tags: Silly, Society, Tech
Space Cadets
December 7th, 2005, by Rich.
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Channel 4 will tonight air the first of ten programmes that amount to one of the largest television hoaxes of all time. Participants in the Space Cadets programme are a group of would-be astronauts who believe they have been flown to Russia, and that they will soon become space tourists, all in the name of television.
They’re actually in a soundproofed hangar, on a disused US Airbase in Suffolk, and will be aboard the same movie set that was used in Space Cowboys and Armageddon, among other movies.
Various news reports have described how the nine participants have been incommunicado since (at least) mid-November - before the teaser trailers began to be broadcast. The poor things have actually been in quarantine since the very start of the month so their family and friends could be consulted, and where necessary give their consent to the hoax.
As well as two actors who will “pilot” the shuttle, the participants have also been infiltrated by actors since the earliest parts of the selection process, to help ensure the success of the hoax on all levels. For the show itself, three participants will be selected, and they will be accompanied by one of the actors for the mission - if they rumble the hoax, three more will get to go up. If the hoax is rumbled three times, Channel 4 will have to revert to broadcasting repeats of Friends, which they do for the rest of the time.
The possibility occurred to me that an elaborate double-bluff would be easier and more controllable than what has been described (because it could all be pre-recorded for perfection), and others have thought likewise. Either way, it should make great entertainment.
Space Cadets begins tonight at 9pm, on Channel 4.
Location
Photo of the exterior of Hush House, the soundproof hangar. Source.
December 7th, 2005 at 4:41 pm
This makes me very uncomfortable, if it’s genuine - to trick people into thinking that potentially a life-long dream is coming true, only to reveal to them - live on camera - that it was all a lie, and the entire country is laughing at how gullible they are.
To be honest, if the PR is true and the premise of the programme is as described, I’m very surprised it got through, even in the light of reality tv getting more and more spiteful and unpleasant. Hence I suspect it is indeed some kind of elaborate double-bluff. Or at least, I hope it is.
December 8th, 2005 at 11:37 am
I have to say, I’m really looking forward to this. Last night’s episode was fun.
It’s strange as I really despise reality tv, but this one has a subtle tweak with the ploy.
They did inform a close relative of each contestant to give consent for the gag, so if the parents, etc are okay with it, I’m sure we could be too.
And anyway it’s there own fault for being so stupid as not to spot what was going on, especially with the ink blots, I mean come on !!!
December 8th, 2005 at 11:55 pm
its a hoax on us, the viewers. the ramsey give blood advert…
the guy with all the hair is in it. do you honestly believe no-one has a mobile, or wonder why their logo is in english?
December 9th, 2005 at 5:06 am
Is this how we thought ‘they’ landed on the moon?
December 9th, 2005 at 12:12 pm
Doh - Can’t believe I missed it! Will Sky+ it… It’s a good question though - how do we know they’re not all actors? Guess I’m not really qualified to comment until I’ve watched an episode 8-)
December 9th, 2005 at 1:03 pm
The other theory that I’ve been toying with is the “Triple Bluff”. Given that Virgin Galactic are now selling flights (in 2008) for $200,000 it’s not such a huge leap of the imagination that one (or more) real spaceflights could be offered to the eventual winners.