I got bored with the Oscars tonight and popped in my tape of the Peter Jennings "investigation" into UFO's tonight. It aired Thursday but I hadn't gotten around to watching it yet; it seemed a fitting escape from all the bad jokes and self-congratulations out in Hollywood.
Jennings didn't really offer up anything new or shocking. Mostly it was a recap of the history of UFO research, stretching back to the early 1900's. The usual suspect like Roswell, Art Bell and Whitley Strieber made their requisite appearances. Some fun links were made between alien abductions, succubi, and faery folk. Good fodder for fiction, but I have a hard time picturing the wee folk flying around in giant tin foil disc.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not arrogant enough to completely ignore the possibility, but I've read a fair bit on the subject and I have yet to see anything remotely resembling hard proof.
Perhaps the oddest part of the whole program is the involvement of Peter Jennings. Granted he's not much of journalist anymore; like any anchor man he's really more of a face for the ones who do the real investigation. I know Dan Ackroyd became obessesed with alien invasions in recent years, obesessed enough to have his own radio show, but maybe it's spread to others. I would think Jennings would have better things to look into. Social Security. Poverty. The War in Iraq. The tense atmosphere in Korea.
But no. He goes after little green men and the government cover up. Maybe he secretly wants to be Fox Mulder.
Excelsior.
2 comments:
Oh man, I wish I had TiVo'ed that. I saw the ad and meant to but forgot all about it.
You're right that it's weird that Peter Jennings would do that. Especially without some new hook or evidence or whatever. What the hell? Hmm... I'll bet Jon Stewart will have a heyday with it. of course, then again, there are more pressing things to have a heyday with!
You're making me wish I got comedy central. I miss it sometimes. But I watch enough t.v. as it is.
Post a Comment