Overview
Ancient Aliens is an American television series that explores the pseudoscientific ancient astronauts hypothesis, as well as other pseudoscientific and pseudohistoric topics. The series has been a subject of criticism for promoting unorthodox or unproven hypotheses as fact.
History and Production
The series is based on and inspired by the works of Erich von Däniken and Zecharia Sitchin, among other writers. The series began as a two-hour documentary special in 2009 and continued for three seasons as a flagship series on History. Seasons 4 to 7 aired on H2, with frequent re-airings of episodes on History and other A&E services. In 2015, the series returned to History after H2 was relaunched as Vice on TV. Season 15 premiered in 2020.
Key Facts
- The series has aired 283 episodes as of March 2026.
- All episodes are narrated by Robert Clotworthy.
- The series is produced by Prometheus Entertainment.
- Episodes begin and end with rhetorical questions which frame the explored topics.
Content and Criticism
Ancient Aliens explores pseudoscientific topics such as advanced ancient civilizations, extraterrestrial contact, and alleged conspiracy theories. The series has been criticized for promoting unorthodox or unproven hypotheses as fact. The series is not presented in a critical documentary format, but rather in a non-critical one.
Key Figures
- Giorgio Tsoukalos and writer David Childress are often featured as guests.
- The series is based on the works of Erich von Däniken and Zecharia Sitchin, among other writers.
History of the Series
- 2009: The series began as a two-hour documentary special.
- 2010: The series continued for three seasons as a flagship series on History.
- 2015: The series returned to History after H2 was relaunched as Vice on TV.
- 2020: Season 15 premiered.
Examples and Episodes
The series has explored various topics, including the ancient pyramids, the Nazca Lines, and the Anasazi civilization.
FAQ
What is the purpose of Ancient Aliens? Ancient Aliens is a television series that explores pseudoscientific topics such as advanced ancient civilizations, extraterrestrial contact, and alleged conspiracy theories.
How many episodes of Ancient Aliens have aired? As of March 2026, 283 episodes of Ancient Aliens have aired.
What is the tone of the series? The series is presented in a non-critical documentary format, rather than a critical one.
Who are the key figures involved in the series? Giorgio Tsoukalos and writer David Childress are often featured as guests, and the series is based on the works of Erich von Däniken and Zecharia Sitchin, among other writers.
Is Ancient Aliens a credible source of information? Ancient Aliens has been criticized for promoting unorthodox or unproven hypotheses as fact, and should not be considered a credible source of information.