Ancient Aliens

This article is about a television program. For hypotheses about extraterrestrial visitations during ancient times, see Ancient astronauts. For the song by Lemon Demon, see Ancient Aliens (song).

Ancient Aliens
Genre
Narrated byRobert Clotworthy
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons20
No. of episodes260 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
Camera setupMultiple
Running time
  • 90 minutes (season 1)
  • 60 minutes (season 2–present)
Production companyPrometheus Entertainment
Original release
NetworkHistory Channel
ReleaseMarch 8, 2009 (2009-03-08) –
present
Infobox instructions (only shown in preview)

Ancient Aliens is an American television series produced by Prometheus Entertainment that explores the pseudoscientific hypothesis of ancient astronauts in a non-critical, documentary format. Episodes also explore related pseudoscientific and pseudohistoric topics, such as: Atlantis and other lost ancient civilizations, extraterrestrial contact and ufology, and popular conspiracy theories.[1][2] The series, which has aired on History since 2010, has been a target for criticism of History's channel drift, as well as criticism for promoting unorthodox or unproven hypotheses as fact.[3] According to Smithsonian, episodes of the series overwhelm the viewer with "fictions and distortions" by using a Gish gallop.[4]

Originally broadcast as two-hour documentary special in 2009, Ancient Aliens: The Series aired for three seasons as a flagship series on History from 2010 to 2012.[5] The series moved to H2 from 2012 to 2014, with frequent re-airings of episodes on History and other A&E services. In 2015, the series returned to History after H2 was relaunched as Vice on TV. A nineteenth season began in 2023.[6][1][7] All episodes are narrated by Robert Clotworthy.

The series is inspired by the works of Erich von Däniken, Zecharia Sitchin, Graham Hancock, Robert Bauval, Brinsley Trench, Charles Hapgood, and Edgar Cayce. Producer Giorgio Tsoukalos, writer David Childress and journalist Nick Pope are featured guests.

The series has been criticized by historians, cosmologists, archaeologists and other scientists for presenting and promoting pseudoscience, pseudohistory and pseudoarchaeology as fact. Episodes are frequently characterized as "far-fetched",[8] "hugely speculative",[9] and "expound[ing] wildly on theories suggesting that astronauts wandered the Earth freely in ancient times."[10] Many of the claims made by guests are not commonly accepted as fact by the scientific community.[11] Brian Dunning debunked the series as "a slap in the face to the ingenuity of the human race".[12]

  1. ^ a b "Ancient Aliens Theory". History. December 25, 2010. Archived from the original on December 29, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  2. ^ "Evidence of Ancient Aliens?". History. December 25, 2010. Archived from the original on September 27, 2013. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  3. ^ Lockwood, Brad (October 17, 2011). "High Ratings Aside, Where's the History on History?". Forbes. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved March 21, 2012.
  4. ^ Black, Riley (May 11, 2012). "The Idiocy, Fabrications and Lies of Ancient Aliens". Smithsonian. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 24, 2021.
  5. ^ "Ancient Aliens Episode Guide". History. December 25, 2010. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved September 22, 2019.
  6. ^ "Ancient Aliens Season 15". History. Archived from the original on January 13, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2020.
  7. ^ "Watch Ancient Aliens Season 16 Online – HISTORY". History. March 12, 2021. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved April 9, 2021.
  8. ^ SH (April 30, 2011). "Ancient Aliens". The Daily Telegraph (London). p. 38.
  9. ^ Clay, Joe (April 30, 2011). "Digital Choices". The Times (London). p. 35.
  10. ^ Ryan, Andrew (April 25, 2011). "Tonight on TV/Critical Picks". The Globe and Mail (Canada). p. R2.
  11. ^ Fritze, Ronald H. (November 2009). "On the Perils and Pleasures of Confronting Pseudohistory". Historically Speaking. 10 (5): 2–5. ISSN 1941-4188. Archived from the original on July 2, 2015. Retrieved June 18, 2011.
  12. ^ "Debunking Ancient Aliens, Part 3". Skeptoid. Archived from the original on January 18, 2021. Retrieved May 16, 2021.