Will the real pseudo-sceptics please stand up?

"Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files" is a series originally aired at ScyFy. It follows a team of people investigating real or perceived paranormal phenomena, from UFOs and ghosts to mermaids and (surprise) the Honey Island Swamp Monster. The team attempts to re-enact various "paranormal" scenarios to see if they really lack a mundane explanation. The whole thing reminds me of "Finding Bigfoot", but with a broader scope. And yes, the women on this show more skin than the BRFO's tomboy Ranae...

Somewhat surprisingly, "Fact or Faked" takes a mostly sceptical angle on the problems under investigation. My favourite is the debunking of the bizarre urban legend about ghost children in Texas pushing cars up a slope. The team finds out that even school buses (!) are being "pushed" up the slope at the place in question...but unfortunately the whole thing is an optical illusion. It's really a downslope!

Another classic is the debunking of "Dr. Jonathan Reed", who claims that his Golden Retriever was killed by a crazy alien in the Cascade Mountains. The alien had an obelisk-shaped craft. Reed killed the intruder, took the body to his cabin but lost all evidence during a burglary. Conclusion? About as fake as you can possibly get! I admit that I didn't like the debunking of the poor old Honey Island Swamp Monster, though. I mean, I happen to believe in such stuff. But perhaps there is hope after all, since "Fact or Faked" haven't been able to explain the mysterious Nightcrawler of Fresno. But sure, I suppose it could be a hungry shorebird looking for the closest fast food place!

Despite the mostly sceptical angle, not everyone is pleased with the paranormal files. Both the CSI and the James Randi Educational Foundation have published a highly critical review of the series. It seems "Fact or Faked" don't rule out *all* paranormal phenomena, and occasionally makes a few gaffes. Orb spider, anyone? So while true believers might think an Illuminati plot is behind this one, the sceptical community see it as yet another paranormal "fifth column". Pseudo-sceptics fighting pseudo-sceptics? Will the real sceptic please stand up, LOL! As C.S. Lewis would say: "Really, we are hard to please"...

Personally, I think "Fact or Faked" is somewhat uneven, with some episodes being pretty boring, while others are more interesting, even intriguing. However, since I want to annoy the CSI this week, I'm willing to oversee the Honey Island debunking and give this series...four stars. How about that?