Megalodon Shark Fake 'Documentary' Ticks Off Shark Week Viewers

After "Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives" aired on Discovery Channel, Shark Week fans are skewering the station for the bogus "documentary" that claimed the giant prehistoric killing machine known as the megalodon, which inhabited the oceans more than 1.5 million years ago, might still be found today.

“Megalodon was megalocrap,” tweeted @JosephCurl. “I’d like to have that hour of my life back. Note to Discovery Channel: Try facts. Seriously.”

“You can do better than this @Discovery. #Disappointed,” tweeted Jess Ehrbar (@j_ehrbar).

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“Biggest disappointments of life: 1) Santa. 2) Megalodon. 3) WWE is predetermined,” tweeted Kevin Sommer (@bigredpicker).

The response on Discovery Channel’s Facebook page was just as unforgiving.

“Why would you ruin Shark Week with this garbage? Shark Week is one of the few times that true science is fascinating and appealing to the masses and you put up garbage fake programming to kick it off,” posted Ryan Smith.

“What’s up tonight,” posted Jocelyn Croft. “Megalodon tries to kill a Mermaid but Big Foot comes to her rescue?”

Discovery may have angered its fans with “Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives,” but the episode kicking off Shark Week was a hit. The Los Angeles Times reported some 4.8 million viewers tuned in, making it the single most-watched Shark Week show ever.

In fact, Megalodon ratings were up 141 percent in the key demographic of 25 to- 54-year-olds when compared to the same time period last year, according to the Times.

Unwitting viewers only learned of the ruse when Discovery flashed a notice near the end of the special explaining that the program was a “film” about a “legend,” not a documentary, Fox News reported.

“Though certain events and characters in this film have been dramatized, sightings of (the giant creature) continue to this day. Megalodon was a real shark. Legends of giant sharks persist all over the world. There is still debate about what they might be,” the message continued.

In case you missed it, "Megalodon: The Monster Lives" will air again on Aug. 11.

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