Plot Synopsis

48 HOURS began as the documentary 48 HOURS ON CRACK STREET in 1986. It became a series in 1988 with the show built around a team of correspondents covering one subject for 48 consecutive hours. It became 48 HOURS INVESTIGATES in 2002, airing once or twice per week. Starting in May 2003, the program aired twice -- once under a new title, 48 HOURS MYSTERY, and a second time using its existing title, 48 HOURS INVESTIGATES. In September 2004, for the show's 17th season, the series started to air exclusively as 48 HOURS MYSTERY, and continued with the title through the end of the 2011-2012 season. Now simply titled 48 HOURS for the 2012-2013 season, the show is the third longest running primetime series on television.