MovieChat Forums > Destination Truth (2007) Discussion > one of the most UN-real reality shows

one of the most UN-real reality shows

posted 14 years ago by pglenn
27 replies | jump to latest

good for the entertaining comedic value only... absolutely NOT to be taken as real in any sense...

lets see, a short list of the "reality" of this show:

1) on easter island, the only transport provided by the medicine lady to collect the plant was two horses... they couldnt find one vehicle on this inhabited island to use instead? and if there were "only" two horses then how did the camera crew keep up with them?

2) on the yedi hunt... all in one morning on the way to the final location, they were on a jeep that broke down, borrowed horses from a village, took the inflatible boats that they "happened" to be carrying through the rapids when the horses "got spooked", hiked thru the woods, and rope-climbed down a cliff. OH, and as josh was the first one to go down, just who was on the ground below with the camera filming him climb down? perhaps the smart guys who went around the cliff, as you could plainly see in some scenes that it didnt extend very far into the distance before the terrain flattened out again

3) dont remember if it was the yedi one, when josh and someone else crossed the rope bridge that OF COURSE broke just after they crossed it stranding the two on the other side... but suddenly the stranded two had a full camera crew filming them as they explored the other side...

4) on EVERY show when they end up on location, there is ALWAYS a broken down vehicle of some sort that they DONT want to use...

5) the vehicle that the team takles to location, is almost always JUST big enif for them all to cram into... so WHERE is all of the equiptment that they always have when they get to location?

6) they like to say they use those fancy shoulder cams so they done have to take a camera crew with them to location... so then where does the camera crew that is always filming them come from?

7) with their fancy equiptment and communications devices and GPS - they often STILL end up getting lost... and of course make a big deal out of it for teh TV audience

[–] jtaepke-708-362575 14 years ago

All good points.

The main reason I watch this show is the locations they go to. Just seeing the part of the Great Wall of China where the wall hugs the top of the mountains makes me appreciate the incredible work that was put into building the thing.

The tombs in Egypt, Easter Island, all are worth watching just to see the locations. And Josh is a hoot!

But you're right. Even though they've gone after many legends and exotic creatures, they don't seem to come up with much, do they? :)

I enjoy watching anyway.

[–] rrpostal 14 years ago

Well, obviously there is nothing to come up with or there would have been legitimate scientific proof long ago. There's never been a "crypto" being ever found...oh forget it, not my point.

The show uses all the same stupid manufactured "evidence that every other "anti-science" show on TV has. Tons and tons of vague non findings that they take to "experts" and quote mine from. And even more "what is that?", "did you hear that?" moments of pure drivel. And of course the most anti scientific of all time, the EMF meter. They can get EMF readings from almost anything.

I can probably see myself watching this when I was a little kid. The world seemed a mystery and this is the kind of thing that it seemed like "exploring" was likely to produce. But some of us grow up, and with our bodies, our minds mature and realize the real mysteries of life take more than a shoddy jeep ride away from white people.

[–] Ben_Horror 14 years ago

Great points indeed. There's no question that they 'amp up' some situations to make them more compelling to the viewers. I've always seen this show as being more about the 'thrill of the hunt' rather than the actual end result.

[–] crunchbrry 14 years ago

The show is just pure by-the-numbers fluff. Literally. Every episode is the same. They start in that fake "office" acting busy and showing terribly done CGI renderings of creatures, frequently making them look more sinister than lore implies.

Then cut to some sight gags, Josh's saccharine humor, and making fun of local citizens on the way to the location, pointlessly riding around in dirtbikes or kayaks acting like they're "on the hunt" when they're really just having fun on the network's dime.

Then they set up the asinine "perimeter" setup with the same sample graphic of the four DV cameras, four motion cameras, and the laser tripwire pyramid that certainly just provides false positives all night long (all of which prove to be totally worthless).

Now is when the actual searching begins. With plenty of "oh crap, what the heck was that!?" moments or a person getting "hurt," probably scripted more often than not, so they can lead out to a commercial in a suspenseful manner.

Episode ends with them saying "we didn't find anything, but that doesn't mean <insert name> is not out there" and 90% of the time they don't reveal any footage. Like when they are investigating haunts, claim they heard something, and never play the EVP that should have picked it up.

The show is *beep* It's not reality TV at all due to the absurdly formulaic presentation. I only watch it because literally 99% of the time it successfully combats my insomnia. I won't even make it halfway through before I'm out like a light.

[–] tomaso4 14 years ago

The genius behind this show, which flies right over crunchbrry's head, is that the show is more of an interactive telling of myth than reality. I watch this show for the same reason I watch some of the ghost shows on the same network: the first 15-30 minutes. You are treated to a glimpse of a lifestyle completely different than your own and a mythology, that anyone who hasn't lost their ability to dream, can enjoy. If you knew anything about Easter Island you would know that there are very few motorized transports on that tiny island and for preservation's sake they don't permit driving off of the roads. If you recall that episode they were riding through fields to cliffs.

The dry humor and writing of the show also make the tellings more interesting. The comedy of the show is never derisive or derogatory towards the people they meet but is mostly self deprecating and relatable.

Joshua Gates as well was recently inducted into the Explorer's Guild and is coming up on another prestigious award received by adventurers who have traveled to greater than 100 nations in the world.

The "Oh My God" moments are embarrassing and unnecessary but there are a great many people who watch these types of shows for that thrill of the hunt mentality and they would be remiss to not present their adventure in a way that keeps the audience on thier toes.

Besides, you try being in the bush, in pitch black night, with nothing but a small camera light. We'll see if you don't yell "What was that" when you hear something amiss in the night.

Cheers

[–] Radalan 14 years ago

Heh Heh... Yedi.

What clichés? Thats a word the wannabe critics use when they want to whinge.

[–] JamesLisk 14 years ago

"There's never been a "crypto" being ever found."

Buzzer sound. Wrong. 1884. Jacko. Victoria, BC.

Please try again...

Funny how a skeptic is always 100% sure about a topic they typically know less than 1% about.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] TerrorDementia 14 years ago

I love the silence from John Lisk. Heh heh heh.

[–] Zalophus 14 years ago

Actually, there have been many cryptids found to be alive. Lets see, giant squids, collosal squids, coelacanth, okapi, heck, even komodo dragons at one point were all cryptids. There are even many more that have been discovered to be real or still alive (if thought to be extinct), i'm sure you can find them on google or in a book somewhere. So next time you try to say its all fake, do some research first so you don't look like an idiot.

Granted, certain ones like bigfoot and such are imo a pretty big strech. But if you think weve already discovered every animal species that exists, then you're a moron.

[–] Boutros_Boutros_Sirhan_Sirhan 14 years ago

Really? How many reality shows have you seen, and which ones are more credible to you? If your list is only a handful of shows taken from the dozens upon dozens of reality shows then this is just worthless hyperbole.
Most of these questions have answers provided if you just discerned them more like the fact that there are a couple of camera people and we don't usually see them unless they are filming one another. You're also used to living in an advanced civilized country where life is pretty comfortable and repairmen are readily available for everything, when these locations are often anything but advanced and with scarce education opportunities, so things aren't always sturdy.

[–] pglenn 14 years ago

lets see, one-by-one:

I have seen quite a few reality shows, most for the laugh factor, and I only watch "cable" stuff and nothing on the major networks. major networks have to appeal to mass audiences while cable can at least deal with a more "select" clientele so there sometimes is more intelligence thrown in.

more credible? hmm, "man-vs-wild", "special ops", "mythbusters" to name a few. even "ghost hunters" is better.

if theres answers can you be the one to provide them? like how did the camera people end up on other side after the bridge broke "JUST AS" the team finished crossing? how did the camera crew end uop at the bottom of the mountain when Josh was "brave" and took the first trip down? I;m not debating remote locations with lower quality standards, as it were. I'm talking about EVERY show SOMETHING breaks and theres ALWAYS a plane they dont wanna fly in and ALWAYS a vehicle that breaks down just as they arrive at destination, if not before.

I rate this at the same level as any Bam Marjera project... you KNOW its fake but you laugh at the actors trying to act like its real and it usually turns out to be comically enjoiyable in the end

OH and I take back now this being the WORSE reality show - I just struggled through an episode of Chasing Mummies... OH.. MY... GOD....

Patrick

[–] deathtoallbutmetal 14 years ago

If you're saying man vs wild is more credible than this show then this must reallly be a turd. Bear Grylls is a HUGE fraud.

[–] pglenn 14 years ago

yes, this show IS a huge turd. Grylls is a fraud? hmmm ok well I saw one episode where he was escaping from a deserted island on a VERY make-shift raft and the raft was falling apart and yes obviosuly there was a camera crew on a "sister" boat filming him... and he STOPPED the filming - and they kept this part on the show - because sharks were surrounding what was left of his raft waiting for him to fall in... and he actually said straight to the camera that he quit. if man-vs-wild was REALLY so fake that would have been cut, think about it...

now back to gates... is there any part of this from any episode that bleeds one drop of reality? I'm all for mockumentary's (i LOVE spinal tap) and nobody with a brain REALLY thinks any bam marjera "joint" is real... but marjera SH%T has more reality than this does

[–] deathtoallbutmetal 14 years ago

When did you see that episode? The one I saw did not have that scene. The first 3 seasons when originally aired were portrayed as him, on his own. That one episode was the exception where he had a crew but they were distant. The big fraud there was that he was on Oahu so civilization was about 500 steps away and the boat that picked him up was not random.

They re-edited the first 3 seasons after it came out. Now it looks less like he's a fraud but those originals.... fake as hell.

Just a couple examples... the volcanos he walks on in Hawaii... He says he's miles from nowhere but on youtube it is clearly shown that the spot he stands on when he says that is well, a few hundred feet from a highway.

Next time he shows how to climb out of icy water, note the prefabricated hand holes to help him get out.

Besides all the fakery, I just don't like the guy because he actually suggests people in survival situations should ride a log down the rapids rather than walk. Maybe you should roll down that hill instead of carefully climbing down. I know, let's climb a 200 foot tree to check out direction.

Oh and his military service was like, a couple months. Look him up.

[–] djeminences 13 years ago

These tv host guys need to become more educated because they honestly must think the viewers are morons - I know it's just to make things more exciting and entertaining because the majority of the time they will find nothing

it was funny though one episode the guy was freaking out about two humps in the water when the dude prior told him there was hippos in the lake as well as crocodiles

[–] 13 years ago

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[–] pglenn 13 years ago

WHAT!!!! I recall that they usually bring the STUPIDEST stuff in for forensic examination... and I seem to recall that EVERY show ends kinda like "we didnt find anything but that means it hasnt been mis-proved"... like the idiots that still persue the Bermuda Triangle or Bigfoot... oh yeah, he has done both of those as well...

[–] bishop27c 13 years ago

Bear Grylls is not a fraud, but you need to understand that "Man vs. Wild" is a controlled show. Do you really think that Bear is out there on his own? He has a crew following him around and medics ready at a moments notice. He does the stunts, but be assured that he is taken care of at all times.

"Look at banner Michael!" - GOB

[–] spider-jaz 12 years ago

PGlenn - Why do you even watch this show then? So you can come onto this website and berate it? Great use of your time.

It's not in my nature to be mysterious ...

[–] Boutros_Boutros_Sirhan_Sirhan 14 years ago

[–] Illinoisguy1 13 years ago

good for the entertaining comedic value only

I couldn't agree more.

This show is a laugh riot.
Especially the footage of them running around with that camera attached to them pointing back at themselves.
That one woman crew member with the crazy hair.
And of course all of those "Did you see that?, Did you hear that? Did you smell that? I just felt something touch me." moments.
Or the over dramatic gotcha moments where someone falls, trips and they cut to a commercial break and then they come back and it was nothing at all.

What I find strange is when they go on an expedition to find a potentially dangerous animal/creature and all they bring with them are cameras. Nobody carries a gun for protection.

[–] Larue1872 13 years ago

"Nobody carries a gun for protection."

And a good thing, too. This lot would just end up shooting themselves in the foot.

[–] Illinoisguy1 13 years ago

"Nobody carries a gun for protection."

And a good thing, too. This lot would just end up shooting themselves in the foot.

But it would add to the comedic aspect, would it not?

[–] shadowlordess 13 years ago

To everyone who has contributed to this thread.

The only difference between those who do believe in the paranormal and mythical monsters and those who do not is those who do believe don't care if you can't.

So back off. If you don't enjoy the show. Don't watch it. And don't try to ruin it for anyone who does. Their enjoyment doesn't physically or mentally bother you. And your disbelief shouldn't bother those who do believe.

[–] timonsgirl 12 years ago

Actually, there have been many cryptids found to be alive. Lets see, giant squids, collosal squids, coelacanth, okapi, heck, even komodo dragons at one point were all cryptids.

All true. The mountain gorilla, the okapi, the kangaroo, the platypus, the oar fish and the beaked whale were all once cryptids as well.

A person would pretty much had to have slept through every science class in high school to really believe that no cryptid has ever been discovered. I remember learning that gorillas were once thought to be a myth back in grade school.

Other cryptids that turned out to be real animals -

The Devil Bird of Sri Lanka - discovered in 2001 that it is a large, new species of eagle owl.

The Bondegezou or "man of the forest" in Indonesia - discovered in the 1980's it turned out to be the Dingiso, an unknown species of tree-dwelling marsupials.

The Hoan Kiem Turtle in Vietnam - was once thought to be a myth. In 1967 a dead one was found and put in a temple. Most of the world believed it was a common species of Asian turtle and not the Hoan Kiem. Hoan Kiem was considered a cryptid until 1998 when a live one was finally caught on video. Just this past year it was confirmed that it is a previously unknown species of turtle.

And BTW, it took dozens of well-staffed and well-equipped professional zoological teams over 60 years of continuous searching - from 1869 until 1929 - to find one giant panda in an area where many of them lived. Giant pandas, btw, live at the same elevation as the yeti.

So much for the theory that if an animal was there we would have found it already. Send dozens of large, well equipped professional zoological teams to the Himalayas to search for 60 years straight and if they still haven't found a yeti then maybe I might be convinced it doesn't exist.

[–] rachaelgilbert75 12 years ago

Well said timonsgirl.

There's so much more research that need to be done in to finding new animals and to think that going out one night looking for evidence of a yeti with a small team of people will provide positive results is ludicrous.

That kind of investigation takes years of research and analysis.