History of Ancient Aliens in Timeline

Ancient Aliens is a History Channel series (2010-) presenting the pseudoscientific theory that extraterrestrials influenced ancient civilizations. It explores topics like Atlantis, UFOs, and conspiracy theories. The show has faced criticism for promoting unproven hypotheses and historical inaccuracies, with some critics describing its approach as overwhelming viewers with misinformation.

1976: William Shatner narrated Mystery of the Gods

In 1976, William Shatner narrated the English-language version of Mystery of the Gods which was based on von Däniken's books published after Chariots of the Gods?. Shatner appears in two episodes of Ancient Aliens.

March 8, 2009: Ancient Aliens aired a two-hour documentary special for the History Channel

On March 8, 2009, Ancient Aliens originally aired a two-hour documentary special for the History Channel. The special was re-run several times, and is now packaged with the series as its pilot episode.

2009: Ancient Aliens broadcast as two-hour documentary

In 2009, Ancient Aliens was originally broadcast as a two-hour documentary special.

2009: Kevin Burns executive producer of Ancient Aliens

In 2009, Kevin Burns became the executive producer of Ancient Aliens.

2009: Criticism for presenting pseudoscience

In 2009, history professor Ronald H. Fritze observed that pseudoscience has a periodic popularity in the U.S. The series has been criticized by historians, cosmologists, archaeologists and other scientists for presenting and promoting pseudoscience, pseudohistory and pseudoarchaeology as fact.

October 2010: 1.676 million viewers in late October

In late October 2010, the program had 1.676 million viewers.

November 2010: Tsoukalos-inspired meme

As early as November 2010, variations of a meme inspired by Giorgio Tsoukalos's appearances in Ancient Aliens began circulating online, highlighting his unusual hairstyle with the caption: "I'm not saying it was aliens ... but ..."

2010: Ancient Aliens: The Series aired on History

From 2010 to 2011, Ancient Aliens: The Series aired on History.

2010: C. Scott Littleton serving as a producing consultant until his death

UFO researcher C. Scott Littleton served as a producing consultant during the series development until his death in 2010.

January 2011: 1.309 million viewers in late-January

In late-January 2011 the series had 1.309 million viewers.

2011: Ancient Aliens: The Series aired on History

In 2011, Ancient Aliens: The Series aired on History.

2011: South Park parodied Ancient Aliens

In 2011, South Park parodied the series in the episode "A History Channel Thanksgiving", creating "a perfect satire of all the ridiculousness of this series".

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February 2012: Episodes exploring the Maya calendar aired

In February 2012, the episodes "The Maya Conspiracy" and "The Doomsday Prophecies" explored the Maya calendar and its relation to the construction of Palenque, the god Kukulkan, in addition to links between the Maya civilization and the ancient astronaut hypothesis. However, many featured artifacts, structures, and remains were actually Aztec, Zapotec, or Olmec, and not Maya.

December 2012: Episodes explored aspects of the 2012 Mayan doomsday prophecy prior to December

Prior to December 2012, several episodes of Ancient Aliens explored aspects of the 2012 Mayan doomsday prophecy. Episodes focusing on Mesoamerica broadcast after 2012 make no mention of the 2012 phenomenon.

2012: Ancient Aliens moved to H2

In 2012, Ancient Aliens moved to H2 and aired until 2014. Episodes were frequently re-aired on History and other A&E services.

2012: Thirteen episodes made available for syndication

In 2012, a selection of thirteen episodes which focused on the 2012 phenomenon was made available for syndication in the United States and Canada during the 2011–12 television season.

2013: Citizen Hearing on Disclosure

In 2013, The Citizen Hearing on Disclosure features prominently in numerous episodes, such as Season 14's "The Nuclear Agenda".

2014: Seth Shostak at House Committee on Science hearing

At a 2014 hearing of the House Committee on Science, Seth Shostak said, "The public is fascinated with the idea that we may be being visited now, or maybe in the past," but there is not any evidence which has convinced him "that we were visited in [historical] times." Shostak has appeared in twelve episodes.

2014: Ancient Aliens aired on H2

In 2014, Ancient Aliens aired on H2 until it was relaunched as Vice on TV in 2015.

2014: Ancient Aliens promoted as one of the network's flagship series on H2

Until 2014, Ancient Aliens was promoted as one of the network's flagship series on H2. Frequent re-airings of episodes continued on the History channel, with highlights and repackaged episodes airing on A&E and Lifetime.

2015: Ancient Aliens returned to History

In 2015, Ancient Aliens returned to History after H2 was relaunched as Vice on TV.

April 2016: Viceland released Action Bronson Watches Ancient Aliens

In April 2016, Viceland released Action Bronson Watches Ancient Aliens, which was followed by a ten-episode series, later retitled Traveling the Stars.

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November 2016: Ancient Aliens: The Official Companion Book published

In November 2016, Ancient Aliens: The Official Companion Book (ISBN 978-0-06-245541-3) was published. The audiobook adaptation, which is no longer available, featured the voices of Giorgio A. Tsoukalos, Angela Cartwright, Bill Mumy, Robert Clotworthy, and producer Kevin Burns.

2016: A&E Networks co-produced Alien Con

From 2016 to 2018, A&E Networks co-produced multi-day events branded as "Alien Con".

2016: Release of Ancient Aliens: The Game

In 2016, Fifth Column Games released "Ancient Aliens: The Game" as a free-to-play mobile and Facebook game where users play as an alien-human hybrid overseeing the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

2016: Vice on TV producer comments on Ancient Aliens claims

In 2016, Vice on TV producer Jordan Kinley commented on Ancient Aliens claims. Others have called attention to a paucity of opposing viewpoints.

2017: A&E Networks co-produced Alien Con

In 2017, A&E Networks co-produced Alien Con. Guests from the series hosted panels, offered book signings and photos. Footage was featured during Seasons 11, 12 and 13.

2018: A&E Networks co-produced Alien Con

In 2018, A&E Networks co-produced Alien Con. Highlights from the Baltimore Alien Con were featured during the Season 14 episode "Project Hybrid".

2018: Boston Alien Con

In 2018, Franco D. Rossi of Johns Hopkins University attended the Boston Alien Con.

2018: Robert Schoch on The Joe Rogan Experience

In a 2018 episode of The Joe Rogan Experience, Robert Schoch criticized promoters of the ancient astronaut hypothesis.

2019: Retrospective of the Boston Alien Con published

In 2019, Franco D. Rossi of Johns Hopkins University published a retrospective of his experience at the 2018 Boston Alien Con.

2019: Traveling the Stars renewed for a second season

In 2019, Traveling the Stars was renewed for a second season. Traveling the Stars was developed as a response to complaints by disgruntled viewers of H2 which Viceland's programming replaced.

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January 24, 2020: Ancient Aliens fifteenth season premiered

On January 24, 2020, History renewed Ancient Aliens for a fifteenth season which premiered. Due to COVID-19 pandemic disrupting production, the season ended after all completed episodes were broadcast.

March 2020: Brian Dunning challenged and debunked many of the claims

In March 2020, podcaster Brian Dunning challenged and debunked many of the claims featured on Ancient Aliens.

November 13, 2020: Ancient Aliens sixteenth season began

On November 13, 2020, Ancient Aliens sixteenth season began broadcast.

April 2021: Film Adaptation Deal

In April 2021, Counterbalance Entertainment announced a deal with Legendary Entertainment to produce a film adaptation of "Ancient Aliens". Josh Heald, creator of Cobra Kai, was set to direct with a script written by Luke Ryan.

2021: Kevin Burns last year as executive producer of Ancient Aliens

2021 was Kevin Burns last year as executive producer of Ancient Aliens.

July 2022: Craig Titley to write the script

In July 2022, Legendary announced Craig Titley would write the feature script with Josh Heald to direct in partnership with Counterbalance Entertainment.