So, the long awaited "Bobby Clarke Bigfoot Video" was finally aired on May 4th, and as expected, A Current Affair's flair for carnival like reporting, made a mockery of itAdding insult to injury, the host of A Current Affair announced that they would be sending a team of trackers made up of members of the scientific, zoological, and journalistic communities to Norway House, Manitoba in search of Bigfoot.
"After ‘A Current Affair’ unleashed videotape across America of the latest sighting of the infamous Bigfoot, the scientific, zoological and journalistic communities have united in the excitement of discovery—and now in an expedition to confirm the existence of this entity." ACA
The ACA promo clip for the expedition introduces the assembled team members.
- Dr. Franklin Ruehl, host of Mysteries From Beyond The Other Dominion leads the team.
Donning a pith helmet, and what appears to be a winter coat, (in studio in California) Dr. Ruehl admits there`ll be dangers...
"the flight is about 500 miles, and eh, I don`t know if it`ll be a bi-plane, or...we`re ah, we`re gonna have to say our prayers going up there.". He continues, "When we start hiking up there, it could be snowing, we could run into a blizzard, perhaps other creatures are up there, a wild moose..." ( Wild Moose, not the domesticated variety. )
- Cherie Currie, legendary rock and roll singer, and chain saw artist.
"This modern day Fay Rae, is determined to be the bigfoot bait. A beauty brave enough to lure the beast from it`s hiding place." - ACA
"Let`s rock and roll" says Cherie,"It`s probably as big as this rock!" ( enough said )
- Brett Hudson, A Current Affair producer "who managed to track down the Bigfoot video, and bring it to the world" - ACA ( If he can track down an obscure video, with nothing more than international news reports to go by, he can damn well track down Bigfoot, I`d say! )
And there we have it, folks, the representatives of the scientific, zoological and journalistic communities who have united in this expedition to confirm the existence of the illusive Sasquatch.
Now, to set the record straight, I have been told that neither the Clarke family, nor Matt Moneymaker of the BFRO knew anything about this "excursion". Nor was Moneymaker`s expertise called upon to aid this merry band of Bigfoot hunters. Apparently, Moneymaker, director of The Bigfoot Field Research Organization, hadn`t the artistic chain saw abilities needed for an expedition of this magnitude.
Sharness Henry, Bobby Clarke`s sister, told me that she had no idea "they`d (A Current Affair) make it so Cheesy. Some other show could have done better".
"The BFRO is not involved in their Manitoba "expedition", nor was the trip planned at all. The New Jersey office for Current Affair told the unit producer that he would be leading the "expedition" only a half hour before the announcement was made on the program ... Then he had only a few more hours to catch a plane." He continues, "The unit producer, Brett Hudson, is currently headed up to Norway House to meet with a 3-man video crew from New Jersey. So it's a four man "expedition" with no preparation or expert assistance." Matt Moneymaker, BFRO website,
Perhaps due to Moneymakers statement, the team`s representative from the "scientific community", Dr.Ruehl, has now indeed joined the team in Norway House. Although the ACA promo clip showed images of the team bushwhacking their way through the wilds of Northern Manitoba, the good Dr. was spotted chatting up the staff at the local KFC...Purchasing Bigfoot bait no doubt.
Okay, let`s get serious. I don`t believe Clarke had any idea of the style of show he was handing his footage over to. A Current Affair isn`t broadcast in Canada. I do know that although others such as CNN, CBC TV, and MSN made inquiries, the only one to actually send a representative to Norway House, was A Current Affair.
In my opinion, this sighting is credible enough to warrant serious study. Note I said "sighting". Yes the video was the most intriguing aspect to Clarke`s claim, but it should have been classified as supporting evidence of the sighting, rather than the other way around.
For instance, Sharness Henry has stated that some local hunters did cross the river to look for any physical evidence, but footprints were highly unlikely...The tree line rests at the water`s edge. The depth of the water where it meets land is 4 feet... 4 FEET. In order for someone to retrace the steps of the figure Clarke taped, they would have to be tall enough to wade through 4 feet of water without their thighs being completely submerged. Although extremely blurry, there are glimpses of the figures stride, and arms swinging. Neither it`s lower arms, or upper thighs appear to be submerged.
Could this have been a hoaxer, say on stilts of some kind? Highly doubtful. Besides having to avoid tripping over the usual debris on river and lake beds, especially where the tree line is so close, there would be the problem of sinking in the silt, and maintaining muscle control after being submerged in icy water for more than 3 minutes. There`s also the drag that 4 feet of frigid water would have on the hoaxer`s gait. This is just one element of the sighting which should be investigated, and reported.
As for our brave team of adventurers who at this very moment may be fending off wild moose, blizzards, and line-ups at KFC....May the force be with you!
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - cc
Wah! Wah! Moneymaker's feelings got hurt because he wasn't invited to be in the expedition....Wah! Wah!
2 - Sal
I'm a realist type of person and when I saw the video...well, I can't say that it is nor can I deny!!! I will say this..judging from what I've read about the supposed creature in reports...my opinion tells me that IT IS INTELLIGENT! These people are making a mockery of the whole thing and if they are really going into the wilderness with the zany cast of characters they have chosen, I hope that they don't find the creature because they will more than likely just provoke it and it could end up killing them.
3 - WTF
OOOHHH Wow... if they kill one, maybe it'll have human blood, and they'll be charged with murder... sounds like a great story! Oh crap, Johnny Cockran is dead, and won't be around to defend the trigger happy Sasqwatch Assassins.
In case you haven't noticed... I'm having a hard time believing the Carney like atmosphere that has surrounded Bigfoot.
It's hard to imagine a creature of that size, has not been photographed, recorded, given the current state of technology, the increased backwoods access, and a host of other effects of population density and encroachment.
Perhaps there's also some Immortal Highlander's hiding out with them!
The missing link? Bones? Hair samples, taken off of bushes near sightings? Nothing. And as with nothing it doesn't pass the stench test in my book. Although bigfoot is reportedly extremely stinky.
I grew up in the NW a bit and in the U.P., heard all the stories. But never, NEVER saw a foot print, heard a noise any thing.... I have my doubts.
4 - goodstory
THANK YOU, A CURRENT AFFAIR!
SHAME ON YOU, MATTHEW MONEYMAKER, SPOILPORT!
Matthew Moneymaker is trashing the A Current Affair expedition because he wasn't invited to be a part of it.
Moneymaker wanted to be flown to Idaho to look at the tape with one of his cronies.
He wanted to be the "sole" expert looking at the tape.
He wanted credit for the discovery. He's never tracked or seen a Bigfoot. What makes him an expert, except the fact that he makes money off tours and his website?
Monyemaker knows nothing about what has gone into the expedition to Norway House.
Sheme on youy, Matthew Moneymaker!
You should be kissing A Current Affair's collective butt for bringing this story to television, not knocking it down because you're not part of the expedition.
Why should they bring you?
I know it was a tough decision. So here's the scoop: there was a meeting: the choice was between Moneymaker or Cherie Currie. The producers decided Cheri Currie was beautiful inquisitive and a great TV presence.
Moneymaker is not beautiful. As you can read from his postings, he is also obnoxious.
So you choose who you'd like to share a five-seater and a tent in the wildnerness with.
And who are you, "Annie," to criticize A Current Affair for spending thousands of dollars and hours of manpower to bring this little story to the world?
Who are any of you to criticize what A Current Affair is doing, or the way in which the story is handled?
You think Brian Williams or Katie Couric would give it more credence? I don't see them allrunning off to Norway House.
And of course the expedition was prepared quickly-- it's breaking news, numbskull!!
By jumping on the story, A Current Affair got the videotape to the world! A Current Affair has given you a forum!!!!
Matthew Moneymaker and his pals are usually lucky to get some radio time in the post midnight hours on Art Bell, in between stories of flying pyramids and Masonic messages.
Now thanks to A Current Affair, this giant step in cryptozoology is getting a national-- no, make that an INTERNATIONAL audience. I don't see CNN, MSNBC, ABC CBS CBC BBC New York Times Chicago Sun Times etc etc etc expending an ounce of manpower or energy to cover this story.
It's being discussed on radio talk shows, written up in newspapers. All your websites and groups are getting worldwide publicity.
And you criticize the show's style???
Shame on you Annie for criticizing. A Current Affair is bringing your ilk out of the shadows. it is bringing this video and it envirnment to the world.
So what if it does it with a little humorous, B-movie style?
Lighten up!!! Yellow journalism? What about the journalism that marginalizes you, treats a guy like Moneymaker as a crackpot?
As for our expedition leaders:
Dr. Franklin Ruehl, Ph.D is not only a brilliant nuclear physicist, acclaimed cryptozoologist and anomalist, but he is also one of the most fanmous paranormal television personalities in the country.
Brett Hudson is the only journalist, expert or Bigfoot fan to travel to Norway House, see the tape and acquire it. While others saw the reports and giggled over thyeir cappuccinos.. Brett got to Winnipeg and DROVE to Norway House. HE GOT THE TAPE.
Already the team-- and the experts you haven't met yet-- has produced evidence... and BEEN GIVEN EVIDENCE BY LOCALS.
So keep watching.
You will apologize.
So join the Current Affair team, people.
When A Current Affair drops the story, who will pick up the ball and lift you above the conspoiracy blogosphere?
Count your blessings. And think about why the show is bringing the story out with a dash of humour and irreverence.
If the show treated it as seriously and humourlessly as does Moneymaker, THE GENERAL AUDIENCE WOULDN'T WATCH.
And by the way, go right ahead and post the book Tabloid Baby next to a "yellow journalism" book. But why don't you read Tabloid Baby first? You'll see how wrong you are.
5 - blobby
lol goodstory, go get em u tard
6 - baz
Matthew Moneymaker is a dick.
7 - RJ
Where can I find an online version of the video?
8 - cc
AMEN goodstory!
and i personally cant wait for that blonde chic to be tied up in the woods as Sasquatch bait! My boy Bigfoot is gonna tap that ass fo sho!!!!!!!!!!
9 - motleycree
alot of the residents of norway house dont fully realize the total lunacy,the circus,the farce that has been bestowed upon us,(DR.FRANKLIN RHUEL DUMB ASS!),CHERI CURRIE (HAS BEEN ROCK STAR FORMER LEAD VOCALIST OF THE RUNAWAYS),BRETT HUDSON.(I THINK HE JUST NEEDED A VACATION).EVERYBODY AROUND HERE THINKS THAT THESE PEOPLE ARE THE REAL DEAL.little do they know that they are being made fun of,poked in the arse.like bigfoot would come back to the same spot over and over again.and theres bobby,ferryboat operator,river captain,ferryman,barge pilot.he is an honest guy just making a living.i dont think he`s out to get attention for himself.he just had some bad representatives doing all the wheeling and dealing for him.(YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE! EH! L.S.)these people should just go home and maybe if they really want to find some hard evidence they should have some real BFRO investigators down to norway house,not these clowns.matthew moneymaker is just mad cause it wasnt him to break the story or actually be here.as for all you unbelievers out there just because you dont understand all this doesnt mean bigfoot doesnt exist.they have always been around somewhere.half of us here are pretty cheesed off at the way this whole thing has unfolded.as for the tape,the footage its real.ACA didnt show you the whole thing.they just want to string you along so you can keep watching that show.AND OH! SHARNESS,THANK L.S. FOR MAKING NORWAY HOUSE LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF DUMB NATIVES.GOOD WORK.maybe if DR.RHUEL and his funky winter coat and hat actually got lost in the woods then maybe CNN would show up to look for him.hope he does....
10 - Nancy
Goodstory must be a shill for ACA. If not, they should certainly pay him/her/it something for its efforts on their behalf.
11 - goodstory
The A Current Affair expedition is real.
When the Canadian government decides to send "real" investigators to the site, whatever may qualify thenm, they will do so because of the real evidence the A Current Affair team is finding.
No one is being made fun of. But please remember, this is Bigfoot we're talking about, an icon of popualr culture, just like Elvis whose life is bowlderised on CBS this weekend.
A Current Affair showed all the Bigfoot footage there was on the tape; in fact, A Curreent Affair enhanced it so the image could be shown more clearly.
Dr. Ruehl is the real thing. If you met him and spoke with him, you would know that.
If you are from Norway House and have something to say about the coverage, tell it to Brett. He'll be happy to interview you.
12 - gridbug
I totally agree that goodstory has a magnificently skewed view of ACA's involvement. Insider maybe?
Anyone who's ever even casually studied the Bigfoot phenomena knows that putting a wacko personality like Franklin Ruehl and a chainsaw chick on a "Bigfoot expedition" TOTALLY NEGATES any possibility of the findings being taken seriously. ACA is only concerned with ratings, not scientific journalism. If they were serious, they'd have pulled together some respectable people for the Manitoba "expedition" (apparently based at the KFC at the mall- heh) and not some silly ass Gilligan's Island hodgepodge of "adventurers".
Too bad, so sad.
13 - motleycree
i am from norway house,thats the only reason i decided to say something.if he(DR.RHEUL) is so professional why the wacky.please notice me act??dont you forget that when people like that portray this as a joke they are insulting us from here,the whole community,they are not only insulting us but our elders as well.over here we are taught to respect our elders.they have known about bigfoot longer than any of you, who seem to treat this like bigfoot was a monster hiding under a bed that no one can find or are too scared to peek at.the rest of the media that are calling us down saying that we norway house are holding out for big bucks,thinking this will make another disney world attraction type place .are so wrong we were fine before all this s*** started.we are not that desperate for attention.just google bigfoot and norway house and you only get negative pieces written about the town and especially bobby clarke and his family.quit picking on them..and if DR.RHUEL does find anything real even bigfoot himself then hurray for cryptozoology everywhere,including DR.RHEUL.but until then he knows what he can do with his little bushwacking stick...why arent they bigfoot hunting all nightlong? or are they getting the locals to do all the hard stuff? while they sit on the side wringing their hands in anticipation....
14 - gridbug
THANK YOU, motleycree! I'm sorry that Norway House has to suffer through all this. I want to believe that Bobby Clarke had only good intentions in his seeking the best deal for his footage, and even though it looks like things aren't going as well for you there as we all hoped, the more you and others from the Cree Nation stand up for yourselves and let the rest of the world know the truth about ACA's involvement/exploitation of the situation you'll not only feel better, but you'll be able to retain your dignity as well.
Best of luck, and keep those reports coming! :)
15 - Nancy
I'm just astounded that this babe is heading into the Manitoba woods in as little as she is wearing; hasn't she heard that in Canada they take their mosquitos SERIOUSLY?!
16 - chacha
Is Bobby Clark the same guy who found a finger in his chili at Wendy's?
17 - gridbug
No worries, she's dressed just fine for Los Angeles, which is where that footage was shot. So far, the only member of the "expedition" that I've heard was actually in Manitoba was Dr. Ruehl.
Don't believe the hype. :)
18 - cc
Don't believe BFRO's hype either :)
19 - chacha
CURRENT AFFAIR UPDATE:
We have inspected the site of the recent Bigfoot footage. We found several Taco Bell wrappers and an empty 40 oz. bottle of King Cobra malt liquor. More to come...
20 - Sharness Henry
What the hell?? taco bell wrappers? lol there isnt a taco bell here within 500 miles!! even so, if any of us took taco bell for the ride home there is at least 4 gas station stops to throw away anything...this is all bull!!
21 - chacha
So these creatures must be highly migratoty...interesting
22 - gridbug
Yeah, and they're MIGRATORY too. Jackass. LOL
23 - chacha
Hey Bobby- I heard Michael Jackson is willing to pay $500,000 for the now famous "Bigfoot spicy-chicken burrito wrapper". This would be good for your people.
24 - goodstory
Well I’ve had enough.
You’ve made fun of Dr. Ruehl’s appearance (as if that’s more important thanhis Ph.D in nuclear physics from UCLA and the fact that he put that field aside to dedicate more than 25 years of his life to the serious study of cryptozoology and the paranormal (and don’t all great men have their eccentricities?); you’ve wrongly charged that the expedition is not real or not even in Norway House; and you have charged that Bobby Clarke is being ridiculed (find one article).
First of all, the person claiming to send dispatches from Norway House is an imposter, probably Matthew Moneymaker. The ones throwing stones at A Current Affair are ungrateful hypocrites!
A Current Affair is bringing this story to the world with a little bit of show business pizzazz-- but a whole lot of scientific and journalistic expertise.
You’ll just have to wait for the DNA results from the hair and dung… but hey, you’ll just ridicule that too.
Is this site merely an orbitting satellite of bitterness?
C'mon, A Current Affair is working hard-- for you! We don'[t see you National Public Radio or Pravda in Norway House?
Where's Anderson Cooper? Is that you, Matt Lauer? Didn't think so.
God bless A Current Affair!
Godspeed, Bigfoot investigators!
Three cheers for Norway House!
Hooray for Bobby Clarke!
And a big BOO for the cynical Blogcritics!
25 - Sharness Henry
I hope u do realize how ACA is amking us look!! We Canadians do not reallly know whats going on because we do not have that channel!!! dammit......