What do you think of Discovery channel mockumentaries, ones that generally target the kid audience?

Question

Shows like "Dinosaur Park" and there was one where probes were sent to an alien world to document alien life. Other than a few blurbs at the beginning about "imagination," these are presented as if they are real.

Several kids in the neighborhood believe that dragons are real after watching a Dragons World mockumentary. One kid thinks we've sent probes to alien planets and found life there after watching Alien Planet. A bunch of them think there's a group of people getting dinosaurs from the past and making a park to go there.

I like watching some of them with my kid because there is some science involved and it is interesting, but I am bothered that the Discovery Channel presents this stuff as if it's real to an audience that doesn't necessarily know how to tell when a documentary is factual or fictional.

Any other thoughts?

Answer 1

The Discovery Channel used to be quite a good channel to kill an afternoon with. My take is that they decided to pull an MTV on us. You know, get so focused on ratings and being able to charge more for commercial spots that they're leaving their original purpose in the dust. I remember a show Discovery did called "Saltwater Croc Vs. Great White Shark." While, yes, some science was involved, the show reminded me of a child making two of his toys do a face-off in the bathtub; it was all play, everything educational stripped clean. My wife and I are one step closer to cancelling our cable subscriptions because there is NOTHING worth watching on that box anymore.

Answer 2

Right, for kids. I think Dinosaur it can be real. but Alien, how it possible? and Dragon, it only Myth .