21 replies to this topic

[Trini Girl]

This August, SCIENCE examines what happens when scientific research goes too far, with the world premiere of DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE. The six-part series takes viewers inside the laboratory to profile strange science and expose some of history's most bizarre experiments. Hosted by noted science fiction actor John Noble (Fringe, Lord of the Rings), DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE delves into the most unusual research ever conducted, including attempts to crossbreed humans and apes, actual zombie investigations and head transplantation studies. Cutting-edge CGI recreations enable viewers to witness the pivotal moments when brilliant minds face controversy or ethical crossroads on the fringes of science. DARK MATTERS: TWISTED BUT TRUE premieres Wednesday, August 31, at 10:00 PM (ET/PT).

the fringes of science

I see what they did there.

It's disappointing but not surprising that they have Noble using an American accent. I'd wanted to hear his Australian one.

Anyway, yeah, these stories are weird!

[Money Magnet]

I'm totally into this show. Not the least reason being, it's a perfect Fringe crossover.

I do wish they'd be less heavy on the credulity and give a little more to the skeptical (i.e., FACTUAL!) side, but it's damn entertaining for a few reasons:

-The re-enactments are corny, but totally enthusiastic. Any one of these segments, expanded and dramatized, would make an entertaining hourlong slice of sci-fi cheese.

-John Noble is the most perfect pick for host/narrator that could be imagined. Whoever came up with the idea to hire him needs a promotion.

-Just enough expert commentary to leaven the nonsense.

Hope the show comes back for more than 6 episodes.

[oconnellaboo]

I'm flat-out bonkers about this show. The re-enactments are absolute cheeseball heaven: "It's me... or THE BRAIN!"

And I totally agree that whoever thought to hire the mighty John Noble as host/narrator deserves at least a big raise.

The idea that these stories have even an iota of basis in historical fact is utterly disturbing - but it sure makes for great TV!!

[Trini Girl]

-Just enough expert commentary to leaven the nonsense.

Yes, THIS. Or else even Noble wouldn't be enough for me to continue to watch.

[Money Magnet]

I'm flat-out bonkers about this show. The re-enactments are absolute cheeseball heaven: "It's me... or THE BRAIN!"

OMG yes. The brain in the mayonnaise jar, next to him in the passenger seat, as he drives across a map of the U.S. That was awesome.

[Money Magnet]

A little birdie tells me that while the first segment of this Wednesday's episode is a bit weak, the back two segments are very strong.

[Money Magnet]

Comments on this week?

Thought the first segment was indeed very weak. Which is odd, because when I googled Candy Jones, I found that her Wikipedia entry contained stuff that would have made the segment more convincing (or "balanced") - such as the mysterious phone call she supposedly got from Japan Airways. But really, this segment wasn't about anything "true" - it was about a sensational allegation, and about stuff the CIA supposedly did. It needed more facts, because as it was aired, it was so obviously a questionable case.

However, the other two segments were awfully good. And the monkey-head one managed to achieve the "What? Really!?" factor (same way I felt when watching the Edison segment).

The third one was pure science history and as such, pretty intriguing - even though hey, yeah, nothing bad happened, whew. Nice reenactments. I think this show also has an appeal for people who are into retro-science style. Lots of old costumes and old gadgets - fun.

[Trini Girl]

Late, but...

Besides the ethical issues, the head transplant segment was beyond creepy. I had to watch that one through my fingers.

[nymediamaven]

Sorry, but I have to say this is maybe the worst pseudo-documentary show I've seen yet, and that includes some of the awful UFO crap that purports to be history on the so-called History Channel (really, Ice Road Truckers Plus Channel) these days. An episode I watched tonight supposed some connection between an ergot poisoning episode and the death of a scientist named Olsen (well known for many years as a part of the CIA"s MK/ULTRA program). What was astounding is that it showed some really cheesy re-enactments of this French town, over and over again. I lost count at seeing the same crap six times, all in the space of 10 minutes. This show must have a budget of about $600.

[Money Magnet]

The reenactments, I think, are supposed to be deliberately OTT. (I agree there is a bit too much repetition, however.) But I disagree they're cheesy - they're actually pretty fun, and it's clear they are supposed to be a little tongue in cheek.

[jophan]

I'm finding that I don't care for Noble's narration. The Portentious Tone takes it in a direction I don't want to go. He sounds so much better in interviews!

[Trini Girl]

I didn't realize last week's episode was the last. The most interesting segment was the one about "zombies". The better stories were in the first few episodes, in my opinion.

This show must have a budget of about $600.

That sounds about right. Maybe most of the budget went to Noble.

[ubi]

I finally was able to watch this last night at my sister's place. I never realized the Philadelphia Experiment was probably a real event, although not exactly what the traditional(?) claims.

[Trini Girl]

It's baaa-ack.

- A Second Season Investigating All-New Creepy Chronicles Premieres July 14 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT) on SCIENCE -

[BooksRule]

Did anybody else watch the new episode last night?

I thought that the 'Lindbergh: American Nazi?' segment to be a little boring, mainly because it wasn't anything new to me. The 2nd story about the 'suicide song' was not something I had ever heard of, but I couldn't take it seriously, because it made me think of the Monty Python sketch about the guy who wrote the funniest joke in the world--so funny, that anyone who read/heard it immediately fell down dead. (And the song, 'Gloomy Sunday', was really, really bad). The final story about the guy with the hole in his stomach was extremely high up on the 'icky' scale. I had heard the story before, but this was really kind of graphic. (I watched this part this morning and was happy that I wasn't eating breakfast at the time).

The show continues to be entertainingly cheesy and John Noble pretends to take it all seriously, so I'll keep watching.

[Money Magnet]

I actually found the Lindbergh segment interesting because while I knew he was a Nazi sympathizer, I didn't know the story of how he came to be that way. So, it was informative, though not terribly "dark sciencey."

The last segment was awesome! In a disgusting way. I had to laugh because the story was SO bizarre as presented. It sort of had this weird interpersonal relationship between the two men. This segment is an example of when the show is at its best: off the wall, but very informative about science history and ethics.

I mentioned this on the Fringe board and will repeat here - this show somehow comes off like "Fringe in a blender." Many of the elements that make Fringe enjoyable (for me, anyway) are present here, but in the service of non-fiction. I find my enjoyment level of both shows to be just about the same, in many ways.

Responding to old post uptopic-

That sounds about right. Maybe most of the budget went to Noble.

Actually, the show had already been shot last season with a different narrator (or without Noble, anyway) and then they brought John Noble in to record narration. (This is why the show aired in Canada without John Noble - some sort of rights issue.) So, don't blame him for the low-budget.

This season, of course, it was done with Noble already on board.

Edited by Money Magnet, Jul 15, 2012 @ 8:46 AM.

[Carabosse]

The actual song "Gloomy Sunday" is really nice and nothing like that butchered version used in the reenactments. I've been interested in the urban legend of it for a long time, so I've been collecting different interpretations of it (48 so far). A good source for more information on it is http://www.phespirit...o/gloomysunday/

I do like this show, as each episode I've seen has at least one thing that intrigues me, but investigative journalism it isn't.

[merroni]

Does anyone know about the of the amnesia patient who had experimental brain surgery stop his seizures? I felt so bad for him for not remembering anything after the surgery. Did he live in a home because of this?

[BooksRule]

Does anyone know about the of the amnesia patient who had experimental brain surgery stop his seizures? I felt so bad for him for not remembering anything after the surgery. Did he live in a home because of this?

I did a bit of online searching (I couldn't remember the patient's name, but remembered that his doctor's name was Scoville) and found this info: Henry Molaison

Edited by BooksRule, Aug 7, 2012 @ 11:17 AM.

[Money Magnet]

Hate to say it but this show is kind of losing me this season. It started off OK, but I caught up with the rest of the episodes from this season (last one was tonight, I think) and I think it's gone off the rails. The show is supposed to be about "twisted but true science" - which covers anything from scientists gone amok, bad science, questionable ethics, and good science that's bizarre. However, too many segments are not fitting into any of these categories. For example, while the segment about the catatonic heroin addicts was interesting, there was nothing weird about the science involved (unless you have a problem with fetal tissue therapy being unethical, but that definitely wasn't the focus of the segment). And the story of the Russian skiiers (which I had heard of before) was similarly unfocused. And how was the story of Hedy Lamarr's invention "twisted"? Interesting, but not really weird...

Unfortunately, while the dramatizations were cheesy but highly enjoyable last season, this year they're just cheesy and boring. I keep wishing that Science Channel would fund actual well-produced, well-acted TV-movies about the stories they are telling in the segments, because those would be kind of awesome.

[crowsworks]

I don't get this channel. Did they 'do' the Millgram thing yet?

http://blogs.discove...pull-the-lever/

[ubi]

I've been watching this over the Thansgiving weekend b/c I don't have digital HD cable but I love it.