I'm beginning to see why AETV canceled "The First 48: Missing Persons" after only two seasons. In this episode, like episode 3...
1. The missing persons had sketchy backgrounds:
* The old man's gun was missing, too, and he had tried to borrow a large amount of money
* The young girl hangs with a gang member
2. Detectives hype up bad possibilities during the investigation;
3. The result of the case is mundane;
4. Viewers don't get to see the actual "find" of the missing person;
5. Inevitably, viewers are let down.
According to this episode, Chicago has 17,000 missing-person cases each year. AETV faces a rather daunting task to decide which of those cases, if filmed, would produce the most interest for viewers.
Two notes...
1. In every episode so far, detectives search the missing person's residence for clues, apparently without the need for a warrant. May seem logical, but 1) in comparison to homicide reality shows, where a warrant is always required, it feels unusual, and 2) the missing-persons detectives often uncover the sketchy background information during the search.
2. As I watch these episodes, I frequently think, "Missing-persons detectives have a rather tedious job". However, when I see the family members thank and hug Detective Riley after their relative was found, it's very heartwarming, and I realize that these detectives have huge significance.
1. The missing persons had sketchy backgrounds:
* The old man's gun was missing, too, and he had tried to borrow a large amount of money
* The young girl hangs with a gang member
2. Detectives hype up bad possibilities during the investigation;
3. The result of the case is mundane;
4. Viewers don't get to see the actual "find" of the missing person;
5. Inevitably, viewers are let down.
According to this episode, Chicago has 17,000 missing-person cases each year. AETV faces a rather daunting task to decide which of those cases, if filmed, would produce the most interest for viewers.
Two notes...
1. In every episode so far, detectives search the missing person's residence for clues, apparently without the need for a warrant. May seem logical, but 1) in comparison to homicide reality shows, where a warrant is always required, it feels unusual, and 2) the missing-persons detectives often uncover the sketchy background information during the search.
2. As I watch these episodes, I frequently think, "Missing-persons detectives have a rather tedious job". However, when I see the family members thank and hug Detective Riley after their relative was found, it's very heartwarming, and I realize that these detectives have huge significance.