Reviving Justice: "America's Most Wanted" Returns

One of the most iconic shows in the history of television is making a comeback with its original host at the helm. 

That’s right. “America’s Most Wanted” is back. 

“America’s Most Wanted” trailer, Fox 2024.

Premiering Monday, Jan. 22 on Fox, "America’s Most Wanted" (AMW) returns as John Walsh, anti-crime activist and creator of the program, is back to host alongside his son, Callahan Walsh.

Each week, John and Callahan will analyze some of the nation’s most captivating crime cases, utilizing viewers’ leads and information with the goal to help chase down and capture criminals. 

“I’m thrilled to be back at 'AMW' and continue with the show that helped bring justice to so many,” John Walsh told NCMEC. “This show truly is a continuation of my lifelong mission and I hope that, with this reboot, we are able to reach a whole new generation of viewers and bring justice to families who are out there desperately waiting for answers.”

"America’s Most Wanted" will also aim to help find more missing kids, working directly with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC).

“Partnering with NCMEC is so vital to the return of ‘America’s Most Wanted,’ said Callahan Walsh, who is also the executive director of NCMEC’s Florida office. “By featuring these cases on the show, we’re putting these missing children in front of a national audience and asking viewers all over the world to help us look for them. It’s going to be such a powerful tool to help bring kids home.” 

Throughout its original run, "AMW" assisted in the recovery of dozens of missing children. Monday’s premiere episode will feature the story of Luis and Kahmila Ramirez. The 5-year-old boy and his 6-month-old sister were abducted from an Arizona park in 2018. You can read more about their case in this blog: Couple on the Run: Brother and Sister in Danger.

"AMW" originally premiered in February 1988 with John Walsh as host and had a successful 24-season run, assisting in the capture of more than 1,190 criminals. The loyal "AMW" audience was integral to the show’s success, and it was one of the longest-run programs on Fox when the show was canceled in 2011. In 2020, the network revived the show with Elizabeth Vargas as the host. 

In December, Fox announced that the show would premiere a new season with its original host. “John Walsh is a singular voice in a life-long crusade to bring justice to victims and their families,” said Allison Wallach, Fox’s president of unscripted programming, Fox Entertainment, in a statement. “It’s an honor to have ‘America’s Most Wanted’ and John, along with Callahan, return to his original home at Fox, to continue this important work by empowering viewers to help capture some of the country’s most dangerous fugitives.”  

Tune in to “America’s Most Wanted” when it returns Monday, Jan. 22 at 8 p.m. ET on Fox and streams next day on Hulu.