NATGEO Says ‘The truth is out there’ in New Series: ‘Chasing UFOs’

Think you’ve seen a UFO? You are in good company. According to a recently released study by National Geographic Channel, 80 million Americans are certain UFOs exist and that one in 10 believe they’ve spotted one. Specifically, Seventeen percent of Americans don’t believe UFOs exist, 36% think they do, and 48% aren’t sure.

“We wanted the pulse on people’s opinions,” says Brad Dancer, senior vice president of research and digital media for National Geographic. “We wanted to get a sense of how Americans view UFOs, what people believe and how mainstream pop culture may or may not be playing into their opinions on it.”

The survey was commissioned for National Geographic Channel as part of the lead up to a its’ new cable series Chasing UFOs, premiering Friday at 9 p.m. ET/PT. The eight-part series questions whether the “truth is out there,” and follows three intrepid adventurers in their search for it. A skeptic, a believer and an undecided, Ryder, Ben, and James respectively, trained investigators and thrill-seekers alike, travel to UFO hot spots to find answers, interviewing witnesses and collecting original video footage of strange sightings.

Erin Ryder is the resident undecided traveler. She brings an aggressive pursuit of the truth and a zealous passion for research. Ryder’s deep desire for knowledge helps her serve as the show’s barometer, weighing the facts surrounding her co-hosts’ opposite points of view. She considers herself a “skeliever,” as she falls somewhere between a skeptic and a believer. Deep down she wants to be convinced, but she will need to see the hard evidence first.

A space-minded geoscientist, Ben McGee is a skeptic. He is engaged in the development of xenoarchaeology – a speculative form of archaeology exploring possible alien life and culture. Ben is a true skeptic by nature, and as Chasing UFOs‘ resident scientist, he brings a wealth of diverse academic and scientific know-how to the team. A respected field researcher with experience in nuclear rocketry, planetary geology, hydrology and glaciology, Ben’s job is to gather evidence at proposed sites of unexplained occurrences and scientifically determine its origin.

For nearly 20 years, James Fox traveled across the world in pursuit of the truth regarding UFOs. He directed and produced three films on the subject and in 2007 orchestrated an event, with help from journalist Leslie Kean (Coalition for Freedom of Information), which to this day is hailed as the most credible civilian effort of disclosure on UFOs in history. Fox is the resident believer.

The team interviews credible sources, such as retired US Army Colonel Dr. John Alexander, who claims ufo sightings are a real undeniable phenomena, and who believes the government must stop vilifying scientists who want to report the truth. They also interview pilot like Steve Allen, who says he encountered a ufo while flying one night. But perhaps the most engaging part of the series involves the team’s own experiences.

Using night cameras, the trio walks through forests and fields, gazing at the night sky, seeking encounters with the ‘great beyond’ of their own. In a scene in the series opener, Texas is for Sightings, the team captures an unidentified flying object on camera and has no answers regarding what it could be. Naturally, Ben thinks there is a rational explanation, but he comes up short of any, leaving the tram with yet more questions.

UFO Chasers is a welcome addition to Friday night Television. It approaches the phenomenon in an even-handed manner. Viewers will find no wild ideas about ancient aliens seeding humanity or building civilizations. Rather, expect to find a down-to-earth, genuine fact and sensory-based reality TV series that vlogs the team’s encounters. Like other series, including Destination Truth and Ghost Chasers, which build tension through clever use of music, UFO Chasers is loaded with drama. Fortunately, the dramatics are not used to obscure a weak story, but merely aid pacing.

Here’s a list of a few upcoming episodes to check out:

Chasing UFOs Episode Guide