User Reviews

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.

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.

Just another crime show discussing people who kill people. It's like all the rest. You are a narrator, killers, victims, reporter who acts like they care and tense music.

Last Words: You have seen them once, twice, fivce, then you have seen them all. After a while you get bored and freaked out of hearing people killing people. So you just stop watching.

Hard to believe so many crime shows exist. It's like they are making money off of death and crime.

These are one of those shows that keep you hooked until the end. The suspense is also really well done. The best time to watch this is at night, it's really a great experience. You sometimes don't know whether the cases get resolved at the conclusion.

It is a intriguing show that is edited in such a sure-handed way. You hear different sides to the story, from the authorities to lawyers and from criminals to the friends & family of the victim(s). There's a lot that goes on within that hour!

48 Hours Mystery and 48 Hours on ID are the ones I like the most but the original 48 Hours is just as great as its successors. The genres are mixed so well, like drama and sometimes horror, and I'm glad there are so many to watch. If you don't have/use DVR for your cable, you can easily find full episodes on YouTube and the CBS News website. Give it a watch and you'll want to know more about the story in each episode from beginning to end.

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.

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.

I hope this show never stops possibly the best true crime series one or two slightly rubbish pointless episodes.

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!

Great justice won. Sadly good folks lost their lives.

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.

Another True Crime series ... one of the older breed that is still drowning in today's swamp of true crime explotation. Another unnecessary show that pretends to be informative on the back of worse crimes victims.

48 hours like Dateline makes exposes of criminal cases mostly to use violence to titillate for entertainment. The dark side of viewers are fascinated by murder and violence. The same viewers as programs like Criminal Minds and Reaper. Just because it's made by so called journalists doesn't give it any class. Secondly the program tries to shape false public perceptions such as violence is mostly a problem of upper class whites. The viewers can feel superior to the evil rich guy who murdered his family. So it's propaganda promoted by the far left like most TV today. The program kills about a dozen leftist birds with one stone. Rich bad, white bad, male bad, minorities don't do that, criminal system good, women victims, lawyers good, journalists good, CBS classy.

I enjoy watching the show, but I hate the fact that most of the characters shown are black people, as if my race is the only race who are killers and being killed. Try covering every race.

I cannot believe that they're letting that chick out of jail that killed that boy from text messages she should rot in hell and be in prison for the rest of her life just like anybody else that has committed murder but they're letting her out after what couple years yes so she can do it again what a wench horrible horrible person and she should be in prison forever it's like killing someone and getting out in a couple years that's just going to want to make someone kill someone how ridiculous is that sad pathetic and sad show

I am writing my review about the show where that chick killed her boyfriend or not her boyfriend through. the episode is about her being released but the repeating the whole episode of how it happened and getting to the best part at the end. I think she should have spent the rest of her life in jail for what she did to this poor young man what a loser and I hope she gets what's coming to her

Tonight an update on old 48 hours where a divorced wife kidnaps and runs her kids to 4 continents. Reporter's slants "she was forced to leave her paradise home (as law caught up with her) did you slap her husband? Yes. Did you hit him? (Same question), Lee, the disgruntled wife, as reporter says confided in the wrong friend. (Person who suspected an issue and found her out, then did the right thing.) By the end, reporter slants wife more as martyr than a true criminal who is now trying to make money off her life (memoir) as a fugitive. She fooled all she could then escaped the rest. That will hit the required 600.