20/20 did this crazy “Superhumans” episode last night, featuring a guy who walks around the North Pole in just shorts, a true Marathon Man, a mathematical genius who can “feel numbers,” a Bird Man, and a Spider Man. And then there were these mermaids. Linden Wolbert and her hero, Hannah Fraser (the one who was “caught” by fishermen in 2009′s The Cove) have turned their love of breath-holding and deep-sea swimming into real, often Hollywood-related careers. What fascinated me was that the segment treated them as if both women were mermaids. When they met face-to-face for the first time along the shore, it was so jarring that they actually had legs. I really wanted to believe that there were mermaids, and that these were just two of them CAUGHT ON TAPE by ABC cameras.
Linden and Hannah’s conversation helped snap me out of my underwater fantasies, though. “Did you make your tail? I can’t wait to see it,” said Hannah. “I can’t wait to see yours, too,” gushed Linden. They then clasped hands and jogged away from the rushing tide. “The ocean’s going to claim us!” Hannah teased as they both dissolved into giggles. And yet…after watching this part a few times, I still held a tiny bit of wonder. Maybe they really were mermaids and this banter was all an act. The ocean really would claim them again, because that’s where they live. They’re not meant to be part of our world. They have to go back, Jack.
Annie on Twitter: @EWAnnieBarrett
Lunchtime Poll already makes me too happy (because anything Heathers related is awesome) but a Lunchtime Poll about mermaids???!! Overwhelmingly amazing.
And a Lost related last sentence? If it also mentioned Jon Hamm and Arrested Development, it would be the best. Article. Ever.
Well, Jon Hamm (or at least Dr. Drew Baird) WAS the basis for Prince Eric…so there you go.
3 out of 4 ain’t bad!
True Ceballos. Very true.
If Prince Eric (Jon Hamm) and Ariel (Anna TreBUNskaya) ever met, I might actually explode.
you guys are so awesome. and the Lost reference made my freaking day.
So these two are just walking around on those…what do you call them? Oh feet.
Unfortunately, the fact that Linden and Hannah were talking to each other blew away my theory that they’d traded in their voices for temporary legs.
No, they were post-Ariel, so King Triton just sparkle-blasted them with his pitchfork thing and gave them legs. (I know the pitchfork thing has a name, but it has fallen out of my brain at the moment.)
It’s a trident…and, no, I don’t feel cooler knowing that.
(“Brick killed a guy! Did you throw a trident?!” Sorry, I had to.)
Yeah, Brick, I’ve been meaning to talk to you about that…you should probably lay low for a while, because you’re probably wanted for murder.
Definitely a trident. I know because I asked my mom when we saw the movie in the theater. Man I was a Little Mermaid addict. I still have my penis tower-sporting sheets, in the box with all my other childhood treasures.
well if there are humans that decide to live like otters, through years and years of evolution we may see people evolving into water creatures. californians should head up that project.
Uh, have any of you seen “The Little Mermaid?” Of course they’re real!
Nope, no one’s seen “The Little Mermaid.” You’re the only one.
In Bette Midler’s act, she has a mermaid (Delores Delago, the toast of Chicago)… in a wheelchair! They have to get around somehow
The best was in her recent Kiss My Brass tour…she did a Dolores Broadway medley, including a Hello Dolly sendup (“Hello Dolores”) that featured her coming down the stairs in one of those automated handicapped chair lifts. Brilliant.
I’ve been to Weeki Wachee Springs. I know mermaids are real.
Yes! I thought I was the only person thinking this thought. I was 11 when we visited, and my Ariel obsession came immediately rushing back.
That’s some first-world B.S. right there.
To quote the great Shel Silverstein:
I tell you now before you start
you can love that girl with all your heart
But you’re just gonna love the upper part
you’re not gonna like the tail
I want to hear about a guy doing the same thing – a real Merman. I see a disney experience/attraction in the future… told my wife I would plunk down $150 for a “swim with a mermaid” experience.
If you want to see a “Merman”, watch Zoolander–there’s a funny bit when an ad that Derek Zoolander did (played by the hilarious Ben Stiller) airs in the bar while he’s with his father and brothers.
i am a mermaid
Great article. I can¡¯t wait to hear more about your research tool. If it is as good as your other products, then you will have another winner. Your article pretty much summed up what I have been seeing too. Great to see some hard data.