Re: TV Skeptic: 'Mermaids: The Body Found' clouds the waters

I always wanted to be a mermaid.

On May 29, 5:19 pm, nominal9-Bomb-Throwin-Anarchist
<nomin...@yahoo.com> wrote:
> First the Birthers... then the Transcripters.....Are the Obama is a Mermaid
> Right-Wingers far behind?.....Phillipines... Hawaii.....Obama has to be
> near Water...must be something to it...
>
> http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/05/tv-skeptic-mermai...
>  May 29, 2012 |  1:10 pm
>     [image: increase text size]
> <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/05/tv-skeptic-mermai...> [image:
> decrease text size]
> <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/05/tv-skeptic-mermai...>
>    <http://twitter.com/share?url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtrac...>
> 5
>    <http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/05/tv-skeptic-mermai...>
> 3
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> [image: Mermaids: The Body Found]<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/.a/6a00d8341c630a53ef016766cbd6c9970b-pi>
> "Mermaids: The Body Found," which aired over the weekend as part of Animal
> Planet's "Monster Week," revealed a true TV abomination. An unnatural
> hybrid that was as disturbing as it was gruesome. A freak whose very
> existence threatens us all.
>
> I don't mean the creature featured in this new TV special. It's the TV show
> itself.
>
> "Mermaids," which will air again June 17, is fiction. It's a fake TV
> documentary. You may have to look hard to see the disclaimer, but the
> producers and Animal Planet make it clear that this program is totally and
> completely made up.
>
> At least they almost make it clear. They don't exactly make a distinction
> between what is real and what is faked, and they really don't seem to care.
>
> As a fake documentary, one might hope that "Mermaids" would follow in the
> tradition of some of the great "mockumentaries" of film and television.
> ("This is Spinal Tap"; "Zelig"; "The Rutles" and numerous "Monty Python"
> skits).
>
> But "Mermaids" doesn't mock anything. Instead, the joke is on us.
>
> The slick program uses a documentary style to tell a fictional
> crypto-zoological tale of earnest, young and attractive scientists who are
> investigating whale and dolphin beachings. In so doing, they discover clues
> of the existence of an intelligent primate species — related to humans —
> that has evolved to adapt to an aquatic life, just as dolphin and whale
> ancestors did millions of years ago.
>
> U.S. Navy experiments with sonar are blamed for the massive whale beachings
> around the world. The scientists soon realize that the Navy is covering up
> the discovery of strange creatures whose bodies are also damaged by the
> powerful sonar device.
>
> With fake news broadcasts; fake amateur video and fake expert interviews,
> the story lays out a fake conspiracy worthy of the "X-Files." Here, the
> Navy is so determined to develop their sonar technology that they're
> prepared to drive to extinction an intelligent species related to humans.
> (Wouldn't the Navy be more likely to try to weaponize such a discovery, as
> in "Day of the Dolphin"?)
>
> As the scientists investigate  the whale beachings and put the puzzle
> together piece by piece they seem to remain one step behind the Navy's
> massive cover-up. Until they get their big break: fake video from a camera
> phone.
>
> Just as Bigfoot is often given supernatural and noble attributes in popular
> culture, "Mermaids" embodies the new species with intelligence, altruism
> and compassion. These mermaids make tools. They're pals with dolphins, with
> whom they often hunt or play together in the surf. They also hunt great
> white sharks.
>
> It's remarkable how well this fake documentary mimics actual programs
> claiming to reveal actual creatures. Substitute Mermaids for Bigfoot,
> Chupacabra, the Loch Ness monster, ghosts and aliens and it's hard to make
> a distinction between what's real but faked, and what's really fake.
>
> While this production won't fool many skeptics (at least I hope not), I can
> only imagine that the same audiences that lap up shows about Bigfoot,
> ghosts, psychics, etc. will miss the disclaimers and buy into this one too.
> Mermaids could be the new Nessy.
>
> * RELATED: *
>
> TV Skeptic: 'Bigfoot: The Definitive Guide' - latimes.com<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/02/tv-skeptic-bigfoo...>
>
> TV Skeptic: 'Ghost Hunters' goes to the dogs - latimes.com<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2011/03/tv-skeptic-ghost-...>
>
> TV Skeptic: A 'balanced' discussion of UFOs on 'Anderson' - latimes.com<http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2012/04/tv-skeptic-a-bala...>
>
> -- Ed Stockly

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