By Ryan Toohill
“Do aliens have to wait in line?” a straight-faced man asked the person in front of him in the bathroom.
Aliens were on the minds of about 1,100 Long Islanders in Patchogue on March 7, as believers and skeptics alike filed into “Ancient Aliens LIVE,” an in-person presentation of the History Channel show, which is now airing its 21st season. The Patchogue Theatre was sold out for the event, which featured “Ancient Aliens” contributors Giorgio Tsoukalos, William Henry, Nick Pope and Jason Martell.
The live show, like its television namesake, delved into the “ancient astronaut theory,” a largely discredited idea that posits ancient civilizations received extraterrestrial aid in building their societies.
Giorgio Tsoukalos is perhaps the most well-known of the panelists, thanks in part to a genre of internet memes based on his hair and affinity for aliens. He previously published Legendary Times Magazine, which dealt with many of the same “alternate history” ideas as his television show. Tsoukalos insists the content he has published and broadcasted is fact-based.
Among the most famous examples of this atypical take on history relates to the Egyptian pyramids, which the “Ancient Aliens” crew has suggested were constructed by extraterrestrials and might have served as a spaceship-charging terminal. They point to the massive scale and skillfulness of these projects as being outside the realm of ancient human achievement at that point in history.
Mainstream historians offer a counter argument, saying the pyramids were constructed by tens of thousands of skilled laborers over decades at the behest of rulers who desired monuments by which they could be remembered.
At the show, guests were treated to live discussions and reactions to clips from the program, along with jokes and gentle ribbing among panelists.
According to Tsoukalos, these live shows are community events. “It’s the coming together of like-minded people that share a passion for ancient history and astronomy and the search for extraterrestrial intelligence,” he said.
That sentiment clearly resonated with fans. “We’re a small piece of the universe,” said Al Hansen, who works in insurance appraisal. “It’s almost [laughable] to think that we’re the only intelligent life out there.”
The Montauk Monster
Long Islanders might remember the Montauk Monster, a grotesque decomposing corpse that washed up in Montauk in 2008. Photos of the creature were widely circulated at the time, and the subject still pops up in local conversation from time to time.
The Monster was previously featured in “Ancient Aliens,” which often delves into non-extraterrestrial conspiracies involving cryptids or other strange goings-on. The hosts speculated that it might have been an experimental combination of different animals that escaped from the Plum Island Animal Disease Center on the North Shore, which conducted sensitive research on some of the most deadly animal pathogens on the planet. It is now slated for closure and decommissioning after a new research facility was constructed in Manhattan, Kan.
The conventional explanation is the corpse was a raccoon, but perhaps unsurprisingly, live show attendees thought otherwise.
Fun for everyone
Before the show, Tsoukalos pitched “Ancient Aliens LIVE” as a fun night for everyone. “We’ve often been told afterwards that my husband dragged me along to this, or my wife, she dragged me along to this,” he said, “But then they say, ‘You guys were actually really cool, and I learned a lot’.”
The guests in Patchogue agreed. “I just enjoyed the entire show,” said Gerard Simonelli, a porter from Queens. “It’s something I’m not truly into, but I really enjoyed it.”
Throughout the show, the crowd could be heard murmuring in agreement with many of the panelists’ ideas, especially when they deviated from conventional wisdom. There were several breaks for applause, like when the speakers praised military pilots in discussing unidentified arial phenomena that they captured on video in recent years.
Scott Ehrler, a Roslyn resident who owns a truck and construction equipment repair company, said he follows news around extraterrestrial happenings and is a big fan of “Ancient Aliens.” Ehrler came to the event clad in a tinfoil suit and thought his hour drive to the venue was well worth it.
“It was fantastic,” he said of the event. “They really made some points to get you thinking.”
