Is It Real?
Posted by: Loren Coleman on July 4th, 2007
This is a casual moment of a couple caged Almas in a behind-the-scenes photograph from “Russian Bigfoot.”
Tired of going outside and fighting the biting insects to wait two hours until your town sets off fifteen minutes of fireworks? Well, you can stay at home tonight and enjoy some thought-provoking cryptotelevision. Or maybe even do both?
The Anomalist alerts us to this:
Programming note: The National Geographic Channel starts its “Is It Real?” series today [July 4, 2007]… Each hour-long episode addresses a different topic.
The repeat showing of the following episodes include cryptozoological themes. The list is given with Eastern Time:
July 4, 2007
5P Is it Real?
Chupacabra[s] [TV-PG]
6P Is it Real?
Russian Bigfoot [TV-G]
7P Is it Real?
Bigfoot [TV-G]
Then on Thursday, July 5, 2007
2A Is it Real?
Bigfoot [TV-G]
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
“It ISN’T Real!” would be a more appropriate title for this sceptical show. That seems to be the foregone conclusion every time! 😀
It’s interesting that some complain that the “Is It Real?” series is too skeptical. This is, after all, one of the more reputable TV channels. While the Learning Channel and Discovery Channel (not to mentionCourtTV) have scads of gullible programming about cryptozoological topics, National Geographic takes a more scientific approach.
Just as in real life, the more scientific the approach, the more likely it is to question the evidence for cryptids.
On the contrary, it is not the whole show itself, but the fact that the tone of the entire program is negative from the git-go…the announcer definitely has that snotty, sarcastic edge to his voice and pushes the notion that it’s all chicanery and gull-ibles.
As for the science, practice what you preach and give the opposing side its air time on the program that you seem to have so much invested in, Ben.
Just because it’s National Geographic Channel does not make it right, or God, or even unbiased…puh-lease…sheesh
Benjamin, it’s not that NG is too skeptical, but will play up the view that it’s real, then slap you with the laughable “If you believe in this, your an idiot” take on it. I prefer a skeptic’s view, but don’t try to make me appear gullible and simple for my thoughts on a subject. That’s what I don’t like about that show. I’ve gotten to where if I see it’s about to come on, I turn the channel for that “simple” reason. No one likes to be belittled for their views.
Not a fan of “Is it Real” for all the reasons stated above. As I’ve said before, the answer to every episode of “Is It Real” is always “No It Isn’t.” This answer seems to be determined before the show is even written…