The Ropen segment featured some kind of glowing object moving slowly through the sky, that the U.S. technical analysis was unable to identify as anything they had seen before. The Ropen was associated with these lights by the local people. Whether or not it is a flying pterosaur, it seems to be a phenomenon worth a further look.

The Chupacabra segment resulted in three hairs being sent to a lab for DNA analysis. Two were determined to be human. But one hair could not be matched to any mammalian source. And what other than a mammal has hair? Again, something worth a further look, aside from the Hollywood hoopla.

Maybe the host-abandonment scene is what they’re going for, and he just hasn’t been enough of a jerk yet. Reality doesn’t always deliver what the producer’s going for.

You’d think that the real ratings boon in crypto would be to have real cryptos who know what they’re doing run the shows, and not excessively-groomed network scoff tools.

But that may be just me.

Here’s a clue, pal- be gracious to your hosts, lest they leave you in those bat-infested caves to your most-deserved fate…

As for Sci-Fi programming in general, yeah, most of their original movies would make Ed Wood cringe, but I very much enjoy “Ghosthunters” and find the TAPS guys to be very sensible, down-to-earth fellows (Well, except Brian, he’s their Shaggy), and I found “Proof Positive” to be the best of their other paranormal fare, even if it sometimes gave negatives where they were clearly inconclusives, or even quite suggestives.

I know it had it’s flaws too, but why can’t anyone match the quality of the late, great “In Search Of” series? Or better yet, what about “Secrets & Mysteries”, anyone remember that? Sure, the show was gimmicky in it’s format, but the information was good, at least…and I still want a room like that in my house!

I read on the Destination Truth website that the host Josh got degrees at Tufts, get this…in archaeology and DRAMA…weird combo. I bet he was mainly a drama student that took a couple intro classes in anthropology or archaeology.

As I am myself an archaeologist and anthropologist, the main thing that bothers me about his so-called archaeology background is his lack of cultural sensitivity and respect to his local hosts. His arrogance is not only terrible, as an archaeologist (which is a subset of anthropology in the U.S.), he was trained to know and behave better. Shame on him.

As was stated earlier, these shows aren’t about solving the mystery, they aren’t about educating the viewer about the subject matter. It’s about entertainment.

To tell the truth, the show falls short on many levels. However, I find it much more entertaining than say, American Idol for instance. I wouldn’t give up LOST to watch it, but keep it in a time slot that doesn’t interfere with one of the too few shows on that are worth watching, and I’ll tune in.

I think they should have an attractive woman as the host, but then I think that about most shows.

What if the serious researchers got together and proposed a show to sci-fi?

Sure, have their Josh Gates or whomever, but get sci-fi (IF they have the money) to fund some serious research at a season’s worth of sites, or half a season’s worth,….

OK, OK, it isn’t my idea. But sschaper’s is the kind of idea you wonder why you (or at least someone in cable TV) haven’t had yet.

Why let all these shows run by, well, the people who have been running them, who know as much crypto as I do knitting, continue?

I’d think that, with all the internecine strife, surely some amateur researchers would be able to come together enough to give this a go.

Am I right…? Sounds like ka-ching to me. And the field could use some ka-ching.

Apart from that. . . .

What if the serious researchers got together and proposed a show to sci-fi?

Sure, have their Josh Gates or whomever, but get sci-fi (IF they have the money) to fund some serious research at a season’s worth of sites, or half a season’s worth, let you real researchers go to work. Maybe visit at the beginning with the host and film crew to set it up, and at the end, to look at the results. That way they can have the kind of people they believe draw ratings, but have some real research going on.

It would take some work, but, why not give it a try? You can alway pitch it to other networks if Sci-fi doesn’t want it.