Animal Planet hits ratings record with mermaid documentary hoax

Really, guys…really? On Sunday night, 3.6 million of you (well, maybe not you specifically) helped to break ratings records for Animal Planet by tuning in to watch a “documentary” about mermaids. On top of that, this is the second time that viewers have flocked to the network in droves to watch a documentary about mermaids that is advertised as real, when in reality; it is a complete and total hoax.

Sunday night’s “documentary” was actually a sequel to last year’s Mermaids: The Body Found, which was effortlessly proven to a complete farce. Mermaids: The New Evidence showed new video that has surfaced showing mermaids in the Greenland Sea. In addition, the special claims that there has been a government cover-up of evidence that proves the existence of mermaids, accompanied by a spin-off site that they say has been seized by the U.S. Department of Justice and the Department of Homeland Security.

Here is the deal, a quick search of the special on IMBD shows that the “mermaids” are actually hired actors. The documentary boasted an “exclusive interview” with a Dr. Paul Robertson from NOAA which is (SURPRISE) also completely fabricated. The character of Dr. Pail Robertson is played by actor Andre Weideman. Animal Planet can wave away all responsibility over leading their viewers astray with their claims of truth and discovery because they included a teeny-tiny disclaimer that the program was a work of science fiction in the closing credits.

I understand the appeal that a documentary on a mythical creature has, but in an amazing world containing about 2 million catalogued species, is this really what everyone is more interested in? I think if Animal Planet put as much effort into shows on the discovery, conservation and understanding of creatures that actually exist on this planet, then we could all better from it.

Coming up next week on Animal Planet, Centaurs: Half man, Half Horse…The Missing Link?