Well, I have to say that it’s gratifying that, after the very pointed observations many people made about the show, that the very same people were gracious with me personally when I took the liberty to add my own comments.

I’d like to add my feeling from the show itself, the producers, etc., that we’re all still feeling our way through this. I would be the last person to say that “we nailed it!” But I also think the direction of the show was to make it fall somewhere between sheer entertainment on the one hand and straightforward “In Search Of …” type documentary series on the other.

Admittedly, when I agreed to do the show, I was thinking “In Search Of ..” When I learned it wasn’t going to be that type of show, I did have some initial trepedation. Not that a UFO writer has ANY sort of reputation mind you but what I wondered whether doing this show would affect whatever “reputation” I may have had with some people.

The thing is, I’ve come to greatly respect the producers of the show, as well my fellow hosts/investigators. Including Rob Mariano. For me, the greatest mystery of all is how Rob and I became friends during this. We are so different, and yet developed a strong mutual respect and friendship. Life is strange, sometimes.

As to why Rob is on the show, I can say this. When I first met him, he and I did NOT get along. I wondered the same thing: why is this guy here? After working with him, I think I understand why. Rob first of all was the only one of the four of us who had significant tv experience — moreover, his personality, like it or not, gives him a very strong tv presence, which is what Sci Fi execs want. He’s the kind of guy that “regular dudes” are most likely to identify with, and that’s also a segment Sci Fi wants to reach.

Regarding Bill Doleman, btw, the man is a genuine intellectual who happens to like goofing around sometimes. I think Bill quickly learned — quicker than I did — that the show is trying to reach a broad audience, which includes a bit of fun mixed into things. Personally, I thought his calls and woops were pretty fun tv, although I wasn’t crazy about the Bigfoot woops he faked when we started our hike. Moreover, I’m sure he would admit that from an investigative point of view, the calls were quite, shall we say, unnecessary! Regarding strange and allegedly paranormal phenomena, Bill was a big enough man to move from an initial stance of — let’s say — scientific skeptic, to one far more open-minded to the complexities and difficulties of some of these topics. As someone who also spent many years in a serious academic environment, I fully understand the cultural constraints and conditioning placed on academicians and professional scientists when looking into these matters, and Bill took some serious steps toward acknowledging new perspectives.

One last thing about Sci Fi programming. I am on good terms with a couple of the executives there. There is no question in my mind that they are genuinely committed to exploring disputed mysteries with an open mind. No question at all. But I also think they see certain constraints on how they approach this, and ultimately everything for them comes down to one thing: ratings.

I too am not especially fond of reality shows. But like it or not, this is what TV executives EVERYWHERE see as the Present and the near term Future.

Within that format, as many people pointed out, there is room for improvement in conducting the actual investigations. Believe me, I agree with this, and if the show gets picked up for future episodes (which yes I realize some of you fervently wish does not happen!), I can say that I and others will be trying constantly to make the show as good as possible.

Okay, I guess that’s about it. Wishing you all the best — and btw Loren, I did NOT know that Sci Fi explored having you on, and do wish arrangements had been made to ensure your participation.

sincerely,
Rich Dolan

With the money spent on this lame show and the other cheesy movies, they could actually accomplish a real investigation. I keep hoping, at some point, the networks are going to step up to the plate and provide quality programming. However, the trend apears to be higher ad prices and lower quality shows. Hence we have this cascade of faux-reality shows. Anyone here ever try to purchase ad space? Do you have any idea the amount of money involved in even the cheesiest of these projects?

I find it highly disturbing that honest, genuine folk like Mr. Coleman are having financial difficulties, while some half-wits, who care nothing one way or the other for the subject, sit back and make a profit. We can only hope that The Mothman Curse holds true for “Sci-Fi Investigates!” (for the show not the folks involved).

Anyone want to create a documentary on searching for the thylacine?

Forgive me for the die-hard thylacine-addicted commentaries - but you’ve got a better chance of finding a once common species, you’ve got hundreds of sightings reports, you’ve got key players, you’ve got political allegations.

Carnivorous Nights touched it recently in book form.

The first episode on voodoo was way too subjective to start the season. And the bigfoot episode was way too “unserious” to care about, and the mothman stuff–while interesting, it is way too off the highway to go down with the way they are “attempting” to investigate things.

I am so down on the show because I was hoping for so much better, and it frustrates me when the shows that are supposedly objective and supposedly honestly investigating this stuff comes off as inept and unprofessional. The cryptozoology field has enough hurdles to get over without having to overcome television programs which shoot the entire science in the proverbial foot.

You’ve got one, maybe two more episodes to turn it around. But I am not holding my breath.

As an educator who lectures large groups of people on a regular basis, I’ve found that there are a few handy rules that guarantee the interest and positive respond of your audience-

1) never assume that your audience is familiar with what you are talking about.

2) never assume that your audience are idiots. Treat them like intelligent human beings, and they will usually respond in kind, particularly if they are children.

3) A recitation of cold facts is about as exciting and memorable as someone’s shopping list. People will remember what you say if you tell them stories about it or speak in an amusing, light-hearted, or personally direct manner.

I wish TV show producers, particularly those involved in investigation-style docu-dramas, would follow them. I think we’d all be better off.

As usual Cryptomundo has offered a fair and balanced view of the story.

I also think its shortsighted from a business/financial perspective. As I commented on the other thread, some of these topics are so dense that multiple episodes could be produced about a single topic. And it wouldn’t be much more expensive - almost two or more episodes for the price of one. It’s expensive to fly people out to West Virginia to shoot. It’s a lot less expensive to film the investigators talking about the evidence, sighting and media reports, previous investigations, the various theories, etc. It’s almost like they’re leaving money on the table and missing a chance to improve the quality of the show. (The dynamic I’m describing is sort of like Peter Jackson filming all three episodes of the Lord of the Rings movies at once.)