SCI FI Channel has greenlit production on the new investigative adventure series that currently has the working title of “RelicQuest.” It will be hosted by documentary filmmaker Bruce Burgess, according it an announcement from Dave Howe, President, SCI FI Channel. With a 6-episode commitment and production slated to begin in October, the one-hour show will premiere in early ’09.
The series fact sheet says “‘RelicQuest’ is an action and adventure series that travels the globe in search of some of history’s greatest relics and artifacts. British filmmaker Bruce Burgess guides the viewer in a first-hand exploration down mysterious roads to uncover objects fabled to hold hidden powers and mystical significance for both ancient and modern cultures. Utilizing worldwide contacts and exclusive access to restricted sites, ‘RelicQuest promises to be an action-packed thrill ride through the world’s most interesting sites, as you have never seen them.”
“‘RelicQuest” should fit perfectly with the kind of investigative reality programming viewers are already getting with the SCI FI Channel, which includes such shows like “Ghost Hunters,” “Ghost Hunters International” and “Destination Truth.”
“It explores the mysticism and mythology of legendary artifacts rooted in real history and set in fascinating locales.,” stated David Howe, the channels President overseeing original development, Programming and Marketing.
“I’ve always had a passion for tackling tough subjects and investigating mysteries, and I have spent my career traveling the globe tracking down new evidence. ‘RelicQuest’ will be a professor-free zone. Instead we’ll be talking to the locals, the people on the ground at these ancient sites-the smugglers, the traders, the tomb raiders, and the antiquities dealers,” says Bruce Burgess.
Traveling to places like Cairo, Egypt, Burgess will attempt to solve the riddle of who Moses really was and to unravel the true story of what happened on Mount Sinai. Burgess will also go to the ruins of Montsegur Castle, to investigate the Holy Grail of the Cathars, a small cup that was said to have enormous healing and spiritual powers. Other journeys will take viewers to Amman, Jordan on the trail of the Armageddon Priscillian Codex, a sought-after document said to be a prophecy for the alleged “end times.”
“RelicQuest” is being produced by Bluebook Films for SCI FI. It is executive produced by Bruce Burgess and Rene Barnett. Esther Reyes serves as co-executive producer.
So, SciFi is trying to become a cross between the History channel and the Travel channel…I guess they’re really taking us “Beyond”… The question is “Beyond what?”
I hate to break it to them, but this has been done before (and so much better) by the History Channel, Discovery Channel, NatGeo, etc. There are archaeology shows out the wazoo. The “professor-free zone” will allow them to portray folk legend and wild supposition as fact, so that’s in keeping with their existing “reality” shows, but it certainly won’t entice me to watch.
I guess when they announced the forthcoming name change to “Beyond”, what they really meant was “Encroaching on Other Stations’ Formats”.
OOOOOOOO look another show on sci-fi that i wont watch.
+1 for sanctuary (which will probably get axed cause its to sci-fi-y)
+1 for Stargate and Dr. Who while they last..
and
-765 for everything else on the channel.
beyond….. beyond crap.