I saw a request for a review on this program, and thought ’’What the hey, I’m new, and I’ve seen the program, I’ll give it a whirl’’.
Ripley’s Believe It Or Not has a bit of history in itself. Originally it was a museum and magazine, both owned by one Robert L. Ripley, collector of oddities. The museum still stands in Southern California; please forgive me, I can’t remember where precisely.
Robert Ripley was a carny-style showman of the first order, inspired by people such as PT Barnum and the like. He delighted in presenting tales of freakish aberrations, outrageous stunts, and bizarre human and animal oddities in his magazine ’’Believe It Or Not’’ in the early half of the twentieth century. Presumably, many of his marvels where somewhat exaggerated for a better story, yet he never claimed anything was true or false, just challanged people to ’’believe it or not.’’
As a television program, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not first aired in the late ’70s, and was hosted by Jack Palance. The format was the same as it is now; medical miracles were placed along bizarre stunts, unusual mutations, and wierd hobbies. In many ways, it was similar to one of its contemporaries, the show ’’That’s Incredible’’, hosted by Cathy Lee Crosby, Fran Tarkenton, and John Davidson. Both died out for lack of ratings, and ’’Ripley’s’’ has now enjoyed a rebirth, hosted by Dean Cain, and following the original format.
The program’s credibility is on a par with Ripley himself, I would say. They challange you to believe it or not, but each segment is presented as straight fact, with video clips, testimonials, and in-studio appearances by the subjects featured. At times, believing is a bit of a stretch. If someone who has some sort of supposed psychic power is featured, for example, it’s straight performance with no effective attempt to control or prevent cheating. On the whole I would call it interesting at times, but not altogether original or memorable. I would predict it will run a few seasons, then fade away.
In my city, Ripley’s Believe It Or Not is carried by the Sci-Fi channel on cable television. It’s not outstanding, but is worth a look, and Dean Cain is a fine host.