In Search of... (TV series)

Last updated

In Search of...
In Search of Title Screen.jpg
In Search of... title screen
Also known asGreat Mysteries of the World (Australian broadcasts)
Created by Alan Landsburg
Presented by Leonard Nimoy
Mitch Pileggi
Zachary Quinto
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of episodesSyndicated: 144 (+ 4 specials)
Revival: 8
History Channel revival: 18
Production
Running time23 minutes
Production companiesAlan Landsburg Productions (Original)
Universal Television Alternative Studio (2nd revival) (original series)
Original release
Network Syndicated
Sci-Fi Channel
History
ReleaseSeptember 20, 1976 (1976-09-20) 
November 29, 2019 (2019-11-29)

In Search of... is an American television series that was broadcast weekly from 1976 to 1982, devoted to mysterious phenomena. It was created after the success of three one-hour documentaries produced by creator Alan Landsburg: In Search of Ancient Astronauts in 1973 (based on the 1968 book/ 1970 film Chariots of the Gods? by Erich von Däniken), In Search of Ancient Mysteries (1974), and The Outer Space Connection in 1975 (later adapted into popular paperbacks written by Landsburg), all of which featured narration by Rod Serling, who was the initial choice to host the spin-off show. Serling died before production started, and Leonard Nimoy was then selected to be the host. [1] The series was revived with host Mitch Pileggi in 2002 and again in 2018 with Zachary Quinto for the History channel.

Contents

The original series was shown in Australia in the 1980s under the title Great Mysteries of the World, with each episode having an introduction and conclusion presented by television presenter Scott Lambert.

Format

The show was originally hosted by Leonard Nimoy. Leonard nimoy 1980.jpg
The show was originally hosted by Leonard Nimoy.

Each episode of the program explored a general or specific topic in one of several general categories as given in the opening titles: Extraterrestrials, Magic & Witchcraft, Missing Persons, Myths & Monsters, Lost Civilizations, and Special Phenomena (changed to Strange Phenomena from season 3 onward). [2] The program conducted investigations into the controversial and paranormal (e.g., UFOs, Bigfoot, and the Loch Ness Monster). Additionally, it featured episodes about mysterious historical events and personalities such as Anna Anderson, the Lincoln Assassination, the Jack the Ripper murders, infamous cults (e.g., Jim Jones), and missing persons, cities, and ships (e.g., Amelia Earhart, Jimmy Hoffa, D. B. Cooper, the Mary Celeste , the Titanic , the lost Roanoke Colony). Each episode's opening credits included a verbal disclaimer about the conjectural nature of the evidence and theories to be presented: [3]

This series presents information based in part on theory and conjecture. The producer's purpose is to suggest some possible explanations, but not necessarily the only ones, to the mysteries we will examine.

The program included interviews, reenactments, and host segments including Nimoy on location or in studio, and each episode featured voiceovers by Nimoy. The music was composed by Laurin M. Rinder and W. Michael Lewis. A soundtrack album was released on AVI (American Variety International) Records in 1977. [4]

Nimoy wrote an episode about the turbulent life of artist Vincent van Gogh, having earlier played the artist's brother Theo in a one-man show. [5] As part of his research, Nimoy found records in the archives of the hospital where Van Gogh was treated that suggested that he suffered from epilepsy rather than insanity.

The show also spawned at least six spin-off books, all written by Landsburg with forewords by Nimoy: In Search of Lost Civilizations,In Search of Extraterrestrials,In Search of Magic and Witchcraft,In Search of Strange Phenomena,In Search of Missing Persons, and In Search of Myths and Monsters, with an additional book that collected the best segments from these existing volumes. [6]

In 1978, Landsburg produced a Bigfoot documentary using portions of two In Search of... episodes ("The Monster Hunters" and "The Yeti") called Manbeast! Myth or Monster, based on his book In Search of Myths and Monsters. Though Nimoy had written the foreword to Landsburg's book, he did not narrate this documentary. [7]

Reruns of the In Search of... series aired during the early 1990s on the A&E Network. In the later 1990s, the show aired on another of the A&E Television Networks' properties, the History Channel. The licensing agreement with MCA Television/Universal Domestic Television expired in the early 2000s, ending the show's run. When the show aired on A&E, a re-recording of the original theme music was used plus a new alternate theme. The original opening titles were also modernized. In this incarnation virtually all of Nimoy's on-camera appearances in the series were replaced with reused footage, so viewers could hear Nimoy but not see him.

A short-lived revival of the show, featuring Mitch Pileggi, aired on the Sci-Fi Channel in 2002.

In January 2018, it was announced that Zachary Quinto, who, like Nimoy, stars as Spock in the rebooted Star Trek films, would host the revived version of the show on History Channel. [8] On March 27, 2019, History Channel announced the series was renewed for a second season. [9]

Episodes

Seasons of In Search Of...
SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
Specials 4January 5, 1973 (1973-01-05)1978 (1978) NBC
1 241976 (1976)September 10, 1977 (1977-09-10)
2 24December 24, 1977 (1977-12-24)June 1, 1978 (1978-06-01)
3 24September 14, 1978 (1978-09-14)May 17, 1979 (1979-05-17)
4 24September 20, 1979 (1979-09-20)March 14, 1980 (1980-03-14)
5 24September 20, 1980 (1980-09-20)May 19, 1981 (1981-05-19)
6 24September 21, 1981 (1981-09-21)March 1, 1982 (1982-03-01)
1 8October 4, 2002 (2002-10-04)November 22, 2002 (2002-11-22) Sci-Fi Channel
1 10July 20, 2018 (2018-07-20)September 14, 208 (208-09-14) The History Channel
2 8October 4, 2019 (2019-10-04)November 29, 2019 (2019-11-29)

Original Series

The original series ran for six seasons, hosted by Leonard Nimoy.

Specials

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air date
01"In Search of Ancient Astronauts" Harald Reinl Don Ringe January 5, 1973 (1973-01-05) (NBC)
Examines speculation about purported ancient astronauts, aliens that would have landed on Earth in ancient times, being responsible for many of mankind's oldest mysteries. Hosted by Rod Serling.
02"In Search of Ancient Mysteries"Fred WarshofskyFred WarshofskyJanuary 31, 1974 (1974-01-31) (NBC)
An examination of mysteries of the ancient world and their connection to the possibility that aliens visited Earth. Hosted by Rod Serling.
03"The Outer Space Connection"Fred WarshofskyFred WarshofskyFebruary 12, 1975 (1975-02-12) (Arizona)
Examines the speculation that aliens have visited Earth in ancient times, and built structures to which they will return at a future date. Hosted by Rod Serling, and screened at movie theaters throughout 1975.
04"Manbeast! Myth or Monster" Nicholas Webster Nicholas Webster1978 (1978)
Explores the existence of Bigfoot, the Yeti and other legendary humanoid-type creatures.

Season 1 (1976–1977)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
0101"Other Voices"H.G. StarkRoz KarsonApril 17, 1977 (1977-04-17)726
Other Voices: Examines groundbreaking experiments that show the possibility that plants respond to people's thoughts. Guests in this episode include Marcel Vogel, Dorothy Retallack, Kendall Johnson, and Cleve Backster.
0202"Strange Visitors"UnknownS: Hans Holzer; W: Hans Holzer & Robert L. LongDecember 20, 1976 (1976-12-20) [10] [11] 703
Strange Visitors: Was Oracle Chamber, which lies beneath New Hampshire's Mystery Hill, built by ancient Phoenicians who traveled to the continent thousands of years ago? Guests include Robert Stone, Hans Holzer, and Barry Fell.
0303"Ancient Aviators"UnknownRobert Long & Deborah BlumApril 24, 1977 (1977-04-24)708
Ancient Aviators: Are there signs of alien visitation here on Earth? Might the mysterious markings on the Nazca Plain in Peru be landing instructions for UFOs?
0404"The Bermuda Triangle"H.G. StarkAlan LansburgSeptember 27, 1976 (1976-09-27) [12] [13] 715
The Bermuda Triangle: Probes a radio broadcast claim that the graveyard of ships and planes is actually a testing area for spacemen. Guests include Frank Flynn, Bob Spielman, Ray Smithers, and Carlton Hamilton
0505"Bigfoot"Nicholas WebsterLarry L. BadgerApril 28, 1977 (1977-04-28)713
Bigfoot: An evaluation of giant footprints and other evidence which some believe proves that the half-man, half-animal creature really exists.
0606"Killer Bees"UnknownAlex PomasanoffMay 1, 1977 (1977-05-01)735
Killer Bees: A photographic report from Brazil on the behavior of the bees and genetic experiments underway to stop the savage swarms from reaching the U.S.
0707"Earthquakes"UnknownAlex PomasanoffMay 7, 1977 (1977-05-07)728
Earthquakes: An examination of the techniques which scientists are developing in order to study seismic activity and predict quakes.
0808"The Mummy's Curse"UnknownRobert L. LongMay 14, 1977 (1977-05-14)734
The Mummy's Curse: Probes the claim that a protective curse on King Tutankhamun's tomb accounted for a chain of mysterious deaths.
0909"Martians"UnknownRobert L. LongMay 21, 1977 (1977-05-21)733
Martians: Offers the theory that the Red Planet is dying of climate changes and suggests that Earth may face a similar fate. Gerald Soffen is a guest in the episode.
1010"Atlantis"UnknownFred WarshofskyMay 22, 1977 (1977-05-22)701
Atlantis: Explores the possibility that 14 huge stone buildings beneath the waters of The Bahamas, and a 2000-year-old computer part, are part of the lost empire of Atlantis.
1111"Psychic Detectives"UnknownDeborah BlumMay 26, 1977 (1977-05-26)736
Psychic Detectives: Meet a unique scientific detective squad that uses E.S.P. as an effective crime-solving tool.
1212"A Call from Space"UnknownChristine Zurbach WiserMay 28, 1977 (1977-05-28)729
A Call from Space: Can the space technologies that discovered other galaxies help us communicate with other life?
1313"Learning ESP"UnknownRobert L. LongMay 28, 1977 (1977-05-28)730
Learning ESP: Do the powers of extrasensory perception really exist, and can they be taught?
1414"Nazi Plunder"UnknownTyrone FoxMay 29, 1977 (1977-05-29)TBA
Nazi Plunder: Pursues the rumor of Nazi plunder worth billions and a 30-year-old track that could lead to it.
1515"Amelia Earhart"UnknownAlex PomasanoffJune 1, 1977 (1977-06-01)718
Amelia Earhart: Runs down rumors that the famous aviator, who disappeared during a 1937 flight over the Pacific Ocean, was on a spy mission.
1616"Dracula"H. G. StarkJeremy BrinkJune 8, 1977 (1977-06-08)712
Dracula: Investigates the life and recorded history of Vlad the Impaler in Romania, with comparisons to the main character of the famous Bram Stoker novel.
1717"The Easter Island Massacre"H. G. StarkDeborah BlumJune 15, 1977 (1977-06-15)709
The Easter Island Massacre: Provides answers to the mysteries of how 70-ton giant stones came to the remote island and who might have destroyed some of them.
1818"Ghosts"H. G. StarkHans Holzer & Robert L. LongOctober 4, 1976 (1976-10-04) [14] [15] 704
Ghosts: Studies specters and a parapsychologist's theory that they are troubled earthbound souls in need of help.
1919"Life After Death"H. G. StarkDeborah BlumJune 29, 1977 (1977-06-29)720
Life after Death: A visit to a soul research institute for firsthand accounts of people who claim they have died and come back to life.
2020"The Loch Ness Monster"H. G. StarkRobert L. LongSeptember 20, 1976 (1976-09-20) [16] [17] 725
The Loch Ness Monster: A hunt for the leviathan which has so far eluded all expeditions to prove that it truly exists. Includes footage of Bob Ballard as he performs underwater photography in an attempt to identify the monster.
2121"UFOs"H. G. StarkRobert L. LongOctober 11, 1976 (1976-10-11) [18] [19] 702
UFOs: An evaluation of reports by people who have seen "saucers", and the growing body of evidence that America is regularly being visited by UFOs.
2222"Voodoo"H. G. StarkAlan LandsburgJuly 26, 1977 (1977-07-26)714
Voodoo: Experience an actual voodoo rite, and meet a priest dedicated to disarming its effects.
2323"Inca Treasure"H. G. StarkRobert LongAugust 11, 1977 (1977-08-11)TBA
Inca Treasures: Camera crews accompany a Peruvian excavation party in quest of a great Inca city believed lost for 300 years.
2424"The Magic of Stonehenge"UnknownDeborah BlumSeptember 10, 1977 (1977-09-10)727
The Magic of Stonehenge: Suggests the site could be the source of a mysterious power that might hold all of Britain in a strange magnetic force field.

Season 2 (1977–1978)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
2501"The Lost Dutchman Mine"UnknownRichard J. WellsDecember 24, 1977 (1977-12-24)TBA
The Lost Dutchman Mine: An investigation into why hundreds of gold hunters have died searching for a lost treasure ever since a German prospector wandered out of Arizona's Superstition Mountains in the 1860s. Is there really cursed gold hidden there, as Apache lore suggests?
2602"The Man Who Would Not Die"UnknownNicholas WebsterDecember 31, 1977 (1977-12-31)753
The Man Who Would Not Die: The fascinating saga of the Count of St. Germain, who dazzled the courts of Europe for over 100 years, leading some to believe he was immortal. Elizabeth Clare Prophet describes the Church Universal and Triumphant's reverence for St. Germain.
2703"Firewalkers"UnknownNorma ThornJanuary 5, 1978 (1978-01-05)719
Firewalkers: How do people walk on red-hot coals without being burned?
2804"Mayan Mysteries"UnknownTerry A. LandauJanuary 7, 1978 (1978-01-07)744
Mayan Mysteries: The Mayans of Mexico carved an advanced civilization out of the jungles, then disappeared. Where did they come from? Where did they go?
2905"Astrology"UnknownPeter RostenJanuary 12, 1978 (1978-01-12)750
Astrology: Can astronomical movements affect the affairs of man? Leonard Nimoy reviews the long history of astrology and looks at its attraction today.
3006"Michael Rockefeller"UnknownAlex PomasanoffJanuary 21, 1978 (1978-01-21)740
Michael Rockefeller: Did he drown or was he murdered? An investigation into the disappearance of Nelson Rockefeller's youngest son who vanished without a trace among some of the most primitive peoples in the world.
3107"Hurricanes"UnknownUnknownJanuary 26, 1978 (1978-01-26)758
Hurricanes: Take a close-up look at these violent killers that have taken the lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Can they be controlled or prevented?
3208"The Ogopogo Monster"UnknownUnknownJanuary 28, 1978 (1978-01-28)762
The Ogopogo Monster: This large beast, similar to Scotland's Loch Ness Monster, is claimed to have been seen by thousands of people in western Canada.
3309"Pyramid Secrets"UnknownUnknownFebruary 4, 1978 (1978-02-04)746
Pyramid Secrets: Examines the theory that the pyramids of Egypt were built to provide shelter from a holocaust, not as tombs for the pharaohs.
3410"Dead Sea Scrolls"UnknownUnknownFebruary 9, 1978 (1978-02-09)748
Dead Sea Scrolls: The story of the 2,000-year-old scrolls, discovered by a shepherd, that revolutionized religious thought.
3511"Reincarnation"UnknownUnknownFebruary 11, 1978 (1978-02-11)706
Reincarnation: Reviews case histories of people who claim to have lived in previous lifetimes.
3612"The Shark Worshippers"UnknownUnknownFebruary 18, 1978 (1978-02-18)760
The Shark Worshippers: A trip to remote parts of the Pacific where man-eating sharks are considered gods. Adults pray to them and children swim unafraid among them.
3713"Anastasia"UnknownUnknownFebruary 23, 1978 (1978-02-23)737

Anastasia: An examination of evidence that the youngest daughter of Russia's Tsar Nicholas II Aleksandrovich Romanov survived the family executions, and settled in Charlottesville, Virginia.

NOTE: This was produced years before Anna Anderson Manahan, as she in time came to be known, was proven, through DNA evidence which could not have been forensically examined at the time, to have been an impostor.
3814"The Secrets of Life"UnknownUnknownFebruary 25, 1978 (1978-02-25)751
Secrets of Life: Explores the possibility that human life can be created in laboratories engaged in DNA research.
3915"Immortality"UnknownUnknownFebruary 27, 1978 (1978-02-27)742
Immortality: Looks at scientific discoveries of new methods of prolonging human life, such as cryonics, which can suspend life for centuries.
4016"The Swamp Monster"UnknownUnknownMarch 4, 1978 (1978-03-04)738
The Swamp Monster: An investigation of reports that a huge man-like beast is living in the swamps of Louisiana's bayou.
4117"Hypnosis"UnknownUnknownMarch 9, 1978 (1978-03-09)759
Hypnosis: A look back at the great scientist Mesmer, whose hypnotic techniques are being used in modern surgery, teaching, and police investigations. (See also Learning ESP.)
4218"Troy"UnknownUnknownMarch 11, 1978 (1978-03-11)752
Troy: The story of Heinrich Schliemann, an eccentric self-made millionaire obsessed with discovering the ruins of Troy at a time when the city was considered a fable that never existed. He discovered not one but nine ancient cities in Turkey, and recovered a hoard of spectacular relics.
4319"Witch Doctors"UnknownAlex PomasanoffMarch 18, 1978 (1978-03-18)732
Witch doctors: Leonard Nimoy hosts this look at ancient folk medicines that are being reinstituted today in modern mental institutions and are yielding positive results.
4420"Haunted Castles"UnknownUnknownApril 27, 1978 (1978-04-27)754
Haunted Castles: Probe into one of the world's most haunted places.
4521"Butch Cassidy"TBDTBD ()743
Butch Cassidy: Examines the possibility that Butch Cassidy was not killed in Bolivia along with the Sundance Kid, but actually lived a full life and died peacefully in 1937.
4622"Deadly Ants"TBDTBD ()739
Deadly Ants: A look at the billions of fire ants that march across the southern United States and the failure so far of all attempts to stop them.
4723"The Coming Ice Age"TBDTBD ()741
The Coming Ice Age: An inquiry into whether the dramatic weather changes in America's northern states mean that a new ice age is approaching.
4824"The Garden of Eden"UnknownUnknownJune 1, 1978 (1978-06-01)TBA
Garden of Eden: Using the Old Testament as a road map, researchers attempt to trace the possible site of the original Garden to India, China, and an island off the coast of Saudi Arabia.

Season 3 (1978–1979)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
4901"UFO Captives"UnknownUnknownSeptember 14, 1978 (1978-09-14)768
UFO Captives: Meet people who believe they have been held captive aboard alien spacecraft - close encounters of the fourth kind.
5002"Tornadoes"UnknownUnknownSeptember 21, 1978 (1978-09-21)772
Tornadoes: A terrifying look at one of nature's deadliest forces. Tornadoes can swallow up buildings and people without a trace - can they be stopped?
5103"Cloning"UnknownUnknownSeptember 28, 1978 (1978-09-28)771
Cloning: An in-depth look at the process which may allow us to "copy" people exactly and produce single-parent human beings.
5204"Water Seekers"UnknownUnknownOctober 5, 1978 (1978-10-05)777
Water Seekers: Scientists take another look at the divining rod. Does water emit valuable signals?
5305"Jack the Ripper"UnknownUnknownOctober 12, 1978 (1978-10-12)763
Jack the Ripper: An investigative report on the unsolved mystery of London's notorious serial killer. The episode reveals the killer's connection with contemporary media and the possible involvement with the Ancient Free And Accepted Masons. Various identities are suggested as being that of the killer, including a duke who was second in line to the British throne.
5406"Cryogenics"UnknownUnknownOctober 19, 1978 (1978-10-19)765
Cryogenics: Scientists are discovering new methods to prolong human life and, in the case of cryogenics, to suspend the possibility of life for centuries.
5507"Siberian Fireball"UnknownUnknownOctober 26, 1978 (1978-10-26)767
Siberian Fireball: Considers the possibility that the unexplained and catastrophic explosion in Siberia in 1908 was an atomic blast occurring 37 years before the development of the A-bomb.
5608"The Great Lakes Triangle"UnknownUnknownNovember 2, 1978 (1978-11-02)774
The Great Lakes Triangle: Investigates efforts by scientists and psychics to discover the mysterious forces around the Great Lakes that have caused more air and sea disasters than the Bermuda Triangle.
5709"Monster Hunters"UnknownUnknownNovember 9, 1978 (1978-11-09)770
Monster Hunters: Leonard Nimoy investigates what compels scientists and teachers to pursue a man-like beast in Northern California.
5810"Bermuda Triangle Pirates"UnknownUnknownDecember 7, 1978 (1978-12-07)775
Bermuda Triangle Pirates: Luxurious yachts are disappearing off the coast of Florida. Are pirates trafficking in drugs to blame?
5911"Indian Astronomers"UnknownUnknownDecember 14, 1978 (1978-12-14)TBA
Indian Astronomers: Recent excavations in Southern Illinois provide tantalizing glimpses at Native American use of astronomy.
6012"Sherlock Holmes"UnknownUnknownDecember 21, 1978 (1978-12-21)779
Sherlock Holmes: A look at surprising new clues which indicate that the famed super sleuth actually did exist, after a fashion.
6113"Lost Vikings"UnknownUnknownDecember 28, 1978 (1978-12-28)TBA
Lost Vikings: The story of Viking Erik the Red's descendants, who left Scandinavia and arrived in Northern Canada centuries before Columbus.
6214"Dreams and Nightmares"UnknownUnknownJanuary 4, 1979 (1979-01-04)766
Dreams and Nightmares: Our dreams provide clues to the dark world of our unconscious mind, but can we learn to control them?
6315"Animal ESP"UnknownUnknownJanuary 11, 1979 (1979-01-11)786
Animal ESP: Dramatic scenes attempt to demonstrate that close communication between people and their pets may be due to more than emotional bonds.
6416"The Money Pit Mystery"UnknownUnknownJanuary 18, 1979 (1979-01-18)776
The Money Pit Mystery: A true tale of hidden treasure and mysterious death. Six people have died in the scramble to dig up the Oak Island treasures, supposedly buried by Captain Kidd.
6517"Psychic Sea Hunt"UnknownUnknownJanuary 25, 1979 (1979-01-25)784
Psychic Sea Hunt: A team of psychics gives scientists the exact description and location of an unknown shipwreck, and a submarine hunt proves them right.
6618"The Angel of Death"UnknownUnknownFebruary 1, 1979 (1979-02-01)782

Angel of Death: Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal tracks infamous war criminal Josef Mengele to his hiding place in Paraguay.

Mengele is believed to have died only six days after this episode was broadcast, having drowned as a result of a stroke while swimming. At the time of his death, his identity was not widely known.

Years after this installment was initially transmitted, Mengele's remains were found and identified; he proved to have had to eke out a bare existence as a farm worker, and his punishment for his war crimes was to have lived out the rest of his days in both comparative obscurity and the fear of eventual discovery.
6719"Noah's Flood"UnknownUnknownFebruary 8, 1979 (1979-02-08)783
Noah's Flood: A dramatic inquiry into whether or not scientific proof exists for the legend of the Biblical Great Flood.
6820"The Diamond Curse"UnknownUnknownFebruary 15, 1979 (1979-02-15)787
The Diamond Curse: Why do mystery and tragedy plague the owners of great gems like the Hope Diamond?
6921"Ghostly Stakeout"UnknownUnknownFebruary 22, 1979 (1979-02-22)789
Ghostly Stakeout: In a haunted house, a psychic team contacts troubled spirits that live on after death.
7022"Brain Power"UnknownUnknownMarch 17, 1979 (1979-03-17)790
Brain Power: A study of the incredible hidden potential of the human mind, including the possibility that average people can become geniuses.
7123"Sodom & Gomorrah"UnknownUnknownMay 10, 1979 (1979-05-10)764
Sodom and Gomorrah: Studies evidence developed by archaeologists suggesting that the two wicked cities existed on the site of a crater now filled in by the Dead Sea.
7224"King Tut"UnknownUnknownMay 17, 1979 (1979-05-17)780

King Tut: Investigates the ancient Egyptian monarch's final days. Was he a beloved leader who died a natural death or did court intrigues lead to his assassination?

Years after this installment was transmitted, Egyptological historians became convinced that Tutankhamun was in atrocious health for almost his entire life due to birth deformities. These historians came to believe that his birth deformities resulted from inbreeding within the Pharaoh's family.

Season 4 (1979–1980)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
7301"Tidal Waves"UnknownUnknownSeptember 20, 1979 (1979-09-20)830
Tidal Waves: See a reenactment of the incredible destruction wrought by the tsunami (giant sea wave) that struck Hawaii in 1960.
7402"Carlos, the Most Wanted Man in the World"UnknownUnknownSeptember 27, 1979 (1979-09-27)847

Carlos, The World's Most Wanted Man: A chilling profile of the playboy-turned-terrorist called Carlos the Jackal, who was called "The World's Most Wanted Man."

In 1994, Carlos was given up to French intelligence by the Government of Sudan, was charged and subsequently convicted of murder of an informant and is serving a life term in prison, which was lengthened with an additional life term for a terrorist attack on French soil.
7503"The Amityville Horror"UnknownUnknownOctober 4, 1979 (1979-10-04)831
The Amityville Horror: A dream house in a lovely suburb becomes a nightmare when the owners discover an evil presence. The house was the site of a family massacre in 1974, which would inspire the 1979 movie and its 2005 remake.
7604"UFO Australia"UnknownUnknownOctober 11, 1979 (1979-10-11)836
UFO Australia: Actual film footage of unidentified flying objects flying Down Under. Includes interview with New Zealand pilot and author Bruce Cathie.
7705"Immortal Sharks"UnknownUnknownOctober 18, 1979 (1979-10-18)837
Immortal Sharks: Why has the great white shark not evolved as other animals have? Leonard Nimoy hosts this look at this most ancient and primitive creature.
7806"The Lost Colony of Roanoke"UnknownUnknownOctober 25, 1979 (1979-10-25)834
The Lost Colony of Roanoke: A look at new evidence which offers an intriguing theory about where the colonists went.
7907"The Shroud of Turin"UnknownUnknownNovember 8, 1979 (1979-11-08)825
The Shroud of Turin: An in-depth examination of the famed cloth that many believe holds the image of Jesus Christ.
8008"Mexican Pyramids"UnknownUnknownNovember 15, 1979 (1979-11-15)838
Mexican Pyramids: The bloody story of the great pyramids, which were used for daily human sacrifices.
8109"The Abominable Snowman"UnknownUnknownNovember 22, 1979 (1979-11-22)832
The Abominable Snowman: Leonard Nimoy examines the experiences of the explorers who say they have actually sighted the legendary creature.
8210"Pompeii"TBDTBD ()TBA
Pompeii: This great Roman city was a wealthy resort and mecca for fun-lovers before it was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Were early Christians among the Roman revelers?
8311"D.B. Cooper"UnknownUnknownDecember 6, 1979 (1979-12-06)850
D. B. Cooper: The incredible story of the man who hijacked a jetliner, parachuted out with his loot, and was never seen again.
8412"The Ten Commandments"UnknownUnknownDecember 13, 1979 (1979-12-13)843
The Ten Commandments: Leonard Nimoy profiles Moses and tries to pinpoint Mount Sinai's exact location. Have pilgrims to the Holy Land been praying at the wrong location?
8513"The Dark Star"UnknownUnknownDecember 20, 1979 (1979-12-20)848
The Dark Star: Travel to Africa to find out why the Dogon, a primitive tribe knows so much about astronomy, a black hole, and travelers from outer space.
8614"The San Andreas Fault"UnknownUnknownDecember 27, 1979 (1979-12-27)840
The San Andreas Fault: Analyzes California's great earthquake fault line to determine whether the long-predicted catastrophic quake can be predicted.
8715"The Missing Heir"UnknownUnknownJanuary 3, 1980 (1980-01-03)842
The Missing Heirs: There is still a $3.2 million fortune that remains unclaimed after a century. To whom does it belong?
8816"Vincent Van Gogh"Unknown Leonard Nimoy January 10, 1980 (1980-01-10)849
Van Gogh: A look at the life and death of the great Dutch master—was he really mad? Host Leonard Nimoy, who wrote this installment partially to promote his one-man show Vincent, found evidence that he was not.
8917"Wild Children"UnknownUnknownJanuary 17, 1980 (1980-01-17)826
Wild Children: Can these children survive in civilization? Leonard Nimoy examines several historical cases.
9018"The Ghost Ship"UnknownUnknownJanuary 24, 1980 (1980-01-24)827
The Ghost Ship: In 1872, the captain and crew of the Mary Celeste vanished without a trace. The sails were set to the wind and breakfast was on the table. Who or what possessed the ship?
9119"Earth Visitors"UnknownUnknownJanuary 31, 1980 (1980-01-31)844
Earth Visitors: Were our earliest ancestors travelers from other planets?
9220"John the Baptist"UnknownUnknownFebruary 7, 1980 (1980-02-07)841
John the Baptist: An investigation to determine whether the great holy man's remains are in Europe or Egypt.
9321"Air Disaster Prediction"UnknownUnknownFebruary 14, 1980 (1980-02-14)829
Air Disaster Predictions: A study of reports that major air crashes have been seen or predicted beforehand in nightmares. Includes the 1979 crash of American Airlines Flight 191.
9422"The Bimini Wall"UnknownUnknownFebruary 21, 1980 (1980-02-21)851
The Bimini Wall: The saga of the giant stones found at the bottom of the Caribbean. Leonard Nimoy probes whether they might be part of the ancient, supposedly mythical, empire of Atlantis.
9523"Glenn Miller"UnknownUnknownMarch 7, 1980 (1980-03-07)845
Glenn Miller: An inquiry into why the mysterious death—or disappearance—of the great musician was never investigated, and a possible military cover-up.
9624"Past Lives"UnknownUnknownMarch 14, 1980 (1980-03-14)833
Past Lives: Can reincarnation be proved? Leonard Nimoy examines the data, testimony, and theories.

Season 5 (1980–1981)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
9701"UFO Coverups"UnknownUnknownSeptember 20, 1980 (1980-09-20)856

UFO Cover-Ups: Examines charges that the U.S. Air Force is hiding alien corpses and the remains of crashed space craft in Hangar 18 of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio.

NOTE: This was one of the first nationally broadcast programs to discuss the so-called Roswell Incident.
9802"Faith Healing"UnknownUnknownSeptember 27, 1980 (1980-09-27)852
Faith Healing: Is faith healing a hoax or holistic medicine?
9903"Lee Harvey Oswald"UnknownUnknownOctober 4, 1980 (1980-10-04)854
Lee Harvey Oswald: The assassination of John F. Kennedy: was there visual proof of two guns in Dallas and possibly two Oswalds?
10004"Daredevil Death Wish"UnknownUnknownOctober 11, 1980 (1980-10-11)859
Daredevil Death Wish: A look at some of the impossible stunts daredevils attempt, and why they keep trying even after suffering near-fatal injuries. This reflected and echoed one of the That's Incredible! segments, "Incredibly Dangerous," which itself became embroiled in controversy when some of the stuntmen/daredevils it featured were injured severely enough to ruin their careers as such.
10105"Life After Life"UnknownUnknownOctober 18, 1980 (1980-10-18)855
Life after Life: The stories of people who claim they have had after-life experiences and say they no longer fear death.
10206"Moon Madness"UnknownUnknownOctober 25, 1980 (1980-10-25)853
Moon Madness: Violence and passion are commonplace when the moon is full. Is there any truth to the Werewolf legends? Leonard Nimoy hosts this historical look at lunacy.
10307"Dangerous Volcanoes"UnknownUnknownNovember 1, 1980 (1980-11-01)868
Dangerous Volcanoes: Scientists wonder whether California's Mount Shasta, Washington's Mount St. Helens, and other American volcanoes will soon erupt again. [20]
10408"The Lindbergh Kidnapping"UnknownUnknownNovember 8, 1980 (1980-11-08)864
The Lindbergh Kidnapping: Digs for the facts behind the controversy that still rages today, the kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh's baby. Was the wrong man executed for the crime?
10509"Acupuncture"UnknownUnknownNovember 15, 1980 (1980-11-15)870
Acupuncture: A study of the healing technique which may cure incurable diseases. Leonard Nimoy investigates the power of the ancient Chinese healing art.
10610"Jimmy Hoffa"UnknownUnknownNovember 22, 1980 (1980-11-22)862
Jimmy Hoffa: A probe into the disappearance of James Riddle Hoffa, the mob-connected President of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Was he killed, kidnapped, or did he go underground?
10711"Fountain of Youth"UnknownUnknownNovember 29, 1980 (1980-11-29)TBA
The Fountain of Youth: A look at the various scientific ways people use to stay young for years longer.
10812"Laugh Therapy"UnknownUnknownDecember 6, 1980 (1980-12-06)858
Laugh Therapy: Can laughter combat disease? A Nobel Prize winner says he cured himself after doctors gave up hope.
10913"Salem Witches"UnknownUnknownDecember 13, 1980 (1980-12-13)865
Salem Witches: Are the witches of Salem still casting spells in Massachusetts?
11014"Super Children"UnknownUnknownDecember 27, 1980 (1980-12-27)867
Super Children: Investigates scientific efforts to produce a generation of child prodigies; are they born or made?
11115"The Great Wall of China"UnknownUnknownJanuary 10, 1981 (1981-01-10)869
The Great Wall of China: The story of the one of the world's greatest wonders - who built it and why?
11216"The Castle of Secrets"UnknownUnknownJanuary 24, 1981 (1981-01-24)876
The Castle of Secrets: The saga of the Coral Castle, said to have been built by Edward Leedskalnin, a frail hermit who allegedly carved and lifted 1,100 tons of solid stone blocks weighing up to 30 tons each using the secrets of Atlantis.
11317"The Great Lovers"Unknown Leonard Nimoy January 31, 1981 (1981-01-31)878
The Great Lovers: A look at some of history's famous lovers. What drove certain men to pursue sensual pleasure above all else? The program compares the legends of Don Juan and Casanova. Host Leonard Nimoy wrote this installment.
11418"The Holy Grail"UnknownUnknownFebruary 7, 1981 (1981-02-07)879
The Holy Grail: Explores the claims that the chalice used by Jesus at the Last Supper may have been found.
11519"The Death of Marilyn Monroe"UnknownUnknownFebruary 14, 1981 (1981-02-14)860
The Death of Marilyn Monroe: Examines evidence that suggests that the Hollywood star may not have committed suicide.
11620"Chinese Explorers"UnknownUnknownFebruary 21, 1981 (1981-02-21)871
Chinese Explorers: Did the Chinese discover America 1,000 years before Columbus? Leonard Nimoy explores evidence that a Buddhist monk named Hu-Shen arrived on the American continent in AD 458.
11721"The Hindenburg Mystery"UnknownUnknownFebruary 21, 1981 (1981-02-21)873
The Hindenburg Mystery: A probe into the theory alleging that the famed Nazi "lighter-than-air" ship, which exploded while landing at Lakehurst, New Jersey, in 1937, was destroyed by political saboteurs.
11822"The End of the World"UnknownUnknownApril 30, 1981 (1981-04-30)877
The End of the World: Will an asteroid or comet on a collision course with Earth end it all?
11923"The Lusitania"UnknownUnknownMay 16, 1981 (1981-05-16)874
The Lusitania : An in-depth examination into the sinking of the British liner by a German submarine in 1915, killing over 1,000 passengers, including 114 Americans. Was it really all part of a plot to involve the U.S. in World War I?
12024"Sun Worshippers"UnknownUnknownMay 19, 1981 (1981-05-19)866
Sun Worshippers: Will solar energy free us from dependence on foreign oil? Leonard Nimoy analyzes how solar energy stacks up against fossil fuel and nuclear energy.

Season 6 (1981–1982)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
12101"Jesse James"UnknownUnknownSeptember 21, 1981 (1981-09-21)913
Jesse James: Probes one of the most intriguing questions of the Old West—was legendary gunman Jesse James shot in the back, or did he escape capture and live to a ripe old age?
12202"Biofeedback"UnknownUnknownSeptember 28, 1981 (1981-09-28)901
Biofeedback: A revealing study of how computers are now healing the sick and building sports champions.
12303"Ghosts in Photography"UnknownUnknownOctober 5, 1981 (1981-10-05)915
Ghosts in Photography: Is it possible to photograph the dead?
12404"M.I.A.'s"UnknownUnknownOctober 12, 1981 (1981-10-12)914
M.I.A.s: An investigation into a highly controversial and emotional question: Are American servicemen still lingering in prison in Vietnam?
12505"The Elephant Man"UnknownUnknownOctober 19, 1981 (1981-10-19)912
The Elephant Man: From side-show freak to the friend of royalty, review the true story of the horribly disfigured Joseph Merrick.
12606"The Lincoln Conspiracy"UnknownUnknownOctober 26, 1981 (1981-10-26)907
The Lincoln Conspiracy: Cracks "the case of the 19th century"—how the assassination of Abraham Lincoln was meticulously planned and abominably executed.
12707"Jim Jones"UnknownUnknownOctober 31, 1981 (1981-10-31)908
Jim Jones: The story that shocked the world—how Jim Jones, the cult Svengali from California, convinced over 900 of his followers to follow him—first to a commune in Guyana and then into suicide.
12808"King Solomon's Mines"UnknownUnknownNovember 2, 1981 (1981-11-02)920
King Solomon's Mines: A look at one of the most exciting searches of all—the hunt for the riches of the Old Testament. Did King Solomon actually have a mine near Mount Sinai?
12909"The Tower of London Murders"UnknownUnknownNovember 9, 1981 (1981-11-09)903
The Tower of London Murders: How the destiny of England was changed by the disappearance of young princes from the fabled Tower. Were they murdered on the orders of their uncle, Richard III of England?
13010"The Aztec Conquest"UnknownUnknownNovember 16, 1981 (1981-11-16)922
The Aztec Conquest: Why did the great Montezuma surrender to Cortes without fighting? What part did Aztec legend about a bearded white god play in the ultimate downfall of the Aztec Empire?
13111"Houdini's Secrets"UnknownUnknownNovember 21, 1981 (1981-11-21)916
Houdini's Secrets: Probes the still-mysterious secrets of the world's greatest escape artist, including the theory that Houdini came back after death.
13212"Hiroshima Survivors"UnknownUnknownNovember 23, 1981 (1981-11-23)904
Hiroshima Survivors: A revealing study of the wounds suffered by survivors of the first A-bomb blast, which killed more than 80,000 Japanese civilians on August 6, 1945.
13313"The Titanic"UnknownUnknownNovember 30, 1981 (1981-11-30)918
Titanic : Investigates the most perplexing question about the 1912 North Atlantic disaster that cost 1,496 lives: Why did the captain ignore the ice warnings and speed on into oblivion?
13414"Future Life"UnknownUnknownDecember 6, 1981 (1981-12-06)923
Future Life: What might the world be like for our children?
13515"Nostradamus"UnknownUnknownDecember 13, 1981 (1981-12-13)911
Nostradamus: Examines the life of Nostradamus and his predictions.
13616"Spirit Voices"UnknownUnknownDecember 20, 1981 (1981-12-20)925
Spirit Voices: Do loved ones call back to us from their next lives? Leonard Nimoy examines historical claims of voices from the beyond, as well as scientific research into the possibility of spirit voices.
13717"The Human Aura"UnknownUnknownJanuary 3, 1982 (1982-01-03)910
The Human Aura: A look at the multi-colored rays we transmit, which seem to change with our moods.
13818"The Missing Link"UnknownUnknownJanuary 17, 1982 (1982-01-17)921
The Missing Link: Delves into one of the most intriguing questions of all—which side is right, science or creationists?
13919"Time & Space Travel"UnknownUnknownJanuary 24, 1982 (1982-01-24)924
Time and Space Travel: Is it possible to travel through space faster than the speed of light and avoid aging?
14020"Eva Braun"UnknownUnknownFebruary 1, 1982 (1982-02-01)927
Eva Braun: Explores the possibility that Adolf Hitler's wife may not have died with him down in the bunker in April 1945. This episode features British historians David Irving and Hugh Trevor Roper.
14121"The Walls of Jericho"UnknownUnknownFebruary 8, 1982 (1982-02-08)919
The Walls of Jericho: The great Biblical saga is examined for evidence that the walls really did tumble down for Joshua.
14222"Bishop Pike"UnknownUnknownFebruary 15, 1982 (1982-02-15)917
Bishop Pike: Was Bishop James Pike a minister, a martyr, or a madman?
14323"The Ultimate Disaster"UnknownUnknownFebruary 22, 1982 (1982-02-22)926
Ultimate Disaster: Delves into the ultimate question—how will life on this planet perish?
14424"Life Before Birth"UnknownUnknownMarch 1, 1982 (1982-03-01)928
Life Before Birth: Is an unborn baby aware of the world around him?

Sci-Fi Channel revival (2002)

A revival of the series aired on The Sci-Fi Channel for one season, hosted by Mitch Pileggi.

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
1451"Hell/Vampires/The Tesla Death Ray/Scandinavian Lake Monsters"UnknownUnknownOctober 4, 2002 (2002-10-04)1803
1462"Witchcraft/The Man Eaters of Tsavo/The Alien Menace/Ghost Hitchhikers"UnknownUnknownOctober 11, 2002 (2002-10-11)1806
1473"Werewolves/The Curse of The Mummy/D.B. Cooper Deathbed Confession/Reincarnation"UnknownUnknownOctober 18, 2002 (2002-10-18)1805
1484"The Ghosts in Bobby Mackey's Bar/Stigmata/The Haunted Hornet/Zombies"UnknownUnknownOctober 25, 2002 (2002-10-25)1801
1495"The Catacomb Mummies/The Johnson Bigfoot Encounter/The Secret of Rennes-le-Château/Earthquake Predictions"UnknownUnknownNovember 1, 2002 (2002-11-01)1802
1506"Haunted Plantations/The Doomsday Virus/The Devil/Psychic Spies"UnknownUnknownNovember 8, 2002 (2002-11-08)1804
1517"Ghost Lovers/Exorcism & Possession/Robot Armageddon/The Haunted Campus of Ohio University"UnknownUnknownNovember 15, 2002 (2002-11-15)1807
1528"Faith Healers/The Real Frankenstein/The Shroud of Turin/Alien Ancestors"UnknownUnknownNovember 22, 2002 (2002-11-22)1808

History Channel revival (2018–2019)

A second revival of the series aired on The History Channel for two seasons, hosted by Zachary Quinto. [21]

Season 1 (2018)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
15301"Aliens"UnknownUnknownJuly 20, 2018 (2018-07-20)1001
Quinto sets out to discover whether aliens exist and what evidence we have to prove it. He meets with several people who say they have encountered extra-terrestrial life; a man who claims to have been abducted by aliens several times since childhood; a man who claims to have extracted an alien implant; and a woman who shows Zachary what it feels like to be abducted into a spacecraft. Zachary also meets with the world's leading scientists at SETI in Green Banks, West Virginia. There, utilizing the world's largest telescope, they show him the methods they employ to communicate with potential other-worldly visitors and what this research has taught them about a mysterious radio signal they picked up 3 billion light years away.
15402"SuperHuman"UnknownUnknownJuly 27, 2018 (2018-07-27)1002
Quinto wants to understand how one can have superhuman abilities of strength, pain, and endurance. He meets a man who bent the metal frame of a car door with his bare hands in a moment of crisis, and a man who can feel no pain. He also meets with a Shaolin warrior monk who shows him some of the secrets to his training as he demonstrates breaking a wooden staff over his own head. Zachary learns to harness superhuman powers of his own through demonstrations by the monk, who in turn teaches Zachary how to break the staff as well.
15503"Monsters of the Deep"UnknownUnknownAugust 3, 2018 (2018-08-03)1003
Quinto sets out to research the strangest creatures from the depths of the ocean and to see how much they resemble monsters that are depicted in myth and legend. Starting in Australia, he meets with a teenager who was savagely attacked by a swarm of mysterious flesh-eating monsters, only to jump into the water himself the next day among highly venomous sea creatures. From the carnivorous fish of American rivers to the eyeless monsters of the Atlantic Ocean, Zachary finds some merit in these old monster stories.
15604"Artificial Intelligence"UnknownUnknownAugust 10, 2018 (2018-08-10)1004
Quinto embarks on a journey to understand how the future of artificial intelligence may already be a threat to humanity. He visits Facebook headquarters where he learns about a failed AI experiment when two chat boxes created a language that only they could understand. Zachary also gets a firsthand look at the world's latest technology–including life-like dolls programmed with advanced AI, robots that learn and communicate, highly intelligent drones of war, and Uber self-driving cars.
15705"Time Travel"UnknownUnknownAugust 17, 2018 (2018-08-17)1005
Quinto charts a journey to determine whether time travel is possible. He meets a man who claims to have traveled back in time due to a secret government program and a group of people living in Liverpool known as "time slippers". Zachary then makes a visit to the CERN headquarters in Geneva, where he attempts to understand the origins of the universe and the dimension of time. Equipped with this new knowledge, Zachary tests his own perception of time with an elaborate skydiving experiment to see if he can slow down time itself.
15806"Sinkholes"UnknownUnknownAugust 24, 2018 (2018-08-24)1006
Quinto explores the unpredictable phenomenon of sinkholes to determine just what causes them. He visits a Florida man whose brother was killed when their family home was literally swallowed whole by earth. He also visits a series of caves that are forming right below the houses of a quaint suburban neighborhood.
15907"Mind Control"UnknownUnknownAugust 31, 2018 (2018-08-31)1007
Quinto explores the dark world of psychological mind control. He meets with a person who claims that they were surgically implanted with an electronic harassment device in his head and neck. He continues his search by examining the recent sonic attacks on American diplomats in Cuba and listens to the sound of an actual sonic weapon. In the end, he agrees to give up total control of his mind in a showdown with a mentalist.
16008"Life After Death"UnknownUnknownSeptember 7, 2018 (2018-09-07)1008
Quinto tackles the ultimate existential question as he explores what happens when we die and whether or not we can have life after death. He meets with a Texas man who actually died and came back to life after a kayaking accident [ clarification needed ]. He continues his search by attempting to speak with spirits from beyond the grave with the help of a paranormal investigator who claims to possess audio and video communication with his deceased daughter. He also looks at the strange world of cryogenics at Alcor laboratories in Arizona, and uncovers a research on an anti-aging pill at Harvard University.[ clarification needed ]
16109"Atlantis Part 1"UnknownUnknownSeptember 14, 2018 (2018-09-14)1009
Using a checklist derived from Plato's ancient writing as his guide, Quinto begins a journey to find the lost civilization of Atlantis and prove that it was a real empire. He begins in Greece where he dives deep into the heart of the Mediterranean Sea, looking for signs of Atlantis amongst the relics of a sunken settlement. His journey leads him to the Palace of Knossos on Crete, where he finds many alleged similarities between Atlantis and the mysterious Minoan civilization. Ultimately, he lands on the island of Sardinia, where he uncovers even more connections to Plato's checklist and possible evidence of an advanced ancient alphabet.
16210"Atlantis Part 2"UnknownUnknownSeptember 14, 2018 (2018-09-14)1010
Quinto continues his quest to find the lost civilization of Atlantis and prove that it was a real and thriving empire. On the island of Sardinia, he uncovers even more compelling evidence of an advanced civilization matching Plato's description of Atlantis -- both inside a dark cave and amongst ancient circular ruins. He then shifts his search, looking for clues about the descendants of Atlantis and their connection to the rare RH negative blood type. This ultimately leads him to a new location in Morocco, where he uncovers more connections to Plato's checklist than anywhere else he has encountered on his search.

Season 2 (2019)

No.
overall
No. in
season
TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal air dateProd.
code
16301"The Loch Ness Monster Part 1"UnknownUnknownOctober 4, 2019 (2019-10-04)2001
16402"The Loch Ness Monster Part 2"UnknownUnknownOctober 11, 2019 (2019-10-11)2002
16503"The Lost Colony of Roanoke"UnknownUnknownOctober 18, 2019 (2019-10-18)2003
16604"Secrets of the Bible"UnknownUnknownNovember 1, 2019 (2019-11-01)2004
16705"The Bermuda Triangle"UnknownUnknownNovember 8, 2019 (2019-11-08)2005
16806"Nazi Secrets"UnknownUnknownNovember 15, 2019 (2019-11-15)2006
16907"UFOs"UnknownUnknownNovember 22, 2019 (2019-11-22)2007
17008"The End of the World"UnknownUnknownNovember 29, 2019 (2019-11-29)2008

Home media releases

In February 2012, it was announced that Visual Entertainment, under license from Universal Studios, had acquired the home video rights to the original series for the United States and Canada. In Search of: The Complete Collection was released in Canada and the U.S. on December 11, 2012, from VEI's website. [22]

The 21-DVD set includes all 144 installments hosted by Leonard Nimoy. Also included are two Rod Serling specials: In Search of Ancient Astronauts and In Search of Ancient Mysteries which aired prior to the start of the regular Nimoy series. Three Landsburg specials The Outer Space Connection (1975), Secrets of the Bermuda Triangle (1978), and Manbeast! Myth or Monster (1978), are not included. VEI also included all eight episodes of the short-lived 2002 series hosted by Mitch Pileggi. [23]

Homages

The style of the original In Search of... has been paid homage to and parodied by many productions. Examples include Mysteries in History, a show-within-a-show that plays a part in the plotline to Men in Black II (the faux series is hosted by Peter Graves in the film; coincidentally, Graves once co-starred with Nimoy in Mission: Impossible ). Two other examples are Truth from Legend and Fact from Myth, two nearly identical series existing in alternate universes for which "mini-episodes" were created for YouTube as part of the viral marketing campaign for the two-part video game BioShock Infinite: Burial at Sea .

See also

Other series using a similar title:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Nimoy</span> American actor (1931–2015)

Leonard Simon Nimoy was an American actor and director, famed for playing Spock in the Star Trek franchise for almost 50 years. This includes originating Spock in the original Star Trek series in 1966, then Star Trek: The Animated Series, the first six Star Trek films, Star Trek: The Next Generation, the 2009 Star Trek film, and Star Trek Into Darkness. Nimoy also directed films, including Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986), and Three Men and a Baby (1987), and his career included roles in music videos and video games. In addition to acting and filmmaking, Nimoy was a photographer, author, singer, and songwriter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spock</span> Fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise

Spock is a fictional character in the Star Trek media franchise. He first appeared in the original Star Trek series serving aboard the starship USS Enterprise as science officer and first officer and later as commanding officer of the vessel. Spock's mixed human–Vulcan heritage serves as an important plot element in many of the character's appearances. Along with Captain James T. Kirk and Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy, he is one of the three central characters in the original Star Trek series and its films. After retiring from active duty in Starfleet, Spock served as a Federation ambassador, and later became involved in the ill-fated attempt to save Romulus from a supernova, leading him to live out the rest of his life in a parallel universe.

<i>Chariots of the Gods?</i> 1968 book by Erich von Däniken

Chariots of the Gods? Unsolved Mysteries of the Past is a book written in 1968 by Erich von Däniken and translated from the original German by Michael Heron. It involves the hypothesis that the technologies and religions of many ancient civilizations were given to them by ancient astronauts who were welcomed as gods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vulcan nerve pinch</span> Martial art move in Star Trek

In the fictional Star Trek universe, the Vulcan nerve pinch is a fictional technique used mainly by Vulcans to render unconsciousness by pinching a pressure point at the base of the victim's neck.

<i>I Am Spock</i> Leonard Nimoys second autobiography

I Am Spock is the second volume of actor and director Leonard Nimoy's autobiography. The book was published in 1995, four years after the release of the last Star Trek motion picture starring the entire original cast, and covers the majority of Nimoy's time with Star Trek in general and Mr. Spock in particular. The book's title was a reference to the first volume of his autobiography, I Am Not Spock, which had been published in 1975. At that time, Nimoy had sought to distance his own personality from that of the character of Spock, although he nonetheless remained proud of his time on the show. Negative fan reaction to the title gave Nimoy the idea for the title of the second volume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins</span> 1967 song by Charles Randolph Grean

"The Ballad of Bilbo Baggins" is a song composed by Charles Randolph Grean and performed by Leonard Nimoy, telling the story of Bilbo Baggins and his adventures in J. R. R. Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit. The recording was featured on the 1968 album Two Sides of Leonard Nimoy, the second of Nimoy's albums on Dot Records. It was also released as a single in July 1967, backed with a "modern thought-image" folk song called "Cotton Candy".

Paranormal television is a genre of reality television that purports to document factual investigations of the paranormal rather than fictional representations seen in traditional narrative films and TV. Over the years, the genre has grown to be a staple of television and even changed the programming focus of networks like the History Channel and the Travel Channel. By highlighting beliefs in topics ranging from Bigfoot to aliens, paranormal television continues to elevate popular interest in the paranormal.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zachary Quinto</span> American actor (b. 1977)

Zachary John Quinto is an American actor. He is known for his roles as Sylar, the primary antagonist from the science fiction drama series Heroes (2006–2010); Spock in the film Star Trek (2009) and its sequels Star Trek Into Darkness (2013) and Star Trek Beyond (2016); Charlie Manx in the AMC series NOS4A2, and Dr. Oliver Thredson in American Horror Story: Asylum, for which he received a nomination for an Emmy Award. He stars in and produces Brilliant Minds, a medical drama on NBC. His other starring film roles include Margin Call (2011), Hitman: Agent 47 (2015), Snowden (2016), and Hotel Artemis (2018). He also appeared in smaller roles on television series, such as So Notorious, The Slap, and 24, and on stage in Angels in America, The Glass Menagerie, and Smokefall.

<i>Truth or Scare</i> 2001 American TV series or program

Truth or Scare is an American television series on the Discovery Kids network. The show aired from October 25, 2001, to January 1, 2003. It was hosted by Michelle Trachtenberg in a style similar to Maila Nurmi as horror host "Vampira" and Cassandra Peterson as horror host "Elvira, Mistress of the Dark." The series first aired on Discovery Kids as a part of the network's Scary Saturday Night Sleepover lineup. After the series ended, reruns of the show aired on The Hub until October 29, 2012.

"Avatar" is the twenty-first episode of the third season of the science fiction television series The X-Files. It premiered on the Fox network in the United States on April 26, 1996. The story for the episode was developed by David Duchovny and Howard Gordon, the teleplay was written by Gordon, and it was directed by James Charleston. The episode is a "Monster-of-the-Week" story, unconnected to the series' wider mythology, although The Smoking Man's machinations in the conspiracy against Skinner continues the feud between the characters started in "Paper Clip". "Avatar" earned a Nielsen household rating of 9.3, being watched by 14.62 million viewers in its initial broadcast. The episode received mixed reviews from television critics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alan Landsburg</span> American television writer

Alan William Landsburg was an American television writer, producer, and director. He was the founder and CEO of Alan Landsburg Productions and the Landsburg Company and was involved in producing over fifty movies of the week. He had over 2,000 hours of television production experience.

<i>Weird Travels</i> 2001 American TV series or program

Weird Travels is an American documentary paranormal television series that originally aired from 2001 to 2006 on the Travel Channel. Produced by Authentic Entertainment, the program features various paranormal subjects around the world, especially monsters and purportedly haunted locations around the world. The series is narrated by Don Wildman, who also hosts and narrates History's documentary television series Cities of the Underworld and Travel Channel's Off Limits.

<i>Ghost Adventures</i> American paranormal reality television show

Ghost Adventures is an American paranormal and reality television series that premiered on October 17, 2008, on the Travel Channel before moving to Discovery+ in 2021. An independent film of the same name originally aired on the Sci-Fi Channel on July 25, 2007. The program follows ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Aaron Goodwin, Billy Tolley, and Jay Wasley as they investigate locations that are reported to be haunted.

"Stowaway" is the 17th episode of the third season of the American science fiction drama television series Fringe, and the 60th episode overall. It followed the Fringe team's investigation into a woman, Dana Gray, who repeatedly but unsuccessfully tries to commit suicide. Meanwhile, Olivia continues to serve as the host for William Bell, to the dismay of most of her other team members.

"The Recombination Hypothesis" is the 13th episode of the fifth season, as well as the 100th episode overall, of the American television sitcom The Big Bang Theory. It premiered on CBS in the United States on January 19, 2012. In this episode, Leonard impulsively asks Penny out for dinner on a date.

The Outer Space Connection is a 1975 documentary film produced by Alan Landsburg, directed by Fred Warshofsky and narrated by Rod Serling. This documentary was the last in a trilogy of ancient astronaut documentaries produced by Landsburg. This film was one of the last projects that Rod Serling worked on prior to his death in 1975.

<i>For the Love of Spock</i> 2016 film by Adam Nimoy

For the Love of Spock is a 2016 American documentary film about actor Leonard Nimoy produced by 455 Films and directed by his son Adam Nimoy, who started it before his father's death, at the age of 83, on February 27, 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Development of Spock</span> Aspect of the Star Trek character

The development of Spock, a fictional character first introduced in the American science fiction television series Star Trek, began prior to the start of the series. The first known mention of Spock was in a discussion between Gene Roddenberry and Gary Lockwood, where the latter suggested Leonard Nimoy for the role. Roddenberry agreed with the suggestion, and Nimoy became the first choice actor for the part. However, Roddenberry was required to audition other actors for the role. It was offered to both DeForest Kelley and Martin Landau before Nimoy. Nimoy disliked the prosthetic ears he was required to wear, and there were concerns from the studio that they made him appear satanic. Roddenberry fought to keep the character in the second pilot, "Where No Man Has Gone Before" after the rest of the main cast was dropped from the initial pilot, "The Cage".

<i>The UnXplained</i> 2019 American TV series or program

The UnXplained is a television series on History that claims to "explore subjects that have mystified mankind for centuries". The show is hosted and executive produced by William Shatner. It premiered on July 19, 2019, and has aired for seven seasons.

References

  1. "R.I.P. Leonard Nimoy Passes Away At Age 83". bloody-disgusting.com. February 27, 2015. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  2. "Theory and Conjecture: 'In Search of…' and the Golden Age of Paranormal TV". We Are the Mutants. February 8, 2018. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  3. In Search Of... Intro/Outro Music, Season 1 vs 2-6, January 14, 2013, retrieved December 4, 2023
  4. Release catalog number AVL 6008 by American Variety International Records Distributing Corp. 9220 Sunset Blvd., Los Angeles, California 90069.
  5. Nimoy, Leonard, Vincent (Biography), Leonard Nimoy, Petunia Productions, Plenty to Do Productions, ABC Video Enterprises, retrieved December 4, 2023
  6. "Alan Landsburg". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved December 4, 2023.
  7. Webster, Nicholas, Manbeast! Myth or Monster? (Documentary, Mystery), Celia Byrne, Peter Byrne, Don Hood, retrieved December 4, 2023
  8. "Zachary Quinto investigates the paranormal on History's revival of In Search Of – reality blurred". January 30, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  9. "History's 'In Search Of' Renewed For Season 2 + New Series 'The Unxplained' With William Shatner". RenewCancelTV. March 29, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  10. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/television-this-week/docview/122806077/se-2?accountid=196403
  11. "The "In Search of..." episode "Strange Visitors" aired in NYC on 12/20/1976". December 19, 1976.
  12. "Television This Week". The New York Times. September 26, 1976. p. D25. ProQuest   122887978.
  13. "The "In Search of..." episode "The Bermuda Triangle" aired in NYC on 9/27/1976". September 27, 1976.
  14. https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/television/docview/122860951/se-2?accountid=196403
  15. "The "In Search of..." episode "Ghosts" aired in NYC on 10/4/1976". October 4, 1976.
  16. "Television This Week". The New York Times. September 19, 1976. p. 101. ProQuest   122926112.
  17. "The "In Search of..." episode "The Loch Ness Monster" aired in NYC on 9/20/1976". Daily News. September 20, 1976. p. 57.
  18. https://www.proquest.com/historical-newspapers/television/docview/122860207/se-2?accountid=196403
  19. "The "In Search of..." episode "UFOs" aired in NYC on 10/11/1976". October 11, 1976.
  20. Mount St. Helens eventually did erupt, an eruption that covered the nearby community in volcanic ash but ultimately did little lasting damage.
  21. "In Search Of (History)". The Futon Critic. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  22. "In Search Of.. with Leonard Nimoy DVD: The Complete Collection #5580". Visual Entertainment Inc. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  23. "In Search of... DVD news: Box Art and Details for in Search of... - the Complete Collection | TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on September 9, 2012. Retrieved September 8, 2012.