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Animal Planet hits ratings record with mermaid documentary hoax

Mermaids: The New Evidence

Really, guys…really? On Sunday night, 3.6 million of you (well, maybe not you specifically) helped to break ratings records for Animal Planet by tuning in to watch a “documentary” about mermaids. On top of that, this is the second time that viewers have flocked to the network in droves to watch a documentary about mermaids that is advertised as real, when in reality; it is a complete and total hoax.

Sunday night’s “documentary” was actually a sequel to last year’s Mermaids: The Body Found, which was effortlessly proven to a complete farce. Mermaids: The New Evidence showed new video that has surfaced showing mermaids in the Greenland Sea. In addition, the special claims that there has been a government cover-up of evidence that proves the existence of mermaids, accompanied by a spin-off site that they say has been seized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.

Mermaids: The New Evidence title sceneHere is the deal, a quick search of the special on IMBD shows that the “mermaids” are actually hired actors. The documentary boasted an “exclusive interview” with a Dr. Paul Robertson from NOAA which is (SURPRISE) also completely fabricated. The character of Dr. Pail Robertson is played by actor Andre Weideman. Animal Planet can wave away all responsibility over leading their viewers astray with their claims of truth and discovery because they included a teeny-tiny disclaimer that the program was a work of science fiction in the closing credits.

I understand the appeal that a documentary on a mythical creature has, but in an amazing world containing about 2 million catalogued species, is this really what everyone is more interested in? I think if Animal Planet put as much effort into shows on the discovery, conservation and understanding of creatures that actually exist on this planet, then we could all better from it.

Coming up next week on Animal Planet, Centaurs: Half man, Half Horse…The Missing Link?


Details
Network:
- Animal Planet

Written by: harrisr
May 28th, 2013, 7:16 pm

Images courtesy of Animal Planet

Anonymous

Message Posted On Jan 5th, 2014, 9:11 am
I think there could be evidence about this, but then again this is all the government covering it up, anything that they can control they anything to stop the leaking out. That video of the tourist show there was something there and it was not a seal (absolutely not a seal)almost human like
Anonymous

Message Posted On Aug 16th, 2013, 4:06 am
do you even know who andre weiderman is? He plays in the movie bone snatchers, he doesnt look anything like dr. paul Robertson. why do you blindly trust imdb?
Fcundro

Message Posted On May 30th, 2013, 2:28 am
This is the same channel "Finding Bigfoot" is on correct? And yet you are still amazed that this show was fake...... Lol... who cares. These shows allow us to escape reality for a short while. What's wrong with that?
Anonymous

Message Posted On May 29th, 2013, 10:00 pm
It disgusts me to know that the animal planet would stoop so low to mislead the world just for ratings. I loved that channel and now I can't even turn it on anymore. I agree with the comment above. we teach our children not to lie, and they did exactly that by not being honest up front. I am no longer a loyal viewer of animal planet.
Anonymous

Message Posted On May 29th, 2013, 11:03 am
H0W SAD......WHAT ARE WE TEACHING OUR CHILDREN? WHAT ARE THEY TO BELIEVE? PERHAPS THAT IT IS ACCEPTABLE TO TELL TALL TALES AND PASS THEM ON AS REALITY? WE TEACH AND IMPLORE OUR CHILDREN NOT TO LIE....WELL EXPLAIN THIS DOCUMENTARY TO THEM...IT IS OKAY TO LIE AND FABRICATE AS LONG AS YOU DO NOT GET CAUGHT...OR...UNTIL YOU SEE THE SMALL PRINT!
Brianne

Message Posted On May 29th, 2013, 9:26 am
While I do hang my head at the fact that the Animal Planet is now following in the footsteps of the History Channel by adding aliens, bigfoot and mermaids to the lineup, I will point out that the vast majority of shows on the Animal Planet actually do focus on exploring the unique diversity of life on the planet. Most of the current shows especially, focus on endangered species and animals living in areas where human interference is actively damaging their ecosystem. My little brothers love the Most Extreme series which explores the unique connections between apparently different types of species. The mermaid documentary was obviously a hoax to anyone who saw it. If the occasional "fluff stuff" has to be put on the station in order to continue funds for the real documentaries, then it's just a necessary evil.
Anonymous

Message Posted On May 29th, 2013, 3:39 am
Thought there was something fishy about this
Anonymous

Message Posted On May 29th, 2013, 2:00 am
"if Animal Planet put as much effort into shows on the discovery, conservation and understanding of creatures that actually exist on this planet that we could all better from it." -------- If they did that then nobody would give a f***!
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