Forty Eight Hours

Great justice won. Sadly good folks lost their lives.

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 was watching 48 Hours on Saturday nights because they focus on murder cases like Katherine Woods case and others on a weekly basis. They go into detail of a case, talk with suspects, witnesses, friends, relatives, and others about the case as well as the prosecutors, policemen, and defense attorneys. They also help us understand the community and environment where these crimes happen. Of course, they talk about injustices, legal talk, and the case at hand. Trials can be both boring and exciting at the same time. The show has changed from being investigative to focusing on one subject to help us understand the story which is always reality. It's always frightening how potent the truth can be. How people who look like you and me could be involved in such horrendous crimes? Especially when the victim is close member of the family, spouse, friend, etc. Recently, they had done the Napa murders and are going to do an hour on the Atlantic City Murders which has not been solved. They also follow up on cases like the Katherine Woods case too.

This documentary series badly needs to be renamed.

Nova, Horizon and Panorama could all show almost any of these episodes - although this show does focus almost exclusively on murder cases that were unclear, at least initially, as to the culprit and/or have questionable witness, police or prosecutors.

I find many of these cases to be frustrating, at best. Innocent people are harmed and never get justice, and least not swiftly and, to my way of thinking, that isn't actually just.

Sadly, most of these cases highlight the ignorance, stupidity, biases and incompetence surrounding all aspects of those participating in the legal system. It boggles the mind how often those in charge make life-altering decisions on cases on a whim, or from bias, incompetence or laziness, and then stand behind those bad choices come hell or high water. Often committing crimes beyond perjury to cover up their errors, often aiding criminals and often causing great harm to innocents.

All in all its a dose of reality for those who see the world through rose coloured glasses.

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.