America’s Most Wanted, was one of the most famous unscripted crime series on television. The show ran for 24 years, from 1988 to 2012. America’s Most Wanted was a show about profiling criminals and attempting to catch them, with the help of its viewers. The show had a dedicated hotline as well, for the viewers to call and report on the criminals that were profiled in the episodes. John Walsh was the presenter and host of America’s Most Wanted.
America’s Most Wanted first premiered on Fox in 1988. It continued to do so until 2011, when Fox canceled the show after a run of 25 seasons. It was the longest airing television program in the network’s history at that point, a record which is now held by The Simpsons. After its cancellation by Fox in 2011, Lifetime picked up America’s Most Wanted and ordered another season. The Lifetime run, however, lasted only for a season, and the show finally came to an end in 2012.
A spin-off version of the show called The Hunt with John Walsh, aired on CNN from July 2014 to November 2017, spanning a run of four seasons.
The revival of America’s Most Wanted
America’s Most Wanted has gained a huge amount of fans ever since it first aired in 1988. As the show continued to grow in viewership and fame, it broadened its horizon, focusing on criminals not only in America but internationally as well. After the show ended in 2012, its presenter John Walsh continued with a similar show, called The Hunt with John Walsh. This show ran for four seasons, from 2014 till 2017.
Now, after eight years since America’s Most Wanted ended, Fox is looking to revive the show. The news was first reported in January 2020. The show aims to go global this time, as told by Fox Alternative Rob Wade.
“It is America’s Most Wanted but with the help of our producer and Interpol we are now able to work outside of the U.S. because a lot of the fugitives these days travel; you need to be able to have a global reach to find fugitives.”
Fox is currently looking for a new host for the show. No official release date for the revived version of America’s Most Wanted has been announced as of now.