Anti-Science

He’s funniest when he’s not trying to be funny at all.

“From Dan Ackroyd, a recognized authority on UFOs . . . ”

Can you possibly resist viewing a movie with a trailer that starts like that? NO YOU CANNOT! 

Let’s be frank. The only things Dan Ackroyd is a recognized authority on are Hostess cupcakes and how to keep a career going by surrounding yourself with more talented actors. (Please note that Ackroyd attempted to try the opposite when replacing John Belushi with the abominable Jim Belushi, perhaps hoping to appear funny in comparison. This tactic failed miserably.) Setting that aside, I’m sure this is a fantastic movie/documentary.

It’s called Dan Ackroyd Unplugged on UFOs. I was surprised by the trailer, mostly because I assumed that most scenes would take place on an intimate dimly lit stage, as Dan Ackroyd strums an acoustic guitar and speaks candidly about his inspiration for the role of the repair man he played on that one episode of The Nanny. Instead, we’re treated to poorly shot clips of video showing fuzzy dust particles or stock military footage interspersed with headshots of Dan saying things like, “The sightings could be explained through conventional means, but . . .”

The end of the trailer urges us to “Probe the mind of Dan Ackroyd.” Using state-of-the-art alien technology, let’s do that right now!

. . . probing . . .

. . . are real, dammit. Everyone is laughing at me now, but soon they’ll see I was right! Then I’ll finally be bigger than Bill Murray. I’ll be the one starring in sensitive character-driven indie films and he’ll be the one eating Hostess cupcakes for dinner every night. Mmm, cream-filled cupcakes. I like to lick the icing off first. I think I’ll have one now. Perhaps two. Wait, where did they all go? I just bought a new box yesterday. ALIENS!

I think that’s enough. I guess there’s really no need to watch the movie after all.

Rebecca Watson

Rebecca is a writer, speaker, YouTube personality, and unrepentant science nerd. In addition to founding and continuing to run Skepchick, she hosts Quiz-o-Tron, a monthly science-themed quiz show and podcast that pits comedians against nerds. There is an asteroid named in her honor. Twitter @rebeccawatson Mastodon mstdn.social/@rebeccawatson Instagram @actuallyrebeccawatson TikTok @actuallyrebeccawatson YouTube @rebeccawatson BlueSky @rebeccawatson.bsky.social

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6 Comments

  1. While not disagreeing at all on your stance towards Dan Ackroyd's woo-woo views, I disagree that he's made a career by surrounding himself with more talented people. He's done some good stuff, it's just a matter of seperating the act from the idiot behind the act. His latest films are a load of old crap though, so maybe talking crap in a film was his next logical step ;-).

  2. Dan Ackroyd is not a bad actor, any more than Jonathan Frakes is a bad…. director. Being ok at your job is hardly incompatible with having flakey ideas. Now about Tom Cruise? I have no explanations at all.

    I love the blog – keep up the good work!

  3. Oh man. A photo of Beldar would have been so apropos. Also, I've long suspected that Canadians are somehow involved in the UFO conspiracy what with their pasty white skin, strange accents, and government "healthcare".

  4. I heard he is trying very, very hard to get a Ghostbusters 3 deal together, and Bill Murray is having none of it.

    (I've mentioned my hollywood connections before :)

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