Many Viewers Angry with Animal Planet and the 'Mermaids: The New Evidence' hoax

Animal Planet logo prior to February 3, 2008. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you tuned into Animal Planets latest mermaid installation 'Mermaids: The New Evidence' then you know that it was presented in a documentary style format and was supposedly a follow up the original "mermaid" show that aired earlier on Animal Planet. If you missed the first show, the general premise was that there were "mermaids" in the oceans all over the world. The second installation presented their so called video and photographic evidence. Many watched, 3.6 million to be exact, only to discover later the whole show was a fraud, a hoax.

The shows writer/creator Chris Foley admitted that the show was presented in a realistic way so that people would at least consider there may be a possibility of some unknown creature in our vast oceans. Many watchers though, feel the show was misleading and believe that Animal Planet has lost a great deal of credibility as a direct result of this latest venture. There were some obvious clues that the show was lacking some authenticity as the guest scientist did have the “deer caught in the headlights” look on his face during the show.

The audience kept waiting for him to say something insightful and were no doubt dismayed to discover no such insights were forthcoming. There was some obvious computer work involved but then again, hindsight is 20/20 as they. The big question here is, now that we know that shows like Animal Planet will stoop low enough to mislead and fabricate “evidence” will this make it harder for those that are trying to argue on legitimate phenomena? Will the real backlash from this “creative stunt” be that those that have valuable evidence get thrown out with the bathwater now? Regardless of whether you believe in the existence of mermaids or not, there should be a very visible line between telling a good story and representing something falsely as “evidence.” When Animal Planet blurred that line, they blurred their authenticity and credibility as well.

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So where is Bigfoot anyway?

Image via Wikipedia

Gee this trap certainly does seem perfect for Bigfoot, I mean a creature that is as elusive as Bigfoot is will surely appreciate this lovely, inconspicuous abode? If Bigfoot manages to avoid having it's picture taken but by a precious few chosen ones, what makes anyone think it would be dumb enough to fall for this?

This map represents some of the reported Bigfoot locations, lighter areas indicate less darker indicate most reported sightings. It is interesting to note the stark contrast between California and Nevada. You would think Nevada being one state over would report similar numbers, however as seen here, Nevada is quite possibly one of the states with the fewest reported sightings.

Finding Bigfoot: Well, not yet...

Image via Wikipedia

Darn it I hate to keep bashing Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot, but geez, is it time for a new name? Like, Finding Bigfoot, Not. I have been watching the show, and as always hopeful that they run across anything that  even comes close to a Big foot, besides "Bobo."

The group leader, (Matt Moneymaker) thinks every noise he hears is a Big Foot and in the beginning, I was all about supporting his enthusiasm, regretfully that has since changed and now I am on the teams skeptic's side (Ranae Holland) more often than not. Thank goodness she is on the show because she may be the only voice of reason most of the time.  Sure the team finds a lot of eye witnesses, but let's face it, you can find an eye witness for almost anything. True?

So here's the big question I ask myself: Do I think Bigfoot exists? Well I have to look at things from my own perspective. Logic tells me no, there is no Big foot wandering in the vast regions of the world today. However, that being said, I am not 100 percent sure they never existed.

Image via Wikipedia

The Patterson footage has always been intriguing to me. The problem is, we have not seen compelling footage that comes close to that in many many years leading me to believe they may possibly be extinct now. I would like to see, because I am an open minded sort, perhaps the introduction of some more less than conventional sources brought on the show of Finding Bigfoot.

I'd like to see them bring in psychic mediums for an investigation. Why not? If they are already going to ask the viewing public to stretch their mind, abandon a certain level of rationale, why not go the extra mile and try some psychic input? I'd watch that episode for curiosities sake alone, wouldn't you?

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Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot: That Paranormal Blog's take on the show

Image via WikipediaTPB (That Paranormal Blog) has been watching this show (Finding Bigfoot) on and off for some time now in hopes that it would be cool, thought provoking and interesting. I have also secretly wished that there would be some new light shed on this legend of Bigfoot. So far what I have seen is nada.

First and foremost some of the "investigators"  look more like Big foot than anything I have seen them turn up in the woods on the show. I am not going to call any names but I think you all know if you have watched the show.

We at TPB are  hopeful skeptics, however, there is another "investigator" that thinks every thing he see's is evidence of Sasquatch existence and that drains the show of any real credibility in TPB's opinion.

Here's some thoughts, bring in Psychics. Yeah I said it so? Hey, they aren't really getting anywhere relevant on their own are they? Why not utilize a wide variety of skills and tools available? Even if you never catch a real live Sasquatch on film, it would improve the shows entertainment value to see some interesting input. Tell that big hairy guy with the weird hat to clean up a little? Right now he is the scariest thing I have seen on the show and something tells me even a female Sasquatch would run from him. Ok that's my two cents, discuss...

Finding Big Foot

Image via Wikipedia If you are like the members of That Paranormal Blog then you no doubt have seen the latest show on cable TV’s Animal Planet called Finding Big Foot. I have to say as a Paranormal enthusiast, that so far I have been , well a little under whelmed? Is it me, or is it just another wild goose chase that leads no where? I mean I want to see something definitive like the rest of the world, and if I see one more fuzzy, out of focus could be anything something walking amid the brush “thing”, I’m going to go crazy.

These shows take you through woods and folklore and little else and unlike some shows that actually offer up some sort of evidence I am left discouraged with Finding Big Foot. I do however, give kudos to Celebrity Ghost Stories, I find these shows fascinating and while some may seem a stretch others make for a great story if nothing else.

 I’d like to give kudos to the show Fact or Faked as well for putting the effort into proving and disproving the stories that are circulating in the news and elsewhere. Sometimes I am a little mystified at their “debunking” techniques, but hey, I lost my ability to be “wowed” by debunking techniques from watching Ghost Hunters who are a little too quick to say something is not legitimate.

Well like everyone else I am going to be patient and keep watching, since the show Finding Bigfoot is a newbie. I will hang in there and maybe you should too,,

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