Folks, before we had ghosts galore at the Travel Channel, and before it was acceptable to speak of paranormal activity in front of respectable company, we had Strange Universe. It was presented by quite an eerie looking fellow, Emmett Miller, and this was back before the zombie masses would get offended at everything and assume the worst, and it was normal to wonder out loud about someone's ethnicity. (Hey, he is so handsome, I just wanted to know if there were more where that one came from!) So for the record, he looked like a Black man with European features. Strange combination indeed because, much like the proverbial 3-D box, or those Magic Images framed on window displays at the mall where we gathered to see if we could make out the hidden ice-cream popsicles, Miller looked sometimes White and sometimes Black, but not always both at the same time. And therein lied his eerily exotic pulchritude and uncanny attractiveness.
I remember what a fun weekend break it was to watch this show, before the Monday morning grind started again. And the episode I'd really love to watch again is the one that featured a man who spoke to the ants... and they did his bidding! (I think I tried that a few times when my place got invaded, alas it never worked for me!) I do believe the segment was called The Ant Whisperer. For some reason, I wanna say he lived in Arizona, but don't quote me on this!
I think the man was someone who was called as a last resort, before phoning an exterminator. Or maybe he was the no-kill exterminator. Whatever it be, I remember the man lying on the ground, and talking to the ants. And the ants would turn around and do his bidding. "Hey, leave that house, you guys." I'm not sure that's what he said, or that we ever were told what he said to the ants, and I don't even think he offered them food and water elsewhere. All I know is the host was adamant that his technique worked. And there were testimonies by grateful and amazed homeowners.
I have never forgotten this segment and it's the one I'd most like to re-watch. It has never ever been shown on the Travel Channel, at least not in the past decade. I'm big into animal communication, so that truly fascinated me, and I wondered if it would work on larger critters (I don't care for insects myself.)
Strange Universe was also the very first time I ever heard about the Chupacabras and the Taos Hum. This show truly introduced us to some fascinating mysteries that, to this day, remain unsolved. (Although I tend to believe the chupacabras to be a Peruvian Inca Orchid dog. At least in shape, not sure why it would drain the blood out of cattle, though.) Pretty sure they also had crop circles, their fair share of UFOs and possibly Gettysburg Hauntings.
As for the segment of the alien outside the window and children, I do remember that. I believe that also aired on other shows, and perhaps also on America's Funniest Videos, unless it was a similar segment with a baby on a high chair, children, a Christmas tree and a helium balloon. Anyway, the guy didn't leave a contact and never said why he wanted that one, in particular.
Well, this show was probably an 8/10 but I'm giving it a 10/10 for nostalgia's sake. I wonder if Gen Xers could petition TPTB to get this on DVD stat?!
