Mostly True Stories: Urban Legends Revealed
| Mostly True Stories?: Urban Legends Revealed | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Genre | Docudrama |
| Created by | Burrud Prods. |
| Written by | Thomas Quinn |
| Directed by | Mike Levine Thomas Quinn Valerie W. Chow Joe Dea |
| Presented by | Natasha Henstridge |
| Starring | Christine Sherwood Peter Lownds Kristin Quin Jennifer Ingrum Jeff Hatch Phillip Hersh Kevin J. Goff Bob Harris |
| Composer(s) | Jesse Rhodes Craig Dobbin Brian Mann |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| No. of seasons | 4 |
| No. of episodes | 22 |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Valerie Chow |
| Producer(s) | Thomas Quinn Sean P. O'Malley Suzanne Ali Michael Brockhoff |
| Running time | 45 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | TLC |
| Original release | March 19, 2002 – 2004 |
| External links | |
| Website | |
Mostly True Stories?: Urban Legends Revealed is an American documentary television series about urban legends. It aired on TLC from 2002 to 2004, running for four seasons. Early episodes were hosted by Natasha Henstridge. The program features reenactments of various urban legends and research into their credibility.
Unscheduled edited versions of the show, with new narration and without Henstridge as a hostess, were aired on TLC until 2008. The Discovery Channel had been airing regular re-runs, but now only does so on rare occasions. In the UK it has been shown on Men & Motors and CBS Reality.
An episode will begin with an introduction by Henstridge whilst a short montage of scenes from re-enactments to be featured in the program is shown. An opening sequence follows with more such clips, accompanied by theme music.
In a dark, desolate cemetery or junkyard, the hostess introduces the first legend, and the scene changes to a re-enactment. The narrator introduces the legend, its setting, and tells it as it is shown, so most of the characters' dialogue is drowned out by his voice.
After the re-enactment, the narrator questions if the legend is true or false. The legend is then tested by folklorist expertise, historical and logical evidence, people who work in a field the legend is based around, and, occasionally, by the show's reality checker, Bob Harris. When the legend's credibility is determined, the narrator gives us a glimpse at the next legend and we are given a hint as to what it could be about (In this legend ..., but in our next legend, ...).
Before the commercial break, a true or false question is given to the viewers, such as "In his youth, did George Washington cut down a cherry tree and then confess to it?" and "Can the Great Wall of China be seen from space?" amongst other such rumors. The answer is given "when we continue."
After the commercial break, the cycle continues for four more legends. Then Henstridge gives her closing monologue and the credits roll to the program's theme music.
The series was developed by Burrud Prods. and the pilot episode was produced, directed and written by Thomas Quinn, who went on to become the Supervising Producer and writer for the 22-episode series. Dramatic recreations were mostly directed by Mike Levine, and several episodes were produced by Valerie W. Chow. Joe Dea was a director and producer for the show, too. Peter Lownds was the show's narrator. Though Natasha Henstridge has hosted the majority of the show's episodes, the first episode was hosted by Michael Shermer. The show is produced by Burrud Productions.
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