Today, sources close to HighTechDad (HTD) revealed that E.T. (the Extra Terrestrial) had severe peanut allergies and was NOT homesick contrary to popular belief and media hype. Through an exhaustive and comprehensive investigation, interviews and footage analysis, HTD has uncovered a grand conspiracy that would even have shocked Agents Mulder and Scully of X-Files fame.
The E.T. Conspiracy
HTD has learned that E.T. producers actually made modifications to the footage of the movie after Hershey, makers of Reese’s Pieces, threatened to sue them for defamation of their product brand. The original plot was much more twisted and would have received an “R” (for Restricted) rating. In the original plot, Elliott encounters E.T., a hostile alien sent to the Earth on a reconnaissance mission for a later invasion. E.T., because of his cuteness and seeming innocence, is able to infiltrate the hearts of children within the movie and through various mind manipulations (as is exemplified through his “control” over and “connection” with Elliott). Elliott discovers a weakness that can cripple E.T., peanut-based products. The producers originally contacted Mars, the makers of Peanut M&M’s and described the plot to them. Fearing damage to their brand, Mars agreed to pay an undisclosed sum of money that went to continue the funding of the movie. When the producers contacted Hershey, the makers of Reese’s Pieces, the Hershey’s Board of Directors did not give in to the demands and the film producers and director decided to use Reese’s Pieces as the “killer candy.”
The plot was built around the fact that while addictive in taste to E.T., Reese’s Pieces were actually deadly to E.T.’s species. In the original plot, Elliott is able to make E.T. sick enough through the use these peanut-based candies and gets several scientists and doctors to analyze the peanut affect and subsequent allergic reaction within the alien. Eventually, the original plot has E.T.’s companions returning to recover and debriefing him in preparation for a later attack on Earth. However, they learn that humans have found this deadly allergy within their species and they simply decide to cancel their original invasion plans. They do try other types of invasions (see Independence Day and War of the Worlds).
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