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America's Most Wanted

America's Most Wanted (often abbreviated as AMW) is an American television program[1][2] whose first run was produced by 20th Television, and second run is under the Fox Alternative Entertainment division of Fox Corporation. At the time of its cancellation by the Fox television network in June 2011, it was the longest-running program in the network's history (24 seasons), a mark since surpassed by The Simpsons, although the program was revived ten years later. The show started off as a half-hour program on February 7, 1988. In 1990, the show's format was changed from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. The show's format was reverted to 30 minutes in 1995, and then back to 60 minutes in 1996. A short-lived syndicated spinoff titled America's Most Wanted: Final Justice aired during the 1995–96 season.

America's Most Wanted
GenreReality legal programming
Created byMichael Linder
Stephen Chao
StarringJohn Walsh
Elizabeth Vargas
Voices ofJohn Walsh
Ron David
Dick Ervasti
Don LaFontaine
Wes Johnson
Andrew Morgado
Opening themeMichael H. Shamberg (1988–1996)
Gillian Gilbert & Stephen Morris (1990–1995)
Anatoly Halinkovitch (1995–1996, for America's Most Wanted: Final Justice)
The Runners (2009–2012)
TBD (2021)
Ending themeMichael H. Shamberg (1988–1996)
TBD (2021)
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons26
No. of episodes1,095
Captures
1,190 (as of April 20, 2021)
Production
Executive producersJohn Walsh (1988–2012)
Michael Linder (1988–1990)
Lance Heflin (1990–2012)
John Ferracane (2021)
James Bruce (2021)
Jim Clemente (2021)
Tim Clemente (2021)
Glenn Geller (2021)
Running time30 minutes (1988–1990, 1995–1996)
60 minutes (1990–1995, 1996–2012, 2021)
Production companies20th Century Fox Television (1988–2012)
Walsh Productions (1988–2012)
Michael Linder Productions (1988–1990)
Fox Television Stations Productions (original run)
XG Productions (2021)
Fox Alternative Entertainment (2021)
Release
Original networkFox (1988–2011; 2021)
Lifetime (2011–2012)
Original releaseFebruary 7, 1988 (1988-02-07) – April 12, 2021 (2021-04-12) (Fox)
Revived series:
December 2, 2011 (2011-12-02) – October 12, 2012 (2012-10-12) (Lifetime)
Chronology
RelatedThe Hunt with John Walsh

The September following the initial 2011 cancellation, the show's host, John Walsh, announced that it would resume later that year on the cable network Lifetime,[3] where it ran until its March 28, 2013 cancellation.[4] This was reportedly due to low ratings and the level of royalty payments to Fox which holds the trademark and copyright. It was succeeded by John Walsh Investigates, a one-off special on Lifetime.

The show featured reenactments of dangerous fugitives that are portrayed by actors, interspersed with on-camera interviews, with Walsh in a voiceover narration. Each episode also featured photographs of dangerous fugitives, as well as a toll-free hotline number where viewers could (and were allowed to remain anonymous) give information at 1-800-CRIME-TV (1-800-274-6388). On 2 May 2008, the program's website announced its 1,000th capture. Many of the series' cases have some connection outside the United States or have not taken place in the United States at all. The series' first international capture was in Nova Scotia in 1989. With Walsh at the helm, America's Most Wanted began to broaden its scope. In addition to the regular segments narrated by Walsh, the show expanded its segments and correspondents.

The first two-hour quarterly special aired on Saturday, October 29, 2011, on Fox.[5] The second two-hour special aired on Saturday, December 17, 2011, the third two-hour special aired on Saturday, February 11, 2012, and the fourth and final two-hour special aired on Saturday, April 21, 2012.

On July 13, 2014, a successor premiered on CNN called The Hunt with John Walsh, which added more international stories to its predecessor.[6] The series ran until the end of its fourth season on November 19, 2017. In 2019, Walsh began hosting the Investigation Discovery series In Pursuit with John Walsh.[7]

In January 2020, Fox announced plans to revive America's Most Wanted.[8] The revival aired from March 15 to April 12, 2021, and was hosted by Elizabeth Vargas.[9][10]

History

Conception and early airing

 
Logo used for the original Fox run

The concept for America's Most Wanted originally came from a German show, Aktenzeichen XY… ungelöst (German for File Reference XY ... Unsolved), that first aired in 1967, and the British show Crimewatch, first aired in 1984, with the US version conceived by Fox executive Stephen Chao and Executive Producer Michael Linder in the summer of 1987. Even earlier, however, CBS aired a three-month half-hour similar series hosted by Walter McGraw in the 1955–1956 season titled Wanted.

 
John Walsh presenting a fugitive

While Linder was shooting the pilot episode in Indiana, Chao and Fox attorney Tom Herwitz conducted a hurried search for a host. Chao's first choice was former police officer and best-selling author Joseph Wambaugh, but Wambaugh refused, saying he didn't believe a national dragnet would work in the United States. Chao also considered asking then-recently resigned U.S. Attorney (and future New York City mayor) Rudolph Giuliani, former Virginia governor Chuck Robb and former Nebraska governor Bob Kerrey before deciding a politician might use the show as a platform for personal political ambitions. Other potential candidates included former Marine Corps Commandant General P. X. Kelly, journalists Linda Ellerbee and Bob Woodward, and victims' advocate Theresa Saldana. Then, during a marathon telephone conference call, Herwitz suggested John Walsh. Walsh had gained publicity after his six-year-old son, Adam, was kidnapped and murdered in 1981. The crime had been the subject of the 1983 television film Adam, and Walsh's later advocacy had resulted in new legislation to protect missing children, as well as the creation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. After lengthy discussions, Walsh agreed to host the pilot episode.[11][12]

America's Most Wanted debuted as a half-hour program on February 7, 1988, on the then-seven Fox owned and operated stations, located in New York; Los Angeles; Washington, D.C.; Houston; Chicago; Dallas; and Boston. Within four days of the first broadcast, FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive David James Roberts was captured as a direct result.[13] He was a convicted killer who had recently escaped from prison by digging his way out with a small axe. This demonstrated the effectiveness of the show's "Watch Television, Catch Criminals" premise to skeptical law enforcement agencies. Ten weeks later, the program premiered nationwide on the Fox network and became the fledgling network's first hit series. In 1990, the show's format was changed from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. The show was cut back to 30 minutes in 1995, and back to 60 minutes in 1996. From 1995 to 1996, a short-lived syndicated spinoff titled America's Most Wanted: Final Justice aired.

The announcer heard on the show from 2004 until his death in 2008 was well-known voice-over artist Don LaFontaine. The first new episode aired after his death was dedicated to him. He was replaced by voice actor Wes Johnson, who served in the role until end of the show's run.

Notable writers have included Peter Koper and Greg Scott.

Logos

The show's first logo ran from 1988 to 1990, which consisted of an eagle sitting on a tree branch in a circle, with lines, stars, and zigzags below, and it has "AMERICA'S MOST WANTED" written on it. The show's second and final logo ran from 1990 to 2012, which would be used for the rest of the show's run. In 1996, the show was retitled America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back, which ran until 2003. The 2021 logo utilizes the popular motif of utilizing the Stars and Stripes of the American flag as the "E" in "America's".

1996 cancellation and revival

The program was canceled[14] for a month and a half in the fall of 1996, per a decision made the previous spring in the wake of high production costs. In its place, Fox moved Married... with Children (then entering what soon became its final season) to 9/8c, with the new sitcom Love and Marriage following it at 9:30. Cops remained in its hour-long 8/7c block. However, protests from the public, law enforcement, and government officials, including the governors of 37 states, encouraged Fox to bring the show back, though low ratings for Married... and Love and Marriage ultimately sealed the return of AMW. Love and Marriage was canceled, and Married... was moved back to Sundays. In 1996, the show was retitled America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back, which ran until 2003. For the next 15 years afterward, the America's Most Wanted/COPS combination made Saturday evening Fox's most stable night, along with the longest unchanged primetime schedule on U.S. television as of 2011.

On March 6, 2010, Fox aired the 1,000th episode of America's Most Wanted, and Walsh interviewed then President Barack Obama at the White House. In the interview, they discussed the Obama Administration's crime-fighting initiatives, as well as the impact the show has had on law enforcement and crime prevention.[15]

Covering criminals in the War on Terrorism

The show expanded its focus so it could also cover criminals in the War on Terrorism when, on October 12, 2001, an episode which featured 22 most-wanted al-Qaeda operatives was aired. The show was put together due to a request by White House aides after the same list of men had been released to the nation two days earlier.[16] However, the first show that focused mainly on terrorism aired after the September 11 attacks and was two hours long.[17]

From Fox to Lifetime

On May 16, 2011, Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly announced that after 23 years, America's Most Wanted, in its weekly format, would be canceled. The final weekly episode aired on June 18, 2011, though Reilly said four two-hour specials would air on Fox in the fall 2011 television season. However, Walsh said he was looking to other networks to keep the show going, saying he had "many, many offers" from other networks. Fox News Channel confirmed that its chairman Roger Ailes had been in preliminary discussions with Walsh about bringing the show to Fox News, but said "nothing has been decided." On the final Fox episode, Walsh promised to continue the show elsewhere and told the Associated Press: "I want to catch bad guys and find missing children—and we're not done."[18]

During the 2010–2011 season, the show averaged an audience of five million.[18] Within hours of Fox's announcement of the show's cancellation, campaigns to save the show were started by fans through Facebook and Twitter, among other social networking sites.[19]

In September 2011, it was announced that Lifetime had picked up America's Most Wanted from Fox and it began airing on the former on December 2, 2011.[20] On March 13, 2012, Lifetime ordered an additional 20 episodes.[21] However, on March 28, 2013, it was announced that Lifetime had cancelled America's Most Wanted.[22]

2021 revival

In January 2021, Fox announced that it would revive America's Most Wanted, with a new host Elizabeth Vargas, with the full endorsement of John Walsh, who could appear if contractual requirements with Discovery for his series In Pursuit are relaxed.[9] The revival premiered on March 15, 2021, and included augmented reality components to show a person's profile in full, including a full-body render of suspects or missing children as they were last seen or artificially aged, along with identifying features such as scars and tattoos.[10] The toll-free number for tips changed to 833-3AMWTIP (833-326-9847) & the website changed to AMWTips.com as opposed to AMW.com, though the latter domain has remained under Fox's control since 1997. Tipsters' identities were anonymous, and as always, were eligible for a cash reward for information leading to the apprehension of criminal(s) involved. An extension series hosted by Nancy Grace, America's Most Wanted Overtime, was also carried on the Fox Nation streaming service.[23]

AMW Dirty Dozen

The AMW Dirty Dozen was John Walsh's list of notorious fugitives who had been profiled on the show who were at that time at large. It was similar in function, though not identical with, the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list; four of the Dirty Dozen were on the FBI's list.

These are the Dirty Dozen, as of January 8, 2013. Currently, there are 8 fugitives still wanted despite the idea of the list being John Walsh's 12 personal most wanted. The eleventh, Andre Neverson was arrested in 2018. Paul Jackson was arrested in 2015. Resort killer Beacher Ferrel Hackney was removed after his body was discovered in September 2012.[24] Alleged murderer William Joseph Greer has also been removed from Walsh's Dirty Dozen before despite him seemingly still on the run.

  • Jason Derek Brown is wanted for the murder of an armored car driver and robbery of $56,000 in front of a movie theater in Phoenix, Arizona, on November 29, 2004. He is charged in Phoenix with first-degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. He is believed to be in either British Columbia, or Mexico. On December 8, 2007, Brown was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. On September 7, 2022, he was removed from the Ten Most Wanted list without being captured, but he is still wanted.[25]
  • Jose Fernando Corona is wanted out of Lewisville, TX for brutally murdering his wife with a chainsaw on April 26, 2010. The murder has shaken the quiet community to the core, particularly his daughter with whom he was close. Despite no criminal record, the otherwise mild-mannered father of six had a nervous breakdown and carried out this grisly act that was considered atypical of his character. Corona has since been on the run from the law, possibly hiding out with his friends in Friona.[26]
  • Berny Figueroa is wanted for the murder of two-year-old Alexia Lopez in Brenham, Texas. On March 11, 2008, Figueroa punched Lopez in the stomach, separating her large and small intestines at the daycare facility where she worked.[27]
  • Robert Fisher is wanted for the murder of his wife, Mary, and his children, Brittany and Bobby Jr. in Scottsdale, Arizona, on April 10, 2001, and then burning down their house to try to cover up the crime. He was also on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List (until his removal in November of 2021) and is considered to be AMW's Public Enemy Number 1.[28]
  • Alexis Flores is wanted for the kidnapping and murder of five-year-old Iriana DeJesus in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in July 2000. The DNA Match returned in March 2007. Flores was also placed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on June 2, 2007.[29]
  • Francisco Javier Lopez Gonzalez is wanted for the murder of his step son.
  • Elby Hars was wanted for sexually abusing young girls in Columbia, South Carolina. He had previously served time for sexually abusing his own daughter, Terri Hars. When he was released, he found young girls to abuse, leading to him going to prison.[30]
  • Daniel Hiers is wanted for the murder of his wife, Ludimila Hiers, in Goose Creek, South Carolina, in March 2005. He is also wanted for sexually abusing a child in Charleston, South Carolina, shortly before. Hiers, a former police officer, is on the U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted List, and they are offering a $10,000 reward for information leading to his capture.[31] Hiers was arrested in 2018 in Shanghai, China after being on the run for 13 years.[32]
  • Paul Erven Jackson and sibling Vance Roberts were believed by police to have lured teenage girls to a homemade sex-torture chamber they built in the residence they once shared in Hillsboro, Oregon. While Roberts turned himself in and was sentenced to 108 years in prison, Jackson escaped in June 1990 and was on the run until September 2015.[33] On September 28, 2015, he was arrested by immigration officials in Guadalajara, Mexico, where Jackson appeared to have been living for years using an alias.[34][35] He was transported back to the U.S. and is currently awaiting trial on kidnapping charges in Hillsboro.[36]
  • Andre Neverson is wanted for the murders of his sister, Patricia Neverson, and his ex-girlfriend, Donna Davis, both in Brooklyn, New York, in July 2002. He is also on the U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted list.[37] Neverson was captured on September 4, 2018.[38][39]
  • Yaser Abdel Said was wanted for shooting his two teenage daughters to death in an "honor killing" on January 1, 2008, in Irving, Texas. He was also wanted for questioning in the girls' sexual abuse nearly a decade prior. He was added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List on December 4, 2014.[40] On August 26, 2020, Said was captured in Justin, Texas.[41]

Presumption of innocence

Given that a significant number of the fugitives on America's Most Wanted had yet to face trial in a criminal court, the show adhered to the presumption of innocence as afforded under the law. For this reason, in the cases where fugitives had not yet been convicted, John Walsh would always precede his narrative of the crime with either the terms "Police say...", "According to police...", or other such similar terms followed by a description of the crime to which the person had allegedly committed.

In a handful of rare cases, America's Most Wanted profiled persons who were involved in controversial cases or who had fled to avoid prosecution on what they believed to be unfair or even framed charges. One female fugitive, who had fled to Canada, later had charges against her dismissed even after being profiled on the show. In another case, a judge ordered a change of venue for a suspected child murderer after learning that nearly the entire county had seen the suspect profiled on America's Most Wanted and believed him guilty. During its entire run, Walsh refused to ever issue a retraction, and never updated viewers on any fugitives who were later found not guilty of the crimes to which they had been profiled.[42][43]

Timeline

  • 1988: America's Most Wanted debuted as a half-hour program on Fox, with David James Roberts as the show's first fugitive.
  • 1989: The show marks its first international capture from Nova Scotia.
  • 1990: The 100th episode of America's Most Wanted airs. The show moved to Friday nights at 9:00e/8:00c. The show introduced a brand new logo, and the format changed from 30 minutes to 60 minutes. Original executive producer Michael Linder leaves the show, and Lance Heflin became executive producer.
  • 1992: The 200th episode of America's Most Wanted airs.
  • 1994: The 300th episode of America's Most Wanted airs. The show moved to Saturday nights at 9:00e/8:00c.
  • 1995: The show's format changed back to 30 minutes. America's Most Wanted: Final Justice debuts in first-run syndication.
  • 1996: The 400th episode of America's Most Wanted airs. America's Most Wanted: Final Justice ends. The show's format changed back to 60 minutes, and was retitled America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back, which stayed until 2003.
  • 1998: The 500th episode of America's Most Wanted airs.
  • 2000: The 600th episode of America's Most Wanted airs.
  • 2002: The 700th episode of America's Most Wanted airs.
  • 2003: The show was reverted to America's Most Wanted, which would be used for the rest of the show's run.
  • 2005: The 800th episode of America's Most Wanted airs.
  • 2006: The 900th episode of America's Most Wanted airs.
  • 2010: The 1,000th episode of America's Most Wanted airs.
  • 2011: The last episode of America's Most Wanted airs on Fox. The show moved from Fox to Lifetime on Friday nights, which stayed until the end of the series in 2012.
  • 2021: The first episode of the revival series, hosted by investigative journalist Elizabeth Vargas, debuts on Fox.

In popular culture

The Simpsons season 1 finale "Some Enchanted Evening" featured a parody of America's Most Wanted called "America's Most Armed and Dangerous", which featured a profile of Ms. Botz (real name: Lucille Botzcowski), the Simpson's babysitter, who is nicknamed the Babysitter Bandit. In season six of The Simpsons, John Walsh appeared as the host of Springfield's Most Wanted, a fictitious version of America's Most Wanted which was designed to serve as a lead-in to the resolution to the "Who Shot Mr. Burns?" cliffhanger from the end of season six.[episode needed] It was also referenced during the episode Lisa's Rival, in which the name of the character Millhouse van Houten is mentioned because he is going to be featured on the show. This event is reinforced by armed men who chase him multiple times in the episode.

In season six of The Golden Girls, the fictitious mobster The Cheese Man boasts that his most recent appearance on America's Most Wanted was the highest-rated episode ever.[episode needed]

In the 2019 science fiction action film Terminator: Dark Fate, Sarah Connor reveals that she was featured in an entire episode of America's Most Wanted and is wanted in fifty American states, due to escaping Pescadero State Hospital, destroying Cyberdyne Systems and allegedly killing Miles Dyson 25 years earlier.

In an episode of the sitcom 30 Rock, Liz Lemon mentions that she once appeared on America's Most Wanted, playing a woman who was strangled on the toilet.

See also

References

  1. ^ Mcgrath, Charles. "America's Most Wanted: America Fights Back". The New York Times. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  2. ^ Semple, Kirk (January 10, 2011). "Human-Trafficking Suspect Is Arrested While Gambling". The New York Times.
  3. ^ 'America's Most Wanted' To Live Again... On Lifetime, TVNewser, September 7, 2011
  4. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 28, 2013). "'America's Most Wanted' Cancelled By Lifetime". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 29, 2013.
  5. ^ TV By the Numbers
  6. ^ "The Hunt With John Walsh Premieres Sunday, July 13". cnn.com.
  7. ^ "'In Pursuit with John Walsh': Why It's the Most Important Show on TV". March 17, 2019.
  8. ^ Nellie Andreeva (January 7, 2020). "America's Most Wanted Revival With Global Reach In Works At Fox". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  9. ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie (January 22, 2021). "America's Most Wanted Returns To Fox With Elizabeth Vargas As Host". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Groundbreaking Series "America's Most Wanted" Returns, Monday, March 15 on FOX" (Press release). Fox. February 12, 2021 – via The Futon Critic.
  11. ^ Breslin, Jack (1990). America's Most Wanted: How Television Catches Crooks. New York, New York: Harper & Row. pp. 80–85. ISBN 978-0-06-100025-6.
  12. ^ Shorto, Russell (August 25, 2002). "Most Wanted". New York Times Magazine. from the original on June 2, 2021. Retrieved March 21, 2022. They thought about the crime novelist Joseph Wambaugh and Senator Bob Kerrey; they talked to Bob Woodward and to a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
  13. ^ Prial, Frank J. (September 25, 1988). "Freeze! You're on TV". New York Times. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  14. ^ Shen, Maxine (March 5, 2010). "Day 'Most Wanted' was canceled". New York Post. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  15. ^ . TV By The Numbers. March 3, 2010. Archived from the original on March 7, 2010. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  16. ^ "'MOST WANTED' TARGETS TERROR'S TOP 22". New York Post. October 12, 2001. Retrieved February 1, 2018.
  17. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on September 3, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  18. ^ a b Frazier Moore (June 16, 2011). "'AMW' ending run on Fox, but John Walsh isn't done". Associated Press.
  19. ^ Dena Potter (May 17, 2011). "5 Campaigns start to keep 'America's Most Wanted'". Associated Press'. Retrieved May 18, 2011.
  20. ^ Barrett, Annie (September 6, 2011). "Lifetime picks up America's Most Wanted". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  21. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (March 13, 2012). "Lifetime orders more 'America's Most Wanted'". Variety.
  22. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 28, 2013). "'America's Most Wanted' Cancelled By Lifetime". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved May 30, 2014.
  23. ^ "Fox Nation's Nancy Grace hosts 'Overtime' show after FOX return of 'America's Most Wanted'" (Press release). Fox News Channel. March 14, 2021. Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  24. ^ U.S. Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitive's Remains Found in Virginia January 2, 2013, at the Wayback Machine U.S. Marshals Service (September 18, 2011).
  25. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  26. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  27. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  28. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  29. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  30. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on November 6, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  31. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on November 9, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  32. ^ McLaughlin, Kelly (September 22, 2018). "Former South Carolina police officer who spent 13 years on the run after allegedly killing his wife and molesting a 10-year-old girl has been arrested in China". Insider. Retrieved July 16, 2020.
  33. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on July 20, 2013. Retrieved January 10, 2013.
  34. ^ "NBCNews.com". NBCNews.com. September 29, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  35. ^ "CNN.com". CNN.com. September 30, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  36. ^ . KGW.com. October 2, 2015. Archived from the original on October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 6, 2015.
  37. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on December 14, 2008. Retrieved December 14, 2008.
  38. ^ Parascandola, Rocco; Annese, John (September 4, 2018). "BUSTED: Andre Neverson, on the run since 2002 in his sister and ex-girlfriend's slaying in Brooklyn, is caught in Connecticut". New York Daily News. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  39. ^ George, Michael; Wallace, Sarah (September 4, 2018). "NYC Double Murder Suspect Deemed '15 Most Wanted' Fugitive Captured in Bridgeport". NBC New York. Retrieved September 19, 2018.
  40. ^ . AMW.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2011. Retrieved October 9, 2011.
  41. ^ "Capital Murder Suspect In Taxicab Killings Of 2 Daughters, Yaser Abdel Said Captured". CBS News. August 26, 2020. Retrieved August 27, 2020.
  42. ^ "America's Most Wanted gunman acquitted", Toronto Sun – November 9, 2010
  43. ^ "Guilty until Proven Innocent, the Controversy of America's Most Wanted", The Washington Post. December 12, 1990.

External links

  Media related to America's Most Wanted at Wikimedia Commons

  • Official website
  • Tips website
  • America's Most Wanted at IMDb
  • . Archived from the original on December 31, 1996. Retrieved March 9, 2010.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)

america, most, wanted, this, article, about, show, other, uses, disambiguation, united, states, federal, bureau, investigation, list, most, wanted, fugitives, often, abbreviated, american, television, program, whose, first, produced, 20th, television, second, . This article is about the Fox TV show For other uses see America s Most Wanted disambiguation For the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation list see FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives America s Most Wanted often abbreviated as AMW is an American television program 1 2 whose first run was produced by 20th Television and second run is under the Fox Alternative Entertainment division of Fox Corporation At the time of its cancellation by the Fox television network in June 2011 it was the longest running program in the network s history 24 seasons a mark since surpassed by The Simpsons although the program was revived ten years later The show started off as a half hour program on February 7 1988 In 1990 the show s format was changed from 30 minutes to 60 minutes The show s format was reverted to 30 minutes in 1995 and then back to 60 minutes in 1996 A short lived syndicated spinoff titled America s Most Wanted Final Justice aired during the 1995 96 season America s Most WantedGenreReality legal programmingCreated byMichael LinderStephen ChaoStarringJohn WalshElizabeth VargasVoices ofJohn WalshRon DavidDick ErvastiDon LaFontaineWes JohnsonAndrew MorgadoOpening themeMichael H Shamberg 1988 1996 Gillian Gilbert amp Stephen Morris 1990 1995 Anatoly Halinkovitch 1995 1996 for America s Most Wanted Final Justice The Runners 2009 2012 TBD 2021 Ending themeMichael H Shamberg 1988 1996 TBD 2021 Country of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishNo of seasons26No of episodes1 095Captures1 190 as of April 20 2021 update ProductionExecutive producersJohn Walsh 1988 2012 Michael Linder 1988 1990 Lance Heflin 1990 2012 John Ferracane 2021 James Bruce 2021 Jim Clemente 2021 Tim Clemente 2021 Glenn Geller 2021 Running time30 minutes 1988 1990 1995 1996 60 minutes 1990 1995 1996 2012 2021 Production companies20th Century Fox Television 1988 2012 Walsh Productions 1988 2012 Michael Linder Productions 1988 1990 Fox Television Stations Productions original run XG Productions 2021 Fox Alternative Entertainment 2021 ReleaseOriginal networkFox 1988 2011 2021 Lifetime 2011 2012 Original releaseFebruary 7 1988 1988 02 07 April 12 2021 2021 04 12 Fox Revived series December 2 2011 2011 12 02 October 12 2012 2012 10 12 Lifetime ChronologyRelatedThe Hunt with John WalshThe September following the initial 2011 cancellation the show s host John Walsh announced that it would resume later that year on the cable network Lifetime 3 where it ran until its March 28 2013 cancellation 4 This was reportedly due to low ratings and the level of royalty payments to Fox which holds the trademark and copyright It was succeeded by John Walsh Investigates a one off special on Lifetime The show featured reenactments of dangerous fugitives that are portrayed by actors interspersed with on camera interviews with Walsh in a voiceover narration Each episode also featured photographs of dangerous fugitives as well as a toll free hotline number where viewers could and were allowed to remain anonymous give information at 1 800 CRIME TV 1 800 274 6388 On 2 May 2008 the program s website announced its 1 000th capture Many of the series cases have some connection outside the United States or have not taken place in the United States at all The series first international capture was in Nova Scotia in 1989 With Walsh at the helm America s Most Wanted began to broaden its scope In addition to the regular segments narrated by Walsh the show expanded its segments and correspondents The first two hour quarterly special aired on Saturday October 29 2011 on Fox 5 The second two hour special aired on Saturday December 17 2011 the third two hour special aired on Saturday February 11 2012 and the fourth and final two hour special aired on Saturday April 21 2012 On July 13 2014 a successor premiered on CNN called The Hunt with John Walsh which added more international stories to its predecessor 6 The series ran until the end of its fourth season on November 19 2017 In 2019 Walsh began hosting the Investigation Discovery series In Pursuit with John Walsh 7 In January 2020 Fox announced plans to revive America s Most Wanted 8 The revival aired from March 15 to April 12 2021 and was hosted by Elizabeth Vargas 9 10 Contents 1 History 1 1 Conception and early airing 1 2 Logos 1 3 1996 cancellation and revival 1 4 Covering criminals in the War on Terrorism 1 5 From Fox to Lifetime 1 6 2021 revival 2 AMW Dirty Dozen 3 Presumption of innocence 4 Timeline 5 In popular culture 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditConception and early airing Edit Logo used for the original Fox run The concept for America s Most Wanted originally came from a German show Aktenzeichen XY ungelost German for File Reference XY Unsolved that first aired in 1967 and the British show Crimewatch first aired in 1984 with the US version conceived by Fox executive Stephen Chao and Executive Producer Michael Linder in the summer of 1987 Even earlier however CBS aired a three month half hour similar series hosted by Walter McGraw in the 1955 1956 season titled Wanted John Walsh presenting a fugitive While Linder was shooting the pilot episode in Indiana Chao and Fox attorney Tom Herwitz conducted a hurried search for a host Chao s first choice was former police officer and best selling author Joseph Wambaugh but Wambaugh refused saying he didn t believe a national dragnet would work in the United States Chao also considered asking then recently resigned U S Attorney and future New York City mayor Rudolph Giuliani former Virginia governor Chuck Robb and former Nebraska governor Bob Kerrey before deciding a politician might use the show as a platform for personal political ambitions Other potential candidates included former Marine Corps Commandant General P X Kelly journalists Linda Ellerbee and Bob Woodward and victims advocate Theresa Saldana Then during a marathon telephone conference call Herwitz suggested John Walsh Walsh had gained publicity after his six year old son Adam was kidnapped and murdered in 1981 The crime had been the subject of the 1983 television film Adam and Walsh s later advocacy had resulted in new legislation to protect missing children as well as the creation of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children After lengthy discussions Walsh agreed to host the pilot episode 11 12 America s Most Wanted debuted as a half hour program on February 7 1988 on the then seven Fox owned and operated stations located in New York Los Angeles Washington D C Houston Chicago Dallas and Boston Within four days of the first broadcast FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitive David James Roberts was captured as a direct result 13 He was a convicted killer who had recently escaped from prison by digging his way out with a small axe This demonstrated the effectiveness of the show s Watch Television Catch Criminals premise to skeptical law enforcement agencies Ten weeks later the program premiered nationwide on the Fox network and became the fledgling network s first hit series In 1990 the show s format was changed from 30 minutes to 60 minutes The show was cut back to 30 minutes in 1995 and back to 60 minutes in 1996 From 1995 to 1996 a short lived syndicated spinoff titled America s Most Wanted Final Justice aired The announcer heard on the show from 2004 until his death in 2008 was well known voice over artist Don LaFontaine The first new episode aired after his death was dedicated to him He was replaced by voice actor Wes Johnson who served in the role until end of the show s run Notable writers have included Peter Koper and Greg Scott Logos Edit The show s first logo ran from 1988 to 1990 which consisted of an eagle sitting on a tree branch in a circle with lines stars and zigzags below and it has AMERICA S MOST WANTED written on it The show s second and final logo ran from 1990 to 2012 which would be used for the rest of the show s run In 1996 the show was retitled America s Most Wanted America Fights Back which ran until 2003 The 2021 logo utilizes the popular motif of utilizing the Stars and Stripes of the American flag as the E in America s 1996 cancellation and revival Edit The program was canceled 14 for a month and a half in the fall of 1996 per a decision made the previous spring in the wake of high production costs In its place Fox moved Married with Children then entering what soon became its final season to 9 8c with the new sitcom Love and Marriage following it at 9 30 Cops remained in its hour long 8 7c block However protests from the public law enforcement and government officials including the governors of 37 states encouraged Fox to bring the show back though low ratings for Married and Love and Marriage ultimately sealed the return of AMW Love and Marriage was canceled and Married was moved back to Sundays In 1996 the show was retitled America s Most Wanted America Fights Back which ran until 2003 For the next 15 years afterward the America s Most Wanted COPS combination made Saturday evening Fox s most stable night along with the longest unchanged primetime schedule on U S television as of 2011 On March 6 2010 Fox aired the 1 000th episode of America s Most Wanted and Walsh interviewed then President Barack Obama at the White House In the interview they discussed the Obama Administration s crime fighting initiatives as well as the impact the show has had on law enforcement and crime prevention 15 Covering criminals in the War on Terrorism Edit The show expanded its focus so it could also cover criminals in the War on Terrorism when on October 12 2001 an episode which featured 22 most wanted al Qaeda operatives was aired The show was put together due to a request by White House aides after the same list of men had been released to the nation two days earlier 16 However the first show that focused mainly on terrorism aired after the September 11 attacks and was two hours long 17 From Fox to Lifetime Edit On May 16 2011 Fox Entertainment President Kevin Reilly announced that after 23 years America s Most Wanted in its weekly format would be canceled The final weekly episode aired on June 18 2011 though Reilly said four two hour specials would air on Fox in the fall 2011 television season However Walsh said he was looking to other networks to keep the show going saying he had many many offers from other networks Fox News Channel confirmed that its chairman Roger Ailes had been in preliminary discussions with Walsh about bringing the show to Fox News but said nothing has been decided On the final Fox episode Walsh promised to continue the show elsewhere and told the Associated Press I want to catch bad guys and find missing children and we re not done 18 During the 2010 2011 season the show averaged an audience of five million 18 Within hours of Fox s announcement of the show s cancellation campaigns to save the show were started by fans through Facebook and Twitter among other social networking sites 19 In September 2011 it was announced that Lifetime had picked up America s Most Wanted from Fox and it began airing on the former on December 2 2011 20 On March 13 2012 Lifetime ordered an additional 20 episodes 21 However on March 28 2013 it was announced that Lifetime had cancelled America s Most Wanted 22 2021 revival Edit In January 2021 Fox announced that it would revive America s Most Wanted with a new host Elizabeth Vargas with the full endorsement of John Walsh who could appear if contractual requirements with Discovery for his series In Pursuit are relaxed 9 The revival premiered on March 15 2021 and included augmented reality components to show a person s profile in full including a full body render of suspects or missing children as they were last seen or artificially aged along with identifying features such as scars and tattoos 10 The toll free number for tips changed to 833 3AMWTIP 833 326 9847 amp the website changed to AMWTips com as opposed to AMW com though the latter domain has remained under Fox s control since 1997 Tipsters identities were anonymous and as always were eligible for a cash reward for information leading to the apprehension of criminal s involved An extension series hosted by Nancy Grace America s Most Wanted Overtime was also carried on the Fox Nation streaming service 23 AMW Dirty Dozen EditThe AMW Dirty Dozen was John Walsh s list of notorious fugitives who had been profiled on the show who were at that time at large It was similar in function though not identical with the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list four of the Dirty Dozen were on the FBI s list These are the Dirty Dozen as of January 8 2013 Currently there are 8 fugitives still wanted despite the idea of the list being John Walsh s 12 personal most wanted The eleventh Andre Neverson was arrested in 2018 Paul Jackson was arrested in 2015 Resort killer Beacher Ferrel Hackney was removed after his body was discovered in September 2012 24 Alleged murderer William Joseph Greer has also been removed from Walsh s Dirty Dozen before despite him seemingly still on the run Jason Derek Brown is wanted for the murder of an armored car driver and robbery of 56 000 in front of a movie theater in Phoenix Arizona on November 29 2004 He is charged in Phoenix with first degree murder and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution He is believed to be in either British Columbia or Mexico On December 8 2007 Brown was added to the FBI s Ten Most Wanted List On September 7 2022 he was removed from the Ten Most Wanted list without being captured but he is still wanted 25 Jose Fernando Corona is wanted out of Lewisville TX for brutally murdering his wife with a chainsaw on April 26 2010 The murder has shaken the quiet community to the core particularly his daughter with whom he was close Despite no criminal record the otherwise mild mannered father of six had a nervous breakdown and carried out this grisly act that was considered atypical of his character Corona has since been on the run from the law possibly hiding out with his friends in Friona 26 Berny Figueroa is wanted for the murder of two year old Alexia Lopez in Brenham Texas On March 11 2008 Figueroa punched Lopez in the stomach separating her large and small intestines at the daycare facility where she worked 27 Robert Fisher is wanted for the murder of his wife Mary and his children Brittany and Bobby Jr in Scottsdale Arizona on April 10 2001 and then burning down their house to try to cover up the crime He was also on the FBI s Ten Most Wanted List until his removal in November of 2021 and is considered to be AMW s Public Enemy Number 1 28 Alexis Flores is wanted for the kidnapping and murder of five year old Iriana DeJesus in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in July 2000 The DNA Match returned in March 2007 Flores was also placed on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list on June 2 2007 29 Francisco Javier Lopez Gonzalez is wanted for the murder of his step son Elby Hars was wanted for sexually abusing young girls in Columbia South Carolina He had previously served time for sexually abusing his own daughter Terri Hars When he was released he found young girls to abuse leading to him going to prison 30 Daniel Hiers is wanted for the murder of his wife Ludimila Hiers in Goose Creek South Carolina in March 2005 He is also wanted for sexually abusing a child in Charleston South Carolina shortly before Hiers a former police officer is on the U S Marshals 15 Most Wanted List and they are offering a 10 000 reward for information leading to his capture 31 Hiers was arrested in 2018 in Shanghai China after being on the run for 13 years 32 Paul Erven Jackson and sibling Vance Roberts were believed by police to have lured teenage girls to a homemade sex torture chamber they built in the residence they once shared in Hillsboro Oregon While Roberts turned himself in and was sentenced to 108 years in prison Jackson escaped in June 1990 and was on the run until September 2015 33 On September 28 2015 he was arrested by immigration officials in Guadalajara Mexico where Jackson appeared to have been living for years using an alias 34 35 He was transported back to the U S and is currently awaiting trial on kidnapping charges in Hillsboro 36 Andre Neverson is wanted for the murders of his sister Patricia Neverson and his ex girlfriend Donna Davis both in Brooklyn New York in July 2002 He is also on the U S Marshals 15 Most Wanted list 37 Neverson was captured on September 4 2018 38 39 Yaser Abdel Said was wanted for shooting his two teenage daughters to death in an honor killing on January 1 2008 in Irving Texas He was also wanted for questioning in the girls sexual abuse nearly a decade prior He was added to the FBI s Ten Most Wanted List on December 4 2014 40 On August 26 2020 Said was captured in Justin Texas 41 Presumption of innocence EditGiven that a significant number of the fugitives on America s Most Wanted had yet to face trial in a criminal court the show adhered to the presumption of innocence as afforded under the law For this reason in the cases where fugitives had not yet been convicted John Walsh would always precede his narrative of the crime with either the terms Police say According to police or other such similar terms followed by a description of the crime to which the person had allegedly committed In a handful of rare cases America s Most Wanted profiled persons who were involved in controversial cases or who had fled to avoid prosecution on what they believed to be unfair or even framed charges One female fugitive who had fled to Canada later had charges against her dismissed even after being profiled on the show In another case a judge ordered a change of venue for a suspected child murderer after learning that nearly the entire county had seen the suspect profiled on America s Most Wanted and believed him guilty During its entire run Walsh refused to ever issue a retraction and never updated viewers on any fugitives who were later found not guilty of the crimes to which they had been profiled 42 43 Timeline Edit1988 America s Most Wanted debuted as a half hour program on Fox with David James Roberts as the show s first fugitive 1989 The show marks its first international capture from Nova Scotia 1990 The 100th episode of America s Most Wanted airs The show moved to Friday nights at 9 00e 8 00c The show introduced a brand new logo and the format changed from 30 minutes to 60 minutes Original executive producer Michael Linder leaves the show and Lance Heflin became executive producer 1992 The 200th episode of America s Most Wanted airs 1994 The 300th episode of America s Most Wanted airs The show moved to Saturday nights at 9 00e 8 00c 1995 The show s format changed back to 30 minutes America s Most Wanted Final Justice debuts in first run syndication 1996 The 400th episode of America s Most Wanted airs America s Most Wanted Final Justice ends The show s format changed back to 60 minutes and was retitled America s Most Wanted America Fights Back which stayed until 2003 1998 The 500th episode of America s Most Wanted airs 2000 The 600th episode of America s Most Wanted airs 2002 The 700th episode of America s Most Wanted airs 2003 The show was reverted to America s Most Wanted which would be used for the rest of the show s run 2005 The 800th episode of America s Most Wanted airs 2006 The 900th episode of America s Most Wanted airs 2010 The 1 000th episode of America s Most Wanted airs 2011 The last episode of America s Most Wanted airs on Fox The show moved from Fox to Lifetime on Friday nights which stayed until the end of the series in 2012 2021 The first episode of the revival series hosted by investigative journalist Elizabeth Vargas debuts on Fox In popular culture EditThe Simpsons season 1 finale Some Enchanted Evening featured a parody of America s Most Wanted called America s Most Armed and Dangerous which featured a profile of Ms Botz real name Lucille Botzcowski the Simpson s babysitter who is nicknamed the Babysitter Bandit In season six of The Simpsons John Walsh appeared as the host of Springfield s Most Wanted a fictitious version of America s Most Wanted which was designed to serve as a lead in to the resolution to the Who Shot Mr Burns cliffhanger from the end of season six episode needed It was also referenced during the episode Lisa s Rival in which the name of the character Millhouse van Houten is mentioned because he is going to be featured on the show This event is reinforced by armed men who chase him multiple times in the episode In season six of The Golden Girls the fictitious mobster The Cheese Man boasts that his most recent appearance on America s Most Wanted was the highest rated episode ever episode needed In the 2019 science fiction action film Terminator Dark Fate Sarah Connor reveals that she was featured in an entire episode of America s Most Wanted and is wanted in fifty American states due to escaping Pescadero State Hospital destroying Cyberdyne Systems and allegedly killing Miles Dyson 25 years earlier In an episode of the sitcom 30 Rock Liz Lemon mentions that she once appeared on America s Most Wanted playing a woman who was strangled on the toilet See also EditAktenzeichen XY ungelost a similar program in Germany Austria and Switzerland Crimewatch a similar program in the United Kingdom Cops usually aired back to back with America s Most Wanted on Fox Efterlyst a similar program in Sweden India s Most Wanted an inspired program in India Linha Direta a similar program in Brazil Police Ten 7 a similar program in New Zealand Police Report a similar program in Hong Kong The Hunt with John Walsh a similar program which Walsh also hosts Unsolved Mysteries a similar program References Edit Mcgrath Charles America s Most Wanted America Fights Back The New York Times Retrieved October 9 2011 Semple Kirk January 10 2011 Human Trafficking Suspect Is Arrested While Gambling The New York Times America s Most Wanted To Live Again On Lifetime TVNewser September 7 2011 Andreeva Nellie March 28 2013 America s Most Wanted Cancelled By Lifetime Deadline Hollywood Retrieved March 29 2013 FOX Announces 2011 Fall TV Premiere Dates TV By the Numbers The Hunt With John Walsh Premieres Sunday July 13 cnn com In Pursuit with John Walsh Why It s the Most Important Show on TV March 17 2019 Nellie Andreeva January 7 2020 America s Most Wanted Revival With Global Reach In Works At Fox Deadline Hollywood Retrieved January 22 2021 a b Andreeva Nellie January 22 2021 America s Most Wanted Returns To Fox With Elizabeth Vargas As Host Deadline Hollywood Retrieved January 22 2021 a b Groundbreaking Series America s Most Wanted Returns Monday March 15 on FOX Press release Fox February 12 2021 via The Futon Critic Breslin Jack 1990 America s Most Wanted How Television Catches Crooks New York New York Harper amp Row pp 80 85 ISBN 978 0 06 100025 6 Shorto Russell August 25 2002 Most Wanted New York Times Magazine Archived from the original on June 2 2021 Retrieved March 21 2022 They thought about the crime novelist Joseph Wambaugh and Senator Bob Kerrey they talked to Bob Woodward and to a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Prial Frank J September 25 1988 Freeze You re on TV New York Times Retrieved October 9 2011 Shen Maxine March 5 2010 Day Most Wanted was canceled New York Post Retrieved October 9 2011 press release President Barack Obama Joins John Walsh For America s Most Wanted s Milestone 1000th Episode March 6 TV By The Numbers March 3 2010 Archived from the original on March 7 2010 Retrieved October 9 2011 MOST WANTED TARGETS TERROR S TOP 22 New York Post October 12 2001 Retrieved February 1 2018 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on September 3 2011 Retrieved October 9 2011 a b Frazier Moore June 16 2011 AMW ending run on Fox but John Walsh isn t done Associated Press Dena Potter May 17 2011 5 Campaigns start to keep America s Most Wanted Associated Press Retrieved May 18 2011 Barrett Annie September 6 2011 Lifetime picks up America s Most Wanted Entertainment Weekly Retrieved October 9 2011 Littleton Cynthia March 13 2012 Lifetime orders more America s Most Wanted Variety Andreeva Nellie March 28 2013 America s Most Wanted Cancelled By Lifetime Deadline Hollywood Retrieved May 30 2014 Fox Nation s Nancy Grace hosts Overtime show after FOX return of America s Most Wanted Press release Fox News Channel March 14 2021 Retrieved March 15 2021 U S Marshals 15 Most Wanted Fugitive s Remains Found in Virginia Archived January 2 2013 at the Wayback Machine U S Marshals Service September 18 2011 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on October 12 2011 Retrieved October 9 2011 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on November 9 2011 Retrieved October 9 2011 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on November 6 2011 Retrieved October 9 2011 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on September 28 2011 Retrieved October 9 2011 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on December 18 2008 Retrieved October 9 2011 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on November 6 2011 Retrieved October 9 2011 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on November 9 2011 Retrieved October 9 2011 McLaughlin Kelly September 22 2018 Former South Carolina police officer who spent 13 years on the run after allegedly killing his wife and molesting a 10 year old girl has been arrested in China Insider Retrieved July 16 2020 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on July 20 2013 Retrieved January 10 2013 NBCNews com NBCNews com September 29 2015 Retrieved October 6 2015 CNN com CNN com September 30 2015 Retrieved October 6 2015 KGW com KGW com October 2 2015 Archived from the original on October 7 2015 Retrieved October 6 2015 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on December 14 2008 Retrieved December 14 2008 Parascandola Rocco Annese John September 4 2018 BUSTED Andre Neverson on the run since 2002 in his sister and ex girlfriend s slaying in Brooklyn is caught in Connecticut New York Daily News Retrieved September 19 2018 George Michael Wallace Sarah September 4 2018 NYC Double Murder Suspect Deemed 15 Most Wanted Fugitive Captured in Bridgeport NBC New York Retrieved September 19 2018 AMW com AMW com Archived from the original on October 12 2011 Retrieved October 9 2011 Capital Murder Suspect In Taxicab Killings Of 2 Daughters Yaser Abdel Said Captured CBS News August 26 2020 Retrieved August 27 2020 America s Most Wanted gunman acquitted Toronto Sun November 9 2010 Guilty until Proven Innocent the Controversy of America s Most Wanted The Washington Post December 12 1990 External links Edit Media related to America s Most Wanted at Wikimedia Commons Official website Tips website America s Most Wanted at IMDb America s Most Wanted Archived from the original on December 31 1996 Retrieved March 9 2010 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title America 27s Most Wanted amp oldid 1135585407, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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