Prepare to have a beast of a Sunday this weekend because Destination America's"Monsters & Mysteries In America" returns for a second season Dec. 15 at 10 p.m. The show revolves around local legends from communities across the nation which captivate generations of residents and storytellers. And in each episode, the show takes a look at the folks who claim to have encounters with "monsters hunting nearby woodlands, ancient spirits walking amongst the living, and alien creatures paying earth a visit."
The Season Two premiere is especially freaky because, along with the Goatman and Chupacabra of Texas, the show highlights an encounter with the walkin' Texan dead of Brownsville. That's right, real zombies face off against a couple, and the woman's name is Barb -- as in Barbra, as in, "they're coming to get you, Barbra."
Take a look at the clip below from the "Zombie Soldiers" segment then go to the M&MA site to familiarize yourself with the creatures from the show -- and tune in to "Monsters & Mysteries In America" this weekend.
Coming this December 15 to Destination America, a second season of "Monsters and Mysteries in America" returns with 12 episodes that explore new legends and lore. The season promises viewers that they'll get to hear from people who have had close encounters with real-life folktale fiends. Each episode focuses on "a different American region and features stories of people who claim to have encountered creatures of local legend."
According to Marc Etkind, general manager of Destination America, viewers are in for quite an adventure, “Road trip through small-town America and odds are that patrons at local diners will be brimming with tales of mysterious creatures and unexplainable phenomena from the well-known chupacabra and bigfoot to the more obscure Michigan dogman and Missouri momo. 'Monsters & Mysteries in America' takes the cross-country trip for you, emerging with the most cryptic, frightening, and brow-furrowing stories to hail from all four corners of the U.S., and the heartland in between.”
The first two episodes are described in detail, thanks to the press release:
Adding to the plethora of paranormal programming this month is a three-part special airing on the National Geographic Channel called “The Monster Project.” Hosted by actor/comedian and World Champion, Judah Friedlander (“30 Rock”), the first episode airs at 8 p.m. on October 26 and explores the legend of the Jersey Devil. The Chupacabra and America's Loch Ness Monster also get their turn at 9 p.m. and 10 p.m.
The main mission of the specials is to delve deeper into the history/legends surrounding these cryptids and to look for scientific evidence of their existence. Through eye-witness accounts and the input of experts, their destination is proof.
Sound familiar? There are obviously quite a few shows that have been done on this subject but this special has a twist. Friedlander’s hosting and commentary throughout is quite entertaining and I found myself genuinely laughing out loud.
I had the pleasure of viewing the Jersey Devil episode that airs on October 26. In case you’re not familiar with the folklore, the Jersey Devil is said to be the cursed 13th child of Jane “Mother” Leeds. Born in February of 1735, the fearsome creature has the torso of a man, the head of a horse, the feet of a goat, a long serpentine tail and the wings of a bat. He roams the vast Pine Barrens of southern New Jersey and many residents have claimed to see him.
Artist depiction of the Honey Island Swamp Monster
in Lousiana. Courtesy Animal Planet
Bigfoot is big business, or at least the search for him is. The Jan. 1 second season premiere of Animal Planet's Finding Bigfootdrew 1.6 million viewers. Not only is this the second-best premiere for the network (after River Monsters), it is a healthy number for a New Year's Day opening. With a third season order presumably forthcoming, and because readers asked for more, we wanted to revisit Finding Bigfoot investigator Cliff Barackman.
Barackman works alongside the Bigfoot Field Researcher’s Organization (BFRO) leader Matt Moneymaker, investigator James “Bobo” Fay and research biologist Ranae Holland on the show to explore reported "Squatch" activity. He spoke with Paranormal Pop Culture before last week's season premiere (read part one here) about his field and theories on the hairy beast man. This time we wanted to ask more about other monsters that might be out there, including the famed monster. We also had to let our minds go in the paranormal potty with our final question.
Not content to stay in the warmer climates of the Southwest, good ol' Chupey has made his way to Missouri. Based on this local news report from THV11, it sounds like the "goat sucker" has snagged a goat along with some chickens. Then again, Rancher Tim managed to shoot Chupey, and the creature was hung from a tree (as is apparently the fashion in Missour-eh). Although area conservationists say the animal is just a diseased or mangy coyote, History Channel's MonsterQuest has shown an interest.
All this talk about Paranormal Pop Culture sure does work up an appetite. At the end of a day of delving into the unknown and unexplained, I'm simply famished and ready to dig into a menu of mystery meat.
Luckily, for the true connoisseur of paranormal pop cuisine, there are many reliable outlets for learning how to cook mythical beasts and magical beings, or finding out which supernatural creatures are kosher. There are even solid recipe trading tips on the Internet amongst amateur gourmands. Even if you're less inclined to eat paranormal food, but you just want a paranormal cook, you can find that too on the Washington, D.C., installment of Top Chef in the form of psychic foodie Tracey.
But the thriving market of paranormal pop cuisine even extends to quaint Texas towns and burger shops, such as the Lone Star State's newest steak, the chupacabra.
In response to the chupey (which was actually a hairless raccoon) found at the North Texas Runaway Bay golf course in January, the restaurant/bait shop/grocery store One Stop of Texas has unveiled the paranormal-themed burger. According to NBC DFW, owner Linda White's burger isn't actually made of mythical beast, but is instead 1/3 pound of beef, chili, bun, grated-cheese, and a hot dog split down the middle.
"We split the hot dog to make it look like paws. We use a pickle spear as the tail," White said. The burger is also served with "Chupa Chips."
Although Runaway Bay has officially nominated chupey as the official town mascot, there's no word yet whether the Texas beef association will now adopt the motto, "Chupacabra - It's what else is for dinner."
Also, while the burger sounds delicious, the culinary combination seems likely to produce smells often confused with demons. Besides, no matter how tasty it may be, the Chupacabra Burger is no match for the reigning paranormal pop cuisine product, Unicorn Meat, or the close follow-up from the early '90s:
Combining the adventurous inclinations of wondrous youngsters with the mysteries of cryptids is such a natural creative fit, but yet so few people make good use of it within paranormal pop culture. A few notable exceptions include The Water Horse (the Dick King-Smith book and film) and The Secret Saturdays.
Having not read it, I cannot say for certain if British author Jean Flitcroft's new young reader book series The Cryptid Files falls within the same category as the aforementioned two, but I've high hopes.
Revolving around Vanessa, a 12-year-old Irish girl seeking to complete her mother's quest to uncover the mystery creatures of the world, the first book kicks off with a quest for Nessie. Instead of taking chapters to head to Scotland, the story begins fast with a gripping prologue where the girl ends up deep in the drink of the loch. The same pace is again set right away with the as-yet unreleased follow-up featuring Chupacabra.
The book has yet to be published in the United States just yet, but it can be found through Amazon. If you've kids, or just a cryptid fix, check it out.
I don't know how they got these two to sign on for a project together since they're both so busy with artsy flicks and nature documentaries - oh, and with evading discovery too, of course. And yet it looks to be happening.
In 2010, from the director and producer team of Fred Olen Ray (Sea Snakes, The Lair), and Kimberly A. Ray (Woke Up Dead, Komodo vs. Cobra, Megaconda), "cryptozoology meets the crypt" in Sasquatch vs. Chupacabra.
I haven't been this excited since De Niro and Pacino shared screentime in Heat.
If it is a dead chupacabra they found in Texas, as we mentioned earlier today, then we're all the worse for it. At Paranormal Pop Culture, we are all for discovering the mystery behind these elusive creatures but would much rather see living specimens.
However, if Chupey (a little nickname I've used for him since, oh, three minutes ago) is indeed sucking goats dry in heaven, at least he lives on - in cinema.
That's right, Chupey has been a bit character in a half-dozen films. None of them won awards because the Academy still stubbornly refuses to honor cryptid excellence in the movies, but the little guy has been busy in the biz.
What, you don't remember such gems as Guns of El Chupacabra, Chupacabra Terror and Night of the Chupacabra? Well then, you're in luck because author Scott Sigler has done the research for his horror column, "Laughing in the Face of Death" at amctv.com. Read the list, watch the movies and mourn for our potentially departed friend Chupey.
Whether or not cryptids like the chupacabra is a paranormal matter for cryptozoologist Loren Coleman. But when it becomes the focus of a movie, TV show, song, video game or newscast - well then it enters into our realm of paranormal pop culture.
Which brings us to the WFAA-TV news site out of the Dalla/Forth Worth, Texas area. According to the story (embedded below for your enjoyment), a hairless, dog-like creature with "kangaroo" legs and a rodent face was discovered on a golf course last Wednesday. Reporter Jim Douglas spoke to research assistant Sherre Sacher, of the Center for Animal Research and Education, who said she doesn't know what the creature was on first look.
For lack of a better explanation, the news site is referring to the animal as a potential chupacabra, or "goat sucker." Then again, if it is the chupacabra, it's missing the spiky spine and thin gray hair we've come to expect based on descriptions of the beast.
We'll see, but let's hope the new media actually follows up on this to let viewers know what scientists determine when they're not examining the animal on camera for a few minutes.
UPDATE: The NBC affiliate in the Dallas Fort Worth is reporting the "chupacabra" is actually a hairless raccoon. While it's still technically a mystery how the anomalous critter lost his hair, it's not exactly paranormal.
