The reality television series “Cooper’s Treasure” is yet another treasure hunting show that delights viewers who have a passion for such things. As with any current reality show, the main question on the minds of most people is whether or not the show is real or if it is fake. In the case of “Cooper’s Treasure,” there are some red flags flying that make us wonder about the authenticity of the clues they follow in their dramatic search. Here are ten things that suggest the show is a fake.
1. There is little evidence to support the existence of treasure
The show is based upon a belief that photos taken of the oceans from outer space show dark patches in the water. Astronaut Gordon Cooper snapped the photographs while in space during the 1960s when technology still had a long way to go. It’s a stretch to conclude that dark spots viewed from above are evidence of sunken ships. The entire notion that this proves that there is treasure out there is far-fetched and difficult to put stock in.
2. Too much work has gone into proving authenticity
Either something is real or it isn’t. There’s an obvious effort being made on the part of the show’s producers to convince the audience that the alleged treasure map is real. They’ve gone out of their way to use vintage photos that were taken by Cooper from outer space. They do show dark spots in the water and he believed that these were shipwrecks, but is this really enough evidence to support a full blown recovery operation? The producers have gone over the top in supplying dramatic recreations in addition to using the archival footage taken.
3. There are too many “ifs” in the story
As the story goes, Astronaut Gordon Cooper befriended Darrell Miklos and supposedly gave him all the maps, photos and notes he had on the eve of his death. These are supposed to all point towards the location of the “sunken ships and the billions of dollars worth of artifacts they may contain.” The existence of the treasure is all supposition and if the dark patches represent sunken vessels, it’s a jump to say that there is billions of dollars of treasure on board. The wording is open ended and it seems thin with little substantial evidence to suggest that this is really the case. If you want to believe something badly enough, you can convince yourself that it’s so without proof.
4. The show is obviously scripted
While this is a reality series in every sense of the word, it does seem to be a bit scripted. The first season was dedicated to revealing the history of Miklos’ friend, the astronaut who took the photos that inspired the belief that these were maps for finding sunken ships containing treasures. It’s telling the story to substantiate the claims now made by Miklos, about how he came upon the treasure maps. The first season has been brilliantly scripted, but isn’t a reality show supposed to focus more on the here and now? It’s almost as though they’ve gone the distance to make the story believable. We’re not saying it isn’t so, but a skeptic would raise these questions.
5. The show plays on a dramatic pirate theme
There is a side drama and a backstory that is developing on the show. When Miklos refers to his father as being a pirate, as the film is running, he makes a point of stating, “I’m not him.” Bringing his relationship with a father who’s been involved in his share of controversy creates an interesting drama that makes viewers stay tuned in to watch and find out. This detracts from the search for treasure and brings a new element of drama into the series.
6. Cooper was a hero but there were issues in his later years
It was no secret that as Cooper entered his elder years, he was given to telling wild stories and his mental capacities were in a state of decline. The fact that Miklos does not disclose this information on the show makes us wonder how much he really believes Cooper’s stories and how authentic this entire search for treasure really is.
7. The tales about the treasure map coincide with other imaginary stories Cooper told
Reliable sources confirmed that later in Cooper’s life, he told a variety of stories that were similar to the tales of the treasure map, and were dismissed by people familiar with his tales that were, “easily dismissed as imaginary.” This in no way takes away from the greatness of this heroic astronaut, but for some, age takes its toll on the mind and sometimes we remember things differently than how they actually occurred.
8. Nobody else at NASA believed Cooper’s stories
Cooper also claimed that aliens helped him to redesign a damaged shuttle. When NASA officials looked for evidence to support his claims, there was no indication of damage or of any repairs made to the craft. At this point, Cooper’s credibility began to wane with the group at NASA.
9. There is no basis for believing the maps are real
Given the condition of the elder Cooper at the time that he rendered the maps to Miklos, why should anyone believe that they point to shipwrecks to begin with? If this is a show that is based on reality, there would be substance to the claims Miklos is making. He could just as easily sponsor an exploration of the seas without a story that could very well be contrived.
10. It appears that the show is a combination of space and deep sea exploration for viewer entertainment
Amblin TV wanted to develop a program that would feature a combination of space and ocean adventures. When TV producers get involved, it becomes very much about ratings and bringing in larger numbers of viewers. The sensational story is hard to believe to begin with, but they’re running with it. The show has great potential, and we’re all hoping that the circumstances are not what they appear, but there are very good reasons to believe that the show is intended more for entertainment than for its basis in proven facts.
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