By April MacIntyre Sep 27, 2008, 23:28 GMT
There's a whole new reality for SCI FI Channel - and its name is RelicQuest.
Described as a global journey to find elusive artifacts, the network used the setting of the spooky and historic Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado today to make the announcement.
SCI FI has amassed a core group of online journalists to convene for a weekend retreat amidst sweeping Colorado mountain and lake views to celebrate their new slate of reality shows, as well as the Ghost Hunters, who have come the target-rich Stanley a whopping nine times to record paranormal activity.
The weekend culminates tonight in a late-night into the wee hours real ghost hunt, where we all tag along with TAPS to the most notorious spots at the stately property that served as Stephen King's muse for the Overlook Hotel in The Shining.
The production on the new investigative adventure series RelicQuest (workingtitle), and is hosted by British documentary filmmaker Bruce Burgess.
Dave Howe, President, SCI FI Channel addressed us in the Manor House at the Stanley, and shared the series has a 6-episode commitment with production slated to begin in October; the one-hour show will premiere in early '09.
RelicQuest is described as an action and adventure series that travels the globe insearch of some of history's greatest elusive artifacts.
Bruce Burgess guides the viewer in a first-hand exploration down mysterious roads to uncover objects fabled to hold hidden powers and mystical significance for both ancient and modern cultures.
Howe noted that ReliceQuest will use "worldwide contacts and exclusive access to restricted sites, RelicQuest promises to be the action-packed thrill ride through the world's most interesting sites, as you have never seen them."
"'RelicQuest' fits perfectly with the kind of investigative reality programming viewers enjoy on SCI FI proven by the success of our original series 'Destination Truth'," added Dave Howe. "It explores the mysticism and mythology of legendary artifacts rooted in real history and set in fascinating locales."
Bruce Burgess noted his enthusiasm for his new assignment: "I've always had a passion for tackling tough subjects and investigating mysteries, and I have spent my career traveling the globe tracking down new evidence. RelicQuest will be a professor-free zone. Instead we'll be talking to the locals, the people on the ground at these ancient sites-the smugglers, the traders, the tomb raiders, and the antiquities dealers."
Traveling to Cairo, Egypt, Burgess attempts to solve the riddle of who Moses really was and to unravel the true story of what happened on Mount Sinai. Burgess will also go to the ruins of Montsegur Castle, to investigate the Holy Grail of the Cathars, a small cup that was said to have enormous healing and spiritual powers.
Other journeys will take viewers to Amman, Jordan on the trail of the Armageddon Priscillian Codex, a sought-after document said to be a prophecy for the alleged"end times."
RelicQuest is produced by Bluebook Films for SCI FI. It is executive produced by Bruce Burgess and Rene Barnett. Esther Reyes serves as co-executive producer.
SCI FI Channel features original reality and scripted series and always has a chilling and campy Saturday night popcorn fare classic movie that the entire family can enjoy. The channel also is home to classic science fiction and fantasy programming.
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