The First 48 is an American documentary/news magazine television series on A&E filmed in various cities in the United States, offering an insider's look at the real-life world of homicide investigators. While the series often follows the investigations to their end, it usually focuses on their first 48 hours, hence the title.
Each episode picks one or more homicides in different cities, covering each alternately, showing how detectives use forensic evidence, witness interviews, and other advanced investigative techniques to identify suspects. While most cases are solved within the first 48 hours, some go on days, weeks, months or even years after the first 48.[citation needed]
The series was nominated for a Distinguished Documentary Achievement Award in the Continuing Series category by the International Documentary Association, eventually losing to PBS' American Experience. By season 6, The First 48 had become the highest-rated non-fiction justice series on television and has gained critical acclaim along with controversy.[1] The season 8 episode, "Gone", which aired on January 1, 2009, garnered a domestic audience of 2.3 million viewers, becoming the series' most-watched episode at the time.[2]
Until the 1st episode of the 12th season, the opening title sequence featured the conceptual statement "For homicide detectives, the clock starts ticking the moment they are called. Their chance of solving a murder is cut in half if they don't get a lead within the first 48 hours." The original soundtrack, opening title theme and dark ambient sound design for the overall program was composed by Chuck Hammer (2004–2006). Later composers included Brian and Justin Deming (2006–2008) and Paul Brill (2008–2018), who continued with a combination of dark ambient music integrated with sound design.[citation needed]
The series has several follow-up episodes entitled After the First 48—detailing the trials of those accused in previous episodes—and the aftermath of victims' survivors. The First 48: Missing Persons follows the same story format as the original series. The Killer Speaks depicts convicted felons as they describe their crimes through their first-hand accounts.
Reception
The First 48 has received generally positive reviews from television critics. Linda Stasi of New York Post called it, "Riveting."[3] Ken Tucker of Yahoo! News wrote, "Addictive."[4]
Controversy
On November 18, 2009, 21-year-old Taiwan Smart of Miami was charged with two counts of second-degree murder of his two roommates in Little Haiti.[5] His story aired later as an episode titled "Inside Job." Evidence later established that police made important mistakes in their investigation. Additionally, The First 48 misrepresented a key witness' statement on the program. Smart was released in June 2011 and has since sued the city of Miami for false imprisonment. The episode, which originally aired on July 15, 2010, continues to air without correction.[5] In 2014, the city of Miami announced that it would not be renewing its contract with A&E, ending the filming of any future episodes of The First 48 there.[6]
On May 16, 2010, 7-year-old Aiyana Jones of Detroit was shot and killed during a special weapons and tactics (SWAT) raid that was recorded by The First 48 cameras.[7] Detroit SWAT units raided the duplex while searching for a homicide suspect. On October 5, 2011, prosecutors charged the Detroit police officer with the involuntary manslaughter of Jones. Allison Howard, an A&E Television Network camera operator filming that night, was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice after lying under oath.[8] She pleaded no contest to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to two years of probation.[9]
On December 16, 2015, Shawn Peterson pled guilty to manslaughter for the triple murder of his ex-girlfriend, Christine George, her son, Leonard and her daughter, Trisa in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. Peterson's defense attorneys argued that producers from The First 48 withheld video evidence that could have exonerated their client. A judge rejected the motion but conceded that the show did complicate the case.[10] In 2016, the city of New Orleans announced that it would be ending its contract with A&E, ending any future productions of The First 48 or Nightwatch, another A&E show set in New Orleans.[11] On November 6, 2020, it was announced that filming for Nightwatch would resume filming in New Orleans after a three year hiatus but no such announcement was made for The First 48.[12]
References
^"Breaking News - A&E Real Life Series - the First 48 & Swat Return for Sixth and Third Seasons Respectively". TheFutonCritic.com. June 27, 2007. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
^"Breaking News - A&E Kicked Off the New Year with the Record Breaking Season Premiere of 'The First 48'". TheFutonCritic.com. January 5, 2009. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
^Stasi, Linda (June 3, 2004). "GORY DAYS – REAL POLICE REALLY RIVETING". New York Post. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
^Tucker, Ken (August 24, 2015). "'The First 48': Deviously Addictive True-Crime TV". Yahoo! News. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
^ ab"The First 48 Makes Millions Off Imprisoning Innocents". Miami New Times. January 16, 2014.
^› article1951671 "Miami police parts ways with popular 'First 48' cable show" Miami Herald
^"Lawyer questions police version of raid that killed girl". CNN. May 17, 2010.
^"Nightcap - A Different Kind of News". The33tv.com. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
^"Allison Howard, 'The First 48' Videographer, Pleads in Fatal Detroit Raid That Killed Aiyana-Stanley Jones". Huffingtonpost.com. June 21, 2013. Retrieved November 6, 2013.
^Paul Purpura (July 17, 2015). "Judge Ends The First 48 Debate". nola.com.
^Mike Scott (June 1, 2016). "New Orleans Ending Contracts with A&E's 'First 48' and 'Nightwatch'". NOLA.com.
^Ramon Antonio Vargas (November 7, 2020). "'Nightwatch' returning to New Orleans to film city's paramedics on the job". NOLA.com.
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The First 48 is an American documentary news magazine television series on A amp E filmed in various cities in the United States offering an insider s look at the real life world of homicide investigators While the series often follows the investigations to their end it usually focuses on their first 48 hours hence the title The First 48GenreDocumentaryNarrated byDion GrahamCountry of originUnited StatesOriginal languageEnglishNo of seasons22No of episodes465 list of episodes ProductionExecutive producersDavid Eilenberg Maija Norris Elaine Frontain Bryant Peter Tarshis Laura FleuryCamera setupMulti cameraRunning time42 minutesProduction companyITV EntertainmentReleaseOriginal networkA amp EPicture formatNTSC 2004 2006 HDTV 720p 1080i 2006 present Original releaseJune 3 2004 2004 06 03 present present ChronologyRelatedThe First 48 Missing Persons The Killer SpeaksEach episode picks one or more homicides in different cities covering each alternately showing how detectives use forensic evidence witness interviews and other advanced investigative techniques to identify suspects While most cases are solved within the first 48 hours some go on days weeks months or even years after the first 48 citation needed The series was nominated for a Distinguished Documentary Achievement Award in the Continuing Series category by the International Documentary Association eventually losing to PBS American Experience By season 6 The First 48 had become the highest rated non fiction justice series on television and has gained critical acclaim along with controversy 1 The season 8 episode Gone which aired on January 1 2009 garnered a domestic audience of 2 3 million viewers becoming the series most watched episode at the time 2 Contents 1 Title sequence 2 Episodes 3 Spin offs 4 Reception 5 Controversy 6 References 7 External linksTitle sequence EditUntil the 1st episode of the 12th season the opening title sequence featured the conceptual statement For homicide detectives the clock starts ticking the moment they are called Their chance of solving a murder is cut in half if they don t get a lead within the first 48 hours The original soundtrack opening title theme and dark ambient sound design for the overall program was composed by Chuck Hammer 2004 2006 Later composers included Brian and Justin Deming 2006 2008 and Paul Brill 2008 2018 who continued with a combination of dark ambient music integrated with sound design citation needed Episodes EditMain article List of The First 48 episodes SeasonEpisodesOriginally airedFirst airedLast aired113June 3 2004 2004 06 03 November 18 2004 2004 11 18 213January 6 2005 2005 01 06 August 11 2005 2005 08 11 312October 6 2005 2005 10 06 March 2 2006 2006 03 02 419June 15 2006 2006 06 15 December 28 2006 2006 12 28 524January 11 2007 2007 01 11 September 20 2007 2007 09 20 618October 11 2007 2007 10 11 April 10 2008 2008 04 10 718May 15 2008 2008 05 15 December 9 2008 2008 12 09 824January 1 2009 2009 01 01 September 15 2009 2009 09 15 924January 14 2010 2010 01 14 August 12 2010 2010 08 12 1023September 30 2010 2010 09 30 April 7 2011 2011 04 07 1120May 12 2011 2011 05 12 January 19 2012 2012 01 19 1223March 8 2012 2012 03 08 October 11 2012 2012 10 11 1317November 15 2012 2012 11 15 June 6 2013 2013 06 06 1416August 8 2013 2013 08 08 December 27 2013 2013 12 27 1523February 28 2014 2014 02 28 November 17 2014 2014 11 17 1614January 1 2015 2015 01 01 May 21 2015 2015 05 21 1730November 5 2015 2015 11 05 September 5 2016 2016 09 05 1822December 1 2016 2016 12 01 August 3 2017 2017 08 03 1928October 19 2017 2017 10 19 October 25 2018 2018 10 25 2017January 10 2019 2019 01 10 May 16 2019 2019 05 16 2154January 1 2020 2020 01 01 August 26 2021 2021 08 26 2223October 21 2021 2021 10 21 September 8 2022 2022 09 08 23TBANovember 3 2022 2022 11 03 TBASpin offs Edit After the First 48 title card The series has several follow up episodes entitled After the First 48 detailing the trials of those accused in previous episodes and the aftermath of victims survivors The First 48 Missing Persons follows the same story format as the original series The Killer Speaks depicts convicted felons as they describe their crimes through their first hand accounts Reception EditThe First 48 has received generally positive reviews from television critics Linda Stasi of New York Post called it Riveting 3 Ken Tucker of Yahoo News wrote Addictive 4 Controversy EditOn November 18 2009 21 year old Taiwan Smart of Miami was charged with two counts of second degree murder of his two roommates in Little Haiti 5 His story aired later as an episode titled Inside Job Evidence later established that police made important mistakes in their investigation Additionally The First 48 misrepresented a key witness statement on the program Smart was released in June 2011 and has since sued the city of Miami for false imprisonment The episode which originally aired on July 15 2010 continues to air without correction 5 In 2014 the city of Miami announced that it would not be renewing its contract with A amp E ending the filming of any future episodes of The First 48 there 6 On May 16 2010 7 year old Aiyana Jones of Detroit was shot and killed during a special weapons and tactics SWAT raid that was recorded by The First 48 cameras 7 Detroit SWAT units raided the duplex while searching for a homicide suspect On October 5 2011 prosecutors charged the Detroit police officer with the involuntary manslaughter of Jones Allison Howard an A amp E Television Network camera operator filming that night was charged with perjury and obstruction of justice after lying under oath 8 She pleaded no contest to obstruction of justice and was sentenced to two years of probation 9 On December 16 2015 Shawn Peterson pled guilty to manslaughter for the triple murder of his ex girlfriend Christine George her son Leonard and her daughter Trisa in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans Peterson s defense attorneys argued that producers from The First 48 withheld video evidence that could have exonerated their client A judge rejected the motion but conceded that the show did complicate the case 10 In 2016 the city of New Orleans announced that it would be ending its contract with A amp E ending any future productions of The First 48 or Nightwatch another A amp E show set in New Orleans 11 On November 6 2020 it was announced that filming for Nightwatch would resume filming in New Orleans after a three year hiatus but no such announcement was made for The First 48 12 References Edit Breaking News A amp E Real Life Series the First 48 amp Swat Return for Sixth and Third Seasons Respectively TheFutonCritic com June 27 2007 Retrieved November 6 2013 Breaking News A amp E Kicked Off the New Year with the Record Breaking Season Premiere of The First 48 TheFutonCritic com January 5 2009 Retrieved November 6 2013 Stasi Linda June 3 2004 GORY DAYS REAL POLICE REALLY RIVETING New York Post Retrieved October 20 2022 Tucker Ken August 24 2015 The First 48 Deviously Addictive True Crime TV Yahoo News Retrieved October 20 2022 a b The First 48 Makes Millions Off Imprisoning Innocents Miami New Times January 16 2014 article1951671 Miami police parts ways with popular First 48 cable show Miami Herald Lawyer questions police version of raid that killed girl CNN May 17 2010 Nightcap A Different Kind of News The33tv com Retrieved November 6 2013 Allison Howard The First 48 Videographer Pleads in Fatal Detroit Raid That Killed Aiyana Stanley Jones Huffingtonpost com June 21 2013 Retrieved November 6 2013 Paul Purpura July 17 2015 Judge Ends The First 48 Debate nola com Mike Scott June 1 2016 New Orleans Ending Contracts with A amp E s First 48 and Nightwatch NOLA com Ramon Antonio Vargas November 7 2020 Nightwatch returning to New Orleans to film city s paramedics on the job NOLA com External links EditOfficial website The First 48 at IMDb Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The First 48 amp oldid 1126745785, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
