, homepage: http://www.animalx.net/welcome.html)

 

This show deals with a wide variety of issues, from the Texas Bigfoot to ghost animals.  In the current incarnation, host Bill Kerr sends his "Natural Mystery Unit" (consisting of Daniel Searle and Natalie Schmitt) to different locations to investigate and document local happenings.  The show is heavily-produced: there are probably as many special effects shots per minute as in the last LORD OF THE RINGS movie.  Host Bill Kerr's dramatic delivery style is vaguely reminiscent of Anne Robinson of THE WEAKEST LINK.  He seems both avuncular and judgmental as he beams in and out on every line, surrounded by an aural glow.  During the investigations themselves, the team gets out into the field with the local experts.  They use high-tech gear, and are given to somewhat free speculation...both episodes I have seen saw them suggest some sort of conspiracy.  The witnesses and authorities (cryptozoologist Loren Coleman and fingerprint expert Jimmy Chilcutt, for example) are treated with respect.

 

The tone overall seems to go for the flashy, with some very dramatic recreations.  At the end, though, it doesn't make any unreasonable claims.

 

MYSTERIOUS ENCOUNTERS (schedule: http://www.olntv.com/showviewer.asp?sid=82&rm=true, homepage: http://www.olntv.com/htmlpage.asp?htmlid=137) on the other hand, plays more like a reality series.  Autumn Williams (http://www.oregonbigfoot.com/)takes her group of researchers to different North American sites to look for hairy bipeds.  While again high-tech, it feels like these are people who are sincerely on a quest.  The accuracy of the material in the voice-overs is good to see.  This seems to be made on a much lower budget, with material being repeated more often in each episode. 

 

Both series are worth watching for people interested in these topics, although the feel is very different for the two.

 

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Readers interested in UFOs can watch THE UFO FILES (http://www.historychannel.com/global/listings/upcomingepisodes.jsp?ACatId=12040449&CaseId=12040447&EGrpId=10963893) on THE HISTORY CHANNEL.  Upcoming episodes cover "The Chinese Roswell", Area 51, "The U.S. Roswell" :), and British government involvement.  The History Channel's CONSPIRACY (http://www.historychannel.com/global/listings/series_showcase.jsp?EGrpType=Series&Id=11732460&NetwCode=THC) is also showcasing Roswell and MJ-12 on Saturday, April 9th.

 

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Those that are parapsychologically inclined have PSYCHIC DETECTIVES (http://www.courttv.com/onair/shows/psychic_detectives/index.html) on COURT TV.

 

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