Bizarre Murders

It's enjoyable, albeit campy and sometimes overacted. And they keep using the same kitchen and episode after episode. One with the black refrigerator that opens right next to the kitchen door. There is one episode, however, that just makes me giggle. As the retired FBI agent onnthe show says, in almost every episode, "in my 25 years as an FBI agent i've seen a lot of things, but...". He also needs to say "if you're going to write an episode about a particular place, then actually learn how the place name is pronounced before you do it." The episode called Thrill Spree is set on Tybee Island, on the coast of Georgia. And it's pronounced 'TIE-bee', not 'TIH-bee'. It reminds me of an episode on Rachel Maddow's news show, when she covered something that happened in Gainesville, Florida, which is in Alachua County. I can't believe her staff did not correct her before she presented the episode, but she kept calling the county ala-CHEW-uh instead of uh-LA-chew-wah. People always seem to have terrible pronouncing places that have Indian names.

Most people who have rated this series a one-star based on their belief that none of the episodes are based on real crimes do not know their true crimes at all. I avidly watch true crime shows and read the novels published and could easily recognize infamous real crimes that we're committed. People just don't want to do their research anymore. It clearly states that names, locations and some details have been altered, what did people expect? A bio at the end of the episodes detailing the unadulterated facts? Enjoy the show or don't buy to say these are made up crimes is ridiculous.

This rather amateurishly acted variety of less than usual murder stories could have made a really good series, if it had been written a bit better and shot with a more competent cast. Its episodes are presumedly based on actual crimes, but the factual details were purposely and I believe unnecessarily obscured for unknown reasons. The somewhat snarky comments - by the 'host' - add nothing positive to the proceedings and would be best dispensed with. However, after all is said and done, I enjoy learning about many of the cases themselves...

Mind you, when I say it's entertaining enough, I mean it's good enough to have running on your TV when you're just about to fall asleep but too lazy to roll over and click the clicker. Ok, maybe I even enjoy it a bit. Obviously the producers have taken creative license with the storylines, and the narration reminds me of that old "Ripley's Believe it or Not" show, but some (honestly not that) intrepid digging around the web will find that the stories do have basis in fact. You can't research cases by name, obviously, but searching using some basic thematic info like "mistaken identity murders in Houston" will net you inspiration for Season 1, Episode 1's tale, for instance. Overall, it's a cute show not to be taken too seriously (even if it does cover real murders) and it serves its purpose as mindless brain fodder for when my Ambien kicks in.

I love watching REAL crime stories. So when I came across this, I thought it was going to be interesting. I wish they would of told the viewer up front if "based on actual events". I can see taking events and twisting them to be entertaining. LOVE the host. Can find myself laughing at the events or his comments (also like the fun music). Different kind of twist. Great to listen over the headphones while working in the yard (something other then music). Some of the shows end ....like they were cut short.....and I didn't know the complete outcome so I tried to find more info the case online. I can't find any! Thus questioned .....how real is this. So with that, I enjoy it for what it is. Just like watching Amy other sitcom for entertainment. Thus why only 7 stars...if real.....totally a 10! They even reuse some of the actors in different stories. I even found that cool.