''Is It Real?'' is an American television series that originally aired from April 25, 2005, to August 14, 2007 on the
National Geographic Channel
National Geographic (formerly National Geographic Channel; abbreviated and trademarked as Nat Geo or Nat Geo TV) is an American pay television network and flagship channel owned by the National Geographic Global Networks unit of Disney Enter ...
. The program examines popular or persistent mysteries to determine whether the featured
cryptozoological creature (
cryptid
Cryptids are animals or other beings whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by science. Cryptozoology, the study of cryptids, is a pseudoscience claiming that such beings may exist somewhere in the wild; it has been widely cri ...
) or
supernatural
Supernatural phenomena or entities are those beyond the Scientific law, laws of nature. The term is derived from Medieval Latin , from Latin 'above, beyond, outside of' + 'nature'. Although the corollary term "nature" has had multiple meanin ...
phenomenon is real or not. The show typically includes interviews with believers or proponents of the featured
paranormal
Paranormal events are purported phenomena described in popular culture, folk, and other non-scientific bodies of knowledge, whose existence within these contexts is described as being beyond the scope of normal scientific understanding. Not ...
claims, and then with scientists and
skeptics who attempt to find rational explanations for such phenomena using a scientific approach.
Reception
On June 23, 2008, members of the
Independent Investigations Group (IIG) discussed ''Is It Real?'' and stated that it viewed the show as one of the few programs that encourage science and
critical thinking
Critical thinking is the process of analyzing available facts, evidence, observations, and arguments to make sound conclusions or informed choices. It involves recognizing underlying assumptions, providing justifications for ideas and actions, ...
.
Episodes
Season 1 (2005)
Season 2 (2005–2007)
See also
*
Cryptid
Cryptids are animals or other beings whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated by science. Cryptozoology, the study of cryptids, is a pseudoscience claiming that such beings may exist somewhere in the wild; it has been widely cri ...
*
Cryptozoology
Cryptozoology is a pseudoscience and subculture that searches for and studies unknown, legendary, or extinct animals whose present existence is disputed or unsubstantiated, particularly those popular in folklore, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness ...
References
External links
* (archived)
*
{{National Geographic TV
National Geographic (American TV channel) original programming
Cryptozoological television series
2000s American reality television series
2005 American television series debuts
2007 American television series endings
Paranormal television
Scientific skepticism mass media