There is an alternative explanation.

In a galaxy far away the inhabitants live virtually forever and have perfect memories.

Amazingly, this has its disadvantages. Everyone knows every joke that has ever been invented in that galaxy, and since the civilisation is very old, new jokes are now very scarce.

Since well before the incident at Roswell, New Mexico, the inhabitants of this galaxy have been scouting this planet. After decades of investigations, which of course are nothing to them, they have made a decision.

Beginning on the International Date Line at midnight on 20 December 2012, a specially tuned matter transference beam will begin to pick up implanted humans for instantaneous translation to the far galaxy. Among those selected are fundamentalist Christians and Muslims, believers in the Bermuda triangle, Neo-Nazis, soccer fans, those who hold that the Moon landings were a hoax, Scientologists, astrologers, skinheads, Wiccans, heavy metal freaks and sundry other cultists. This of course is the prophesied “Rapture”.

The destination will be a rather comfortable human-compatible planet in an isolated part of the far galaxy. Every room and street, field and forest of this planet is fitted up with holographic cameras and ultra fidelity microphones.

The lives of these humans will be transmitted around this galaxy and the poor old aliens will finally have something to laugh at.