'Bigfoot Bounty': A Skeptic Weighs In On What Not To Do

Bigfoot judge Todd Disotell

[Editor's note: Sharon Hill is a writer who focuses on the topic of skepticism and "sciencey" sounding claims. She has a B.S. in Geosciences and a Masters degree in education focusing on science and writes for HuffingtonPost, I Doubt It and Doubtful News.]

BY SHARON HILL

I've seen the first two episodes of Bigfoot reality show "10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty" on Spike TV. Hmm, what to say, what to say…

I had high hopes for this show. Since it has two scientists as judges (such as Todd Disotell of NYU, above) and a diverse cast of characters, it seemed promising. The "Survivor"-like show features teams who are assigned challenges and are also tasked with seeking their quarry in the darkness. Unfortunately, there are many problems with this setup.

Let me count the ways this goes off track after the jump and a clip from this week's episode, airing Friday at 10 p.m.:

10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty

Bigfoot Erotica Makes For Big Business

"Fifty Shades of Grey" became one of the hottest trends nationwide with its steamy page-by-page erotica involving Christian Grey and the innocent Anastasia Steele. Now, it seems like Sasquatch himself is getting in on all the action. According to the Huffington Post’s Hilary Hanson, “Sasquatch-themed erotica has been around awhile, but the hilariously hairy phenomenon has lumbered its way into the mainstream.”

Author Virginia Wade (a pen name), has created a 3-volume, 16-book eBook series “Moan for Bigfoot,” available for download on Amazon.com . Costing an average of $3.99/installment, it's about the legendary cryptid with sometimes graphic and violent sexual encounters between the beast and his female lovers. The previous title “Cum for Bigfoot” was deemed too offensive so she was forced to change it.

"Business Insider" did an interview with Wade in which she said she just suddenly had “…this crazy idea for a story.” Yeah no kidding… Wade has had no real writing experience other than some few attempts at a historical romance in the mid 90’s. She never even considered submitting it to a mainstream publisher so she turned to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing. It wasn’t an overnight success; Wade published with Amazon in 2011 and it wasn’t until 2012 that the book got over 100,000 downloads and nets upward of $30,000 a month. She’s also penned several other monster sex books like “Taken by Pirates” and “Seduced by the Dark Lord” but it’s her Bigfoot erotica that has gained her the most popularity.

It’s not surprising given that the Sasquatch legend has been gaining popularity recently. Spike has
even launched a new one-hour reality show called “10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty” starring Dean Cain. The show features teams of explorers who brazenly try to unearth real evidence of Bigfoot’s existence. The $10 million prize would be the largest cash prize in television history.

As for the Bigfoot erotica, I think I’ll leave that to Author Virginia Wade. I like my Christian Grey to be average height, average build and with a LOT less hair.

-Ashley Adriance

'10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty' Debuts on Spike TV this January

One of the largest cash prizes in television history is on the line and it all depends on finding irrefutable proof of one thing…the existence of Bigfoot. Spike TV’s “10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty” debuts on Friday, January 10 at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The expedition is hosted and lead by avid outdoorsman and former Superman, Dean Cain and features world respected scientist and researcher, Todd Disotell, Ph.D. and primatologist, Natalia Reagan.

In addition to the scientists, Spike has hand-selected the strongest competitors and have provided state-of-the-art equipment that will aid in their hunt for the elusive Sasquatch in the remote corners of the Pacific Northwest. The $10 million cash prize is underwritten by Lloyd’s of London.

Spike's 'Bigfoot Bounty' to offer $10 million for cryptid

Courtesy Spike

At least one cable network doesn't think the investigators on Animal Planet's Finding Bigfoot are, well, finding Bigfoot fast enough. So what's SpikeTV's solution? Offer a handsome bounty and maybe, just maybe, it'll push people to up their game in their search for that elusive hominid, Bigfoot.

According to the network, "We here at Spike have announced a new one-hour reality show, 10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty, featuring ambitious teams of explorers on a brazen exhibition to unearth real evidence of Bigfoot's existence."

The competitive reality show will feature teams of Squatch hunters on the quest to the tune of The $10 million in cash, underwritten by Lloyd's of London, which makes it the largest cash prize in TV history.

The show will feature "scientists, zoologists, seasoned trackers and actual Bigfoot hunters who all believe in the infamous creature's existence." They will be faced with proving to a "group of experts" that Bigfoot exists by displaying their "irrefutable evidence."

Says Spike, "Each episode will follow the different teams as they ply their extensive research and presumed knowledge of the legendary creature, often battling nature's inhospitable conditions."

Do you think this will work to help find the hairy one? Will you be tuning in? Do you think someone is just going to end up getting shot?

Spike hasn't said when the show will air but we'll keep you up to date on the bounty.

-Larissa Mrykalo