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"'Feejee Mermaid' has become the generic term for the many fake mermaids that can be found around the world..."
This article contains information relating to a hoax. According to Cambridge dictionary a hoax is "a plan to deceive a large group of people; a trick." |
Cover
Mermaids: The Body Found aired on May 27, 2012 on Animal Planet and June 17 on Discovery Channel. It tells a story of a scientific team's investigative efforts to uncover the source behind mysterious underwater recordings of an unidentified marine body. The show presents the generally discredited aquatic ape hypothesis as evidence that mermaids exist, along with a digitally manufactured video. A sequel broadcast called Mermaids: The New Evidence aired May 26, 2013.
Ratings[]
Mermaids: The Body Found received 1.9 million views during its US telecast premiere on Sunday, May 27, 2012. This is the network's most watched telecast since the Steve Irwin memorial special in September 2006.
Criticism[]
Mermaids has been criticized for providing false information; in fact much of the material was made up, and the scientists shown were actors. Publicity for the program included the producers falsely uploading a website that claimed U.S. government seizure of the site's domain, and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration put up a rebuttal to the program.