes listening to Andrea Canning. Perhaps I'm in the minority, but there are so many other shows available that are just as interesting, but have cast members that speak like normal people.

I used to love this show. I felt it was grade A crime reporting. The two hour shows are ludicrous. God help you of you do a shot every time they say, "coming up ..." You would end up passed out on the floor.

If this show is going to survive they better go back to a concise on hour format. The two hour shows are frustrating and end up boring. The episodes ate so padded and dragged out!

There are some pretty decent crime videos on YouTube that are about 20 minutes! They may not be as reliable, professional or polished as Datel8ne but they are the new competition. Get with it NBC. You are losing viewers.

Dateline just isn't the same as it used to be. And why do they show the hosts profiles?? This is irritating, I don't want to see the side of their faces!