Coming Up Soon: Reviews of the New "Ancient Aliens" and "Project Blue Book"

1/4/2019

I have my limits. Tonight, the History Channel presents a 2-hour Ancient Aliens special in celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of Chariots of the Gods, which was actually this past spring. According to the episode description, the special will ask whether Chariots author Erich von Däniken will finally be proved right thanks to recent discoveries. Because this is going to take so much time to sit through, I won’t be writing another lengthy post for the few hours between now and this evening. I’ll try to have my Ancient Aliens review posted shortly after the episode airs.

Then, on Tuesday, I will post my long-delayed review of Project Blue Book, the History Channel’s new series, which premieres on Tuesday and which the network has forbidden reviewers from discussing ahead of its premiere. As you know, that’s always a good sign for the quality of a show when they don’t want it reviewed! (Honestly—the ban on reviews is just weird. I can’t think of a show of comparable competence that a network has tried to avoid having reviewed.) If History’s embargo breaks earlier, I will post the review as soon as media reviews are allowed.

Show star Aiden Gillen appeared on Good Morning America yesterday to discuss Project Blue Book, and it’s almost interesting how his expression fell when host Michael Strahan segued from discussing Gillen’s role on Game of Thrones to Project Blue Book—though to be fair, Gillen has all of the energy and enthusiasm of wet paper bag from start to finish. He didn’t manage to say anything positive about the show, and barely managed to describe what it is to Strahan.

8 Comments

Joe Scales

1/4/2019 10:33:35 am

"Show star Aiden Gillen appeared on Good Morning America yesterday to discuss Project Blue Book, and it’s almost interesting how his expression fell when host Michael Strahan segued from discussing Gillen’s role on Game of Thrones to Project Blue Book—though to be fair, Gillen has all of the energy and enthusiasm of wet paper bag from start to finish. He didn’t manage to say anything positive about the show, and barely managed to describe what it is to Strahan."

Gillen is an actor, and I'm sure he sees this new role as simply another job. Without a script, an actor may not come off as intense as some of their roles. Gillen simply appears to be rather soft spoken, that I'll give you. However, folks should watch that clip just to see how skewed your perceptions actually are, and your petulance unearned in Mr. Gillen's regard.

Gabol

1/4/2019 12:44:45 pm

Your 'Ancient Aliens' reviews are pointless. You are biased against this show, so you will criticize anything what they do. That's absurd. In every episode you are simply saying what happened during this segment of the episode and then you add some creepy comment trying to connect this with racism & white supremacy or whatever you like. Tsoukalos travel to Easter Island or Egypt? Wow, Colavito for sure is gonna at least mention that it's good that they are visiting these sites and not only comment this from TV studio. No, you made laugh about these trips. New animations? Doesn't matter. Credible scientists appear on the show? Silence.

You are wasting your time. Even before TV premiere I've already know what are you gonna say after the episode. The same thing as in every 'review'. You are gonna to try to connect Daniken with racism, white supremacy, probably sexism, you are gonna lie once again about 'no credible scientists believe in AA', you will cite your old posts from couple of years ago to 'debunk' that Yahweh was an alien, because you are Christian. That's just sad.

Paul

1/4/2019 01:29:16 pm

Ancient Aliens and credible scientists used in the same sentence, how revolting.
Jason, hope you have laid in a good supply of beer and chips.

Jason Colavito link

1/4/2019 02:22:17 pm

It's "Ancient Aliens" with special guest ancient astronaut theorist Megan Fox, so it will be doubly dull.

Accumulated Wisdom

1/4/2019 07:33:49 pm

I wonder if she'll tout her experience working with alien refugees from Cybertron.😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

Doc Rock

1/4/2019 01:43:30 pm

I guess it depends on what one means by credible scientists appearing on such a show. Most scientists featured aren't really educated in the relevant fields to speak on the issues under discussion. Or they are usually just scientists in name only. When credible scientists with the specific required training do appear it is often in brief sound bites where rather neutrally worded comments are used to insinuate that they support the premise of a given episode. If one wants to see credible scientists speaking at length without much of any cutting and pasting of sound bites to manipulate the discussion then a documentary such as Ancient Aliens De-Bunked is what people need to watch.

justanotherskeptic

1/4/2019 12:58:52 pm

2-hour Ancient Aliens? I'm liable to nod off. Good luck, Jason.

TheArtMan44 link

1/20/2019 01:10:04 am

Sir, you are a jerk. At least the Ancient Astronaut theory is credible in itself, and they are just explaining some of the many theories that seem to me more credible than anything that Ive heard or has been impressed into my entire life. I welcome the ideas they have and in my opinion that is the only thing that is making more sense than anything else right now so unless you have a better theory with credible proof to back it up then shut it up. I would love to work with those guys doing something I love and believe. Find something that makes you happy and stop having pointless hate. This is the only time I viewed this page and it was by accident but its okay for you to criticize its cool for me to....

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