JamesG
05-28-2013, 07:01 PM
Mermaid Hoax Drowns Animal Planet's Ratings Record
by James Hibberd
May 28 2013
The most-watched telecast in Animal Planet’s history is about mermaids.
Sunday’s “documentary” Mermaids: The New Evidence delivered 3.6 million viewers, shattering the network’s ratings record. Yup, even bigger than the Puppy Bowl. The program is not only a hoax, but a sequel to a hoax (to last year’s rather easily debunked Mermaids: The Body Found).
Let’s take a moment to appreciate this. Animal Planet is 17 years old. The channel is dedicated to series and specials about the natural world. And the most-watched program in its history is about a non-existent creature — not even a remotely believable non-existent creature!
There’s about 2 million cataloged species on the planet, and what breaks through? Mermaids. Then again, maybe it’s not so surprising — the network’s previous record holder was Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real.
“The phenomenon of Mermaids has truly been a watershed – and a watercooler – moment for Animal Planet,” said Animal Planet president Marjorie Kaplan, presumably with some degree of reluctance. “These extraordinary television specials have electrified, challenged and entertained television audiences and online fans alike.”
The straight-faced Mermaids specials basically play like Alien Autopsy for a new generation (though at least the infamous Fox special had “Fact or Fiction?” as a subtitle). Both showed purported video of mermaids in the Greenland Sea, with actors playing scientists (credits). The original apparently even had a scene with a mermaid giving birth and some viewers bought it.
Animal Planet’s press release touting the new ratings continued the game, referring to the special’s “exclusive interview with Dr. Paul Robertson, former NOAA scientist” (he’s played by actor Andre Weideman, according to IMDB).
As the real National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration put it after the first special was released last year: “No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found.”
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/05/28/mermaids-animal-planet-ratings/
by James Hibberd
May 28 2013
The most-watched telecast in Animal Planet’s history is about mermaids.
Sunday’s “documentary” Mermaids: The New Evidence delivered 3.6 million viewers, shattering the network’s ratings record. Yup, even bigger than the Puppy Bowl. The program is not only a hoax, but a sequel to a hoax (to last year’s rather easily debunked Mermaids: The Body Found).
Let’s take a moment to appreciate this. Animal Planet is 17 years old. The channel is dedicated to series and specials about the natural world. And the most-watched program in its history is about a non-existent creature — not even a remotely believable non-existent creature!
There’s about 2 million cataloged species on the planet, and what breaks through? Mermaids. Then again, maybe it’s not so surprising — the network’s previous record holder was Dragons: A Fantasy Made Real.
“The phenomenon of Mermaids has truly been a watershed – and a watercooler – moment for Animal Planet,” said Animal Planet president Marjorie Kaplan, presumably with some degree of reluctance. “These extraordinary television specials have electrified, challenged and entertained television audiences and online fans alike.”
The straight-faced Mermaids specials basically play like Alien Autopsy for a new generation (though at least the infamous Fox special had “Fact or Fiction?” as a subtitle). Both showed purported video of mermaids in the Greenland Sea, with actors playing scientists (credits). The original apparently even had a scene with a mermaid giving birth and some viewers bought it.
Animal Planet’s press release touting the new ratings continued the game, referring to the special’s “exclusive interview with Dr. Paul Robertson, former NOAA scientist” (he’s played by actor Andre Weideman, according to IMDB).
As the real National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration put it after the first special was released last year: “No evidence of aquatic humanoids has ever been found.”
http://insidetv.ew.com/2013/05/28/mermaids-animal-planet-ratings/