Re: Dr. Quinn & Paleontologist

[John Schneiderman <dino@revelation.unomaha.edu>]

On Fri, 10 Mar 1995, Martin Tillett wrote:

>       My kids have informed me this evening that tomorrows Dr. Quinn Medicine
> Woman Television Program on CBS will feature a paleontologist finding dinosaur
> remains within sacred burial grounds of the nearby Native Americans. Another
> Hollywood portrayal of dinosaur science. Might be interesting. So long for 
> now.
> Martin Tillett

I saw the episode, the paleontologist (using a different name) was supposed 
to be Cope. He did refer to another man back east who put the head on the
wrong end of a dinosaur (Marsh, also using a different name). It's terrible 
how the paleontologist is portrayed in the episode. Lots of errors in the 
writing of this episode.

The "paleontologist" identified a small femor as a sauropod toe bone. 
Worst of all is how nearly everyone in town were familiar with dinosaurs.
Oh, yes...the head was put on the wrong end of a plesiosaur.

Why couldn't they portrayed the paleontologists role as more realistic, a 
little historical research would have given them a wonderful story(s).
 
It is my feeling that this kind of writing for T.V. only adds to the 
misunderstanding and continues the kinds of stereotypes those interested 
in dinosaurs are trying so hard to get rid of.

What can I say...everytime something about dinosaurs is on T.V., I just 
have to see it.  I'm always hopeful.

---John Schneiderman (dino@revelation.unomaha.edu)