"Chasing UFOs" on NatGeo

[tnjrp]

Couldn't find a thread on this new show from National Geographic Channel. Premier tomorrow, it looks like:
http://channel.nationalgeographic.co.../chasing-ufos/

I thought NatGeo is still a step up from Histrionics Channel. And maybe they are - I think you could make a sorta-proper show about UFOs - but the site doesn't exactly inspire confidence any more than that of, say Destination Truth. (Erin) Ryder is nice tho, might watch the show for that reason if it comes out in Finland - she's much much easier on the eyes than Ancient Aliens' Giorgio "The Centauri Ambassador" Tsoukalos for example

[PlutonianEmpire]

I know Twitter is planning an event with the show where users who tweet with the Hunting UFO's hashtag during a particular timeframe will get their tweets onto a planned reply message to the Wow! Signal.

[Ara Pacis]

At least NatGeo does real science programming on occasion.

[SkepticJ]

Their Is It Real? series fell very much on the side of skepticism.

I hope this isn't their Jumping the Shark moment--if one discounts the nauseating fact that they already air "reality TV"-style programming.

[Jim]

I saw a blurb about this on a local, small town TV news show. Afterward, the weatherman smiled and commented, "Of course, UFOs are real! They're Unidentified Flying Objects, until they become Identified. But, flying saucers? Aliens from space? I don't think so. Show me the proof."

I have new-found respect for small town weathermen. Well, one anyway.

[tnjrp]

for the weatherman.

The best the local newspeople have managed IIRC is a slanted smile when reporting the almost-invitable "summer UFO flap" (which hasn't AFAIK come this year yet, but it's usually in August anyway).

[Ara Pacis]

for the weatherman.

The best the local newspeople have managed IIRC is a slanted smile when reporting the almost-invitable "summer UFO flap" (which hasn't AFAIK come this year yet, but it's usually in August anyway).

People have been interested in real astronomical phenomenon to make stuff up.

[KaiYeves]

People have been too interested in real astronomical phenomenon to make stuff up.

I think that between the Dragon docking, the Chinese launch, the announcement that Voyager is near the edge of the solar system, and the Venus Transit, we've really had a stupendous time for space in the news, and it's something that makes me incredibly happy. I cut out clippings from USA Today and Washington Post Express to save.

[Ara Pacis]

I think that between the Dragon docking, the Chinese launch, the announcement that Voyager is near the edge of the solar system, and the Venus Transit, we've really had a stupendous time for space in the news, and it's something that makes me incredibly too happy. I cut out clippings from USA Today and Washington Post Express to save.

don't forget the eclipse in May.

[KaiYeves]

don't forget the eclipse in May.

Certainly! And just after I'd typed that previous post and gotten on the Metro to go visit a friend, I saw Friday's Express, which had a bit on the B612 Foundation's plan for an asteroid-watch telescope, and a bit about Seth McFarlane's gift of Carl Sagan's papers to the Library of Congress-- and that was on the celebrity page, of all places!

[Tobin Dax]

And for their next show:

"In the forests of Massachusetts, evidence has been found of a 300-year-old civilization of little people. Join us as we follow local expert Darby O'Gill in Chasing Leprechauns."

[KaiYeves]

And for their next show:

"In the forests of Massachusetts, evidence has been found of a 300-year-old civilization of little people. Join us as we follow local expert Darby O'Gill in Chasing Leprechauns."

The Disneyland TV show kind of did that back in 1959 with "I Captured the King of the Leprechauns". (And, according to a Disney history blog that I can't find at the moment, at least one boy watching the show-- the author of that blog-- actually did take it as fact.)

[Tobin Dax]

The Disneyland TV show kind of did that back in 1959 with "I Captured the King of the Leprechauns". (And, according to a Disney history blog that I can't find at the moment, at least one boy watching the show-- the author of that blog-- actually did take it as fact.)

Kai, I'm glad you got the reference. Though I wasn't aware of that TV show, and I could swear I've seen the movie in color.

[KaiYeves]

Kai, I'm glad you got the reference. Though I wasn't aware of that TV show, and I could swear I've seen the movie in color.

You forget that I'm a Disney History enthusiast.

[Tobin Dax]

You forget that I'm a Disney History enthusiast.

That I did. Thanks for that link, btw.

[tnjrp]

So, did anyone manage to actually look at the show last Friday? Was it any good?

[Van Rijn]

Kai, I'm glad you got the reference. Though I wasn't aware of that TV show, and I could swear I've seen the movie in color.

I don't remember the episode, and the reference didn't click, but I recognized a scene from this color movie:

Darby O'Gill and the Little People

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052722/

[Darmund]

Caught bits and pieces of this garbage, ranks right down at the scum caked bottom of the barrel with that Hunting/Finding Bigfoot show with that obese plumper who refuses to shut up about Squatchie this and Sqatchie that. [Language], I keep hoping I'll come upon an episode where he's making those retarded Squatchie calls and suddenly a grizzly leaps into camera frame, guts him and bites him in two.

National Geographic should be ashamed of themselves for being associated in ANY way with this garbage.

Sadly I get the feeling that in the next six months there is going to be a third of these types of shows, Finding The Loch Ness Monster.

[PlutonianEmpire]

Sheesh, you guys are such snobs.

[Tobin Dax]

I don't remember the episode, and the reference didn't click, but I recognized a scene from this color movie:

Darby O'Gill and the Little People

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0052722/

The movie reference popped into my head as I was writing the post. I figured it was worth having a little fun with.

[tnjrp]

Looks like the UFO buffs don't like Ryder half as much as I do:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/...gc-meet-ryder/

See the comment

[PlutonianEmpire]

Looks like the UFO buffs don't like Ryder half as much as I do:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/...gc-meet-ryder/

See the comment

It should be noted that recently, someone who went on a "reality" show (a house hunting show, IIRC), claimed that some "reality" shows are actually scripted, so it might be possible that Ryder's foul language might be scripted, although I do agree with the guy who made the comment, since if she really were a member of the mentioned UFO hunting organization, she should have rejected the offer, if the foul language really was scripted.

[tnjrp]

Next you are going to tell me that wrestling matches are scripted...

Anyhow, not sure if the self-declared MUFON rep really is implying that Ryder is claimed to be a MUFON rep herself or if he is just giving the (possibly unintented) impression that he is doing so.

All the same, it's odd that he didn't find any better ostensible reason to float in a commercial for MUFON than her "potty mouth". Presentation is important but given how great a find it would be to finally get the "smoking gun" for alien visitation (let's face it, this folk isn't treating the acronym UFO as just a short for "unidentified flying object" - more @ "unearthly flying object"), I wouldn't personally give a flying potty word if the gal/guy who brings it has Tourette's. Not that I expect this show to find the said gun, or indeed that it will ever be found in the form MUFON peeps most likely almost unanimously expect.

[NEOWatcher]

Looks like the UFO buffs don't like Ryder half as much as I do:
http://video.nationalgeographic.com/...gc-meet-ryder/

After watching that, it is very clear that they are going to sensationalize the show.

She is admittedly "easily spooked". Obviously a trait the producers were looking for.

The other thing that really bothers me about this video is the usage of "UFO".
Comments like "I believe UFO's exist" and "if it's not a UFO, then what is it?".
I think this indicates they are already trying to blur the language for "effect".

From another preview, they are promoting situations that seem to have nothing with seeing a UFO like Having trouble climbing a tree, seeing something spooky in the woods.

I also see incomplete experiments. For instance there's one called "fly-by or ufo?":
They want to see if formation flying can look like a single object. They do it in daylight, and then extend that to "imagine if it were night". Why can't they just do it?

Nope; not a show I will be watching.

And why do these commercials need a 30 second commercial?

[R.A.F.]

The other thing that really bothers me about this video is the usage of "UFO".
Comments like "I believe UFO's exist" and "if it's not a UFO, then what is it?".
I think this indicates they are already trying to blur the language for "effect".

It's the only "purpose" of the term UFO...to confuse people.

[Ara Pacis]

From another preview, they are promoting situations that seem to have nothing with seeing a UFO like Having trouble climbing a tree, seeing something spooky in the woods.

Obviously the "trouble" is due to the ufo's gravity drive and time distortion side-effects.

[KaiYeves]

I don't know if this is related, but having read some older NG-related material, I really dislike that they use the "NatGeo" term so much when the magazine and channel already had the much classier nickname "the Geographic".

[Ara Pacis]

I don't know if this is related, but having read some older NG-related material, I really dislike that they use the "NatGeo" term so much when the magazine and channel already had the much classier nickname "the Geographic".

Well, at least they only abbreviated it to NatGeo instead of N.Geo which is still a popular snowclone. Imagine if they had, and then they merged with the Biography Channel. BioN.geo was it's name, oh!

[NEOWatcher]

Well, at least they only abbreviated it to NatGeo instead of N.Geo which is still a popular snowclone. Imagine if they had, and then they merged with the Biography Channel. BioN.geo was it's name, oh!

Or worse... NatyGyo.

[Extravoice]

I stumbled across this show, and after watching just a few minutes of it, I am reconsidering my membership in the National Geographic Society.
I hope my dues aren't funding this trash.