The First 48

The First 48
Genre
Narrated byDion Graham
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons23
No. of episodes465 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • David Eilenberg
  • Wendy Greene
  • Elaine Frontain Bryant
  • Peter Tarshis
  • Laura Fleury
Camera setupMulti-camera
Running time42 minutes
Production companiesITV Entertainment
Trifecta Entertainment & Media (syndication)
Original release
NetworkA&E
ReleaseJune 3, 2004 (2004-06-03) –
present
Related
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

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, look outs, 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. By season 6, The First 48 had become the highest-rated non-fiction justice series on television and had 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] In Season 4, the series began producing and airing episodes in high definition.

  1. ^ "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.
  2. ^ "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.