# Has "In Search of..." et al ever found anything? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 27, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589 "2019-03-27T01:42:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/1 "2019-03-27T01:42:02Z")
I’m a hard core skeptic, but one of my guilty pleasures is periodically watching episodes of shows like In Search of, Monsterquest, Mysteryquest, Destination Truth, Destination Unknown etc. _I really do want to believe._ As I was recently watching a rerun of one of them in which they\* yet again\* failed to find any conclusive proof of anything :smack: :D, it occurred to me that I couldn’t recall ever seeing any show like this find anything conclusive about _any mystery_ they attempted to “solve”. Has anyone ever seen an episode of these shows where they actually found something? Or does every single episode always end as “inconclusive”? [BTW- I’m not think of “ghost hunting” shows, “finding bigfoot” shows or f-ing Ancient Aliens which are always the same contrived deceptive bullshit, but rather the multi-topic shows that look for something different every week.] ---
**Author:** ![Biffster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biffster/32/339_2.png) [@Biffster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biffster)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/2 "2019-03-27T02:00:38Z")
See, that’s the thing: you’re watching shows based on the “search” for something. What you really want is shows with “finding” in the title. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/3 "2019-03-27T02:07:08Z")
Maybe the one where they found the Titanic on the ocean floor. I want to think Cameron was involved. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/4 "2019-03-27T02:12:16Z")
What you want is “Fact or Faked”. The very first episode, anyway; they determined that a “phantom car” went through an unsecured chain link fence. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/5 "2019-03-27T03:35:08Z")
If any of the shows ever found anything supernatural, it would be the biggest news of the century. You’d have heard about it because everybody in the world would have heard about it. People would be talking about nothing else for months. It would be be referenced every day. You don’t remember anything like this? Then you have your answer. This is also the answer to every other question about whether the supernatural has been proven. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/6 "2019-03-27T04:43:19Z")
> [@Beckdawrek](#): > > Maybe the one where they found the Titanic on the ocean floor. I want to think Cameron was involved. Ballard. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![GMANCANADA](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gmancanada/32/2837_2.png) [@GMANCANADA](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GMANCANADA)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/7 "2019-03-27T04:53:34Z")
Thanks Exapno for putting me in my place. My deepest apologies for have offended you and wasted your valuable time with such a ridiculous post. I’m a forgetful idiot for wondering if possibly in one episode of one of those shows they may have actually found one artifact or archaeological site or something (non-supernatural) or worse to have thought that an entertaining SDMB discussion may come from the topic. On the other hand, your reply has reinforced to me exactly why I don’t visit message boards like this much anymore. I find it very sad that someone can’t even post something fun on Cafe Society without being smacked down. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/8 "2019-03-27T05:52:18Z")
well in “search of…” was sort of vindicated along with some other places when they finally found the hidden Nazi gold that was stashed in the swiss lake the at the end of operation Odessa that was supposed to start the second Nazi party …… but it was 20 years after the fact …… ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/9 "2019-03-27T06:04:26Z")
I understand they once found [Spock.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088170/) Which I imagine was a bit disorienting for Mr. Nimoy… ---
**Author:** ![WOOKINPANUB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wookinpanub/32/132_2.png) [@WOOKINPANUB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WOOKINPANUB)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 12:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/10 "2019-03-27T12:32:23Z")
> [@GMANCANADA](#): > > Thanks Exapno for putting me in my place. My deepest apologies for have offended you and wasted your valuable time with such a ridiculous post. > > I’m a forgetful idiot for wondering if possibly in one episode of one of those shows they may have actually found one artifact or archaeological site or something (non-supernatural) or worse to have thought that an entertaining SDMB discussion may come from the topic. > > On the other hand, your reply has reinforced to me exactly why I don’t visit message boards like this much anymore. I find it very sad that someone can’t even post something fun on Cafe Society without being smacked down. Seriously :rolleyes: If it helps, I understand your question perfectly and wasn’t limiting it to anything supernatural related. I only have the vaguest memory if _In Search Of_ but I do recall seeing a movie about the search for / finding of Noah’s Ark on Mt. Ararat. I was pretty young when I saw it so maybe that’s not an accurate example. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/11 "2019-03-27T12:51:59Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I understand they once found [Spock.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088170/) > > Which I imagine was a bit disorienting for Mr. Nimoy… Jeez, that was a terrible movie! After it was over, I seriously thought about asking for my money back… :mad: As regards all the “investigative” BS now seen on channels like History and H2, I was impressed with the series that was done on Lee Harvey Oswald. Not only did they debunk a lot of “conspiracy” crap, they presented some very credible evidence on Oswald’s motives and action plan. The interviews with former Soviet officials confirmed much of what I already knew from the historical literature, and their analysis of the assassination itself was consistent with one done by National Geographic several years ago. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/12 "2019-03-27T13:11:41Z")
They found a bunch of money in the pockets of the gullible. Far better than a lot of so called legitimate scientists have done. Cuz making money is the point of science, right? ---
**Author:** ![txjim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f07891/32.png) [@txjim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txjim)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/13 "2019-03-27T13:25:51Z")
> [@Biffster](#): > > See, that’s the thing: you’re watching shows based on the “search” for something. What you really want is shows with “finding” in the title. The show _Killing Bigfoot_ never seems to show any bodies… ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/14 "2019-03-27T13:27:27Z")
I used to love _In Search Of_, when it was new and I was young. A year or so ago, I happened to find an episode of the show about searching for the Lost Dutchman. Since I now live about 10 miles from where the dutchman supposedly lost his mine, I thought it would be especially interesting. Nope. There were hardly any facts at all. It was a bunch of half- and non-truths, made up crap, and “spooky” speculation. It was funny and frustrating to see how wrong they could get something so basic (and so non-supernatural). Star Trek’s “Spectre of the Gun” handling of the Shootout at the OK Corral was more historically accurate. Were all the ISO episodes that bad? ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 1:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/15 "2019-03-27T13:32:55Z")
> [@kaylasdad99](#): > > I understand they once found [Spock.](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088170/) I came to this thread specifically to make that joke. When the movie came out, I was rather disappointed it wasn’t called _Star Trek III: In Search Of Spock_. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/16 "2019-03-27T13:36:16Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Were all the ISO episodes that bad? Pretty much. This is the one I found easiest to parody: [![](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/PZegiBbswg8/hqdefault.jpg "(Leonard Nimoy) In Search Of.. \*\*The Man Who Would Not Die\*\* (Season 2 Episode 2)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZegiBbswg8) ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/17 "2019-03-27T15:28:07Z")
I loved In Search of… as a kid. Staying home sick meant watching ISO and the Price is Right. My favorite ISO was the one where a guy claimed Yogurt had feelings and screamed when you ate it. ---
**Author:** ![Jet\_Jaguar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jet_jaguar/32/3562_2.png) [@Jet\_Jaguar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jet_Jaguar)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/18 "2019-03-27T17:30:46Z")
It’s been decades since I’ve seen an episode of ISO, but I recall they did an episode about legendary Vikings that may have reached North America at a time when the interpretation of archaeological sites in Newfoundland that have since been confirmed to be Norse were still controversial. IIRC, conventional thought of the day was that they were more likely to be native American encampments, though my memory is hazy on all of this. I would not be surprised if there were other things of an archaeological nature that have since been discovered/confirmed. ---
**Author:** ![DorkVader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/73ab20/32.png) [@DorkVader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DorkVader)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/19 "2019-03-27T17:42:03Z")
> [@Quimby](#): > > I loved In Search of… as a kid. Staying home sick meant watching ISO and the Price is Right. > > My favorite ISO was the one where a guy claimed Yogurt had feelings and screamed when you ate it. Huh, all this time I thought it was green jello. Wasn’t there one of those where they hooked green jello up to an ekg and it had brainwaves? ETA that might explain the ice cream in the sub sub basement. It’s not really cream, it’s frozen yogurt. ---
**Author:** ![gdave](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gdave/32/3683_2.png) [@gdave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gdave)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2019, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589/20 "2019-03-27T18:48:21Z")
> [@Jet\_Jaguar](#): > > It’s been decades since I’ve seen an episode of ISO, but I recall they did an episode about legendary Vikings that may have reached North America at a time when the interpretation of archaeological sites in Newfoundland that have since been confirmed to be Norse were still controversial. IIRC, conventional thought of the day was that they were more likely to be native American encampments, though my memory is hazy on all of this. I would not be surprised if there were other things of an archaeological nature that have since been discovered/confirmed. The L’anse aux Meadows site in Newfoundland was initially identified as a c. 1000 AD Norse settlement in 1960. While that identification was controversial at first, by the time _In Search of…_ aired its _…Lost Vikings_ episode in 1978, that identification had been solidly established, and was no longer even remotely controversial among archaeologists and historians. In fact, that same year, it was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The perception among the general public of what archaeologists and historians thought, however, was a different story. As recently as this year, the History Channel’s _America’s Lost Vikings_ presented the L’anse aux Meadows site as if it were a recent revelation, rather than one that has been widely known and accepted among scholars (and for that matter, interested laypersons) for nearly 60 years. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/has-in-search-of-et-al-ever-found-anything/831589.md?page=2)