MovieChat Forums > Forensic Files (1996) Discussion > An Ep Without Peter Thomas' Narration

An Ep Without Peter Thomas' Narration

posted 8 years ago by bestactor_12
18 replies | jump to latest

HI. I just saw the episode of FF about the murder of Bobby Kent. My cable provider wouldn't tell me what episode name was or when it was made, but there was one striking difference about this episode: it lacked Peter Thomas' narration. The man narrating this episode did have a similar voice to Thomas, but this guy's voice was more high pitched and sounded much younger. It was hard to watch the episode because of this. To me, it sounded like a cheap sounding show without him in it. The replacement narrator just didn't emphasize certain syllables or words like Thomas.

Are there any other episodes without a Peter Thomas narration? How come he was absent in the one mentioned above?

[–] carlosarnold 8 years ago

Ugh, I saw that too. On DirecTV, it was listed as being from 2016 and titled "Payback," although the description of the episode was totally wrong. The credits listed the narrator as Peter Dean. According to Wikipedia, Dean is in his mid 70s. I had several problems with this episode--no Peter Thomas--I know we are spoiled and used to hearing his wonderful voice, but this other guy was was awful. Just bland and boring, seemed like he was speed reading at times and not emphasizing anything. Also, the show was an hour long instead of 30 minutes, and it really suffered for being so drawn out. It seemed like they focused less on forensics and more on the shock value of the murder, which waters it down and makes it seem just like a thousand other crime shows on these days.

Now all that said, I don't know if the episode was actually "new" or not. Most of the interviews did not look that recent. I know Peter Thomas is almost 92 and can't go on narrating forever, but if they did decide to make new episodes without him, this new guy is dreadful.

[–] carlosarnold 8 years ago

Okay, on the Forensic Files website, Paul Dowling has confirmed that there are three episodes without Peter. The one that aired last night was one of them. He gave the year as being 2000, when Forensic Files switched networks, and Peter Thomas was only able to work for one network. Three new episodes were made during this overlap.

[–] scorpiointhesun 8 years ago

"Buddhist Monks Murders" is an episode in watching now. No Peter Thomas. Feels weird.

[–] BooksandCheese 8 years ago

omg I haven't even read the message boards but my husband turned on 23 for me and I said wtf I cant watvh this where is Peter Thomas!!! I cant fall asleep without his voice! is he ok? Guess I should read the boards.

[–] renee-drake 8 years ago

OMG! I can't believe you need his voice to sleep too! I've been doing this for years and my husband can't stand it. Because the news comes on at 3am for us, it really ruins. Y sleep, and now I automatically wake up just before 3 to go to another forensics channel.

[–] BooksandCheese 8 years ago

I know right? Here he is talking about rape and murder but in this silky soothing voice that lulls me to sleep.

[–] Don-the-Lamplighter 8 years ago

Sadly, he passed away on April 30, 2016, a little less than 2 months after you made your post.

[–] Inessence4 7 years ago

Sadness. May he R.I.P.

[–] Inessence4 8 years ago

His voice lulls me to sleep at night too! I know he's into his 90's now but not sure if he's still working on the show.

[–] Rina9999 8 years ago

Ha, I recently watched the Bobby Kent episode as well, and was really bothered by the lack of Peter Thomas!

[–] cymonroe 8 years ago

I'm so glad so many others have submitted their opinion about the
Peter-less episodes of Forensic Files! If ever there should be a need
to replace the most effective storyteller ever, PLEASE find a clone!!!

[–] crackingup 8 years ago

HLN showed two 1-hour FF eps without Peter Thomas today and I must agree that those eps are weird. They also reaffirmed my opinion that Peter Thomas is irreplaceable.

[–] SteveDiPerna 8 years ago

OH MY GOD I FEEL THE SAME WAY!! Every day I fear that I'm going to read the news and see that something happened to Peter Thomas. The man is a national treasure.

[–] canadazbest 8 years ago

may I ask why you use Michael Jacksons' picture?

due to gov't cutbacks, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off.

[–] PutTheGlassesOn 8 years ago

LOL! This is my all time favorite series of posts on any board! Lol. And I completely agree with everyone's comments and support of Peter Thomas. In fact, I just looked him up online earlier tonight and learned his age, as well as some other neat info about the show. The only thing I must add is that while he certainly has a perfect voice for narration, it always sounds a little bit like he is, shall we say "stimulated" by some of the more graphic things he talks about.

For example, he'll say, "But it was only after Tina Johnson's husband came home that the woman's NUUUUUDE body was discovered (excited inhale)BRUISED AND (excited exhale) BLOODIED"...

You can almost picture him hovering over his podium, sweating and shaking as he reads off the script. LOL. I'm not saying he really enjoys when people are hurt, but the way he talks in such an "excited" manner at particularly awful details is almost comically over the top.

Again, I'm sure he is a great guy and is certainly talented. But it's just something I've noticed that he does.

[–] abartolotti 8 years ago

I just read that Peter Thomas passed away on April 30, 2016. He was 91. I will miss him!

[–] Manna-Fest 8 years ago

Okay can some one here give me a CLIP of these non-Peter Thomas episodes? I'm trying to find them online but can't. I want to see how these replacements sound!