TV: "Is It Real?" and "Beyond Science"

[Lianad]

Wondering if anyone else has seen an episode of "Is it Real?" or "Beyond Science". I've recently just caught on to both of them and have found them quite interesting.

Is It Real, from the episodes I've seen so far, (lake monsters, superhuman powers, Ancient Astronauts) is exactly the type of program I think we need more of. The narrator almost has a mocking type of commentary throughout each 60 minute episode. They present the claims first, interview people who believe in the topic, and then also interview scientists and skeptics who basically give you the rational, easily explainable explanation and facts to back it up. I applaud the show and wish there were more like it.

Beyond Science on the other hand is a different story. So far I've only seen one episode, but from what I've seen, I'm not a fan of the show. They basically interview people with "woo" claims, and basically give the viewer the impression everything they say is true and real. They never once back anything up with facts, or interview actual scientists or skeptics.

The episode in particular I saw had a guy on their who travels the country showing off his "free energy machine". He claims his machine generates more power then what you put into it. He travels the country telling the story of how the government stole his ideas, brainwashes people, and does not want him telling anyone about his amazing discovery..

He drives his truck around with this huge ass machine behind him on a trailer to local truck stops and rest stops, sets up, and then starts spewing the most ridiculous stuff in regards to his machine. "See look, its generating more power because my meter says it is! What more proof do you need than that? Just look at the meter! See, it moved! There is your proof people."

It just really bothers me that shows like this exist. They pick a topic then deliver a biased show with only one side (in this case the nut job side).

CUrious to see if anyone else has seen either of these shows?

[CLD]

I have not seen those particular shows, but I call that type of programming "uncritical thinking TV". Unfortunately, it's a tried and true entertainment formula. To paraphrase Jack Nicholson in As Good As It Gets, "I think of a man, then I remove logic and reason from him". For example they'd feature a guy who says UFO's come from the North Pole. The guy tells his tall tales, supported by bogus historical anecdotes. They interview someone with impressive sounding credentials who says it's all possible. They interview people who claim to have seen UFO's at the North Pole. They show some fuzzy video, or artists conceptions of UFO's at the North Pole. If they feature any sort of skeptical view at all, it's quickly followed by the assertion that "anything's possible".

[HghrSymmetry]

Can't say I've heard of those programs. What station(s) and region carry them?

[Arkan_Wolfshade]

Is It Real? is on the National Geographic channel iirc. It usually does a reasonable job presenting both sides equally and letting the viewer decide for themselves.

[Lianad]

CLD you're exactly right in terms of what I've seen on Beyond Science. But like I said, I think "Is it Real?" is as close to a skeptics show you can get, at least from what I've seen on tv in the past. The last episode I saw dealing with "superhuman powers" they did a great segment on an Indian televangelist who has been taking 2 months salary from poor Indians for years and becoming rich off of it. Heck he's even got his own private jet.

But what was nice is they had a local skeptic set up a sting with a bunch of skeptics in which they all made up fake problems and went and saw him, paid the money, bought the "crystals" he said would cure them, and then in the end the leader of the skeptics basically went in on camera and confronted him.

It was great tv, all of a sudden this person who "sends his mind through the universe collecting it's energy to read people's mind" turned white as a ghost and his staff became very violent, and even assaulted the producer of the program.

As far as what channels, the Beyond Science program airs here in Orlando at least on the Science Channel, channel 141 on Brighthouse networks, and the "Is It Real" program airs on the National Geographic Channel, on Brighthouse networks as well.

[HghrSymmetry]

Ah, ok. I do not receive that channel.

[CLD]

Here's an example of similar "fantasy disguised as factuar" in print:

http://surprisingstories.dcwi.com/veil.htm

[tkingdoll]

Seen Is It Real?

I was in it.

I rule!

Which reminds me, I must YouTube that particular piece of televisual splendidery.

[fuelair]

CLD you're exactly right in terms of what I've seen on Beyond Science. But like I said, I think "Is it Real?" is as close to a skeptics show you can get, at least from what I've seen on tv in the past. The last episode I saw dealing with "superhuman powers" they did a great segment on an Indian televangelist who has been taking 2 months salary from poor Indians for years and becoming rich off of it. Heck he's even got his own private jet.

But what was nice is they had a local skeptic set up a sting with a bunch of skeptics in which they all made up fake problems and went and saw him, paid the money, bought the "crystals" he said would cure them, and then in the end the leader of the skeptics basically went in on camera and confronted him.

It was great tv, all of a sudden this person who "sends his mind through the universe collecting it's energy to read people's mind" turned white as a ghost and his staff became very violent, and even assaulted the producer of the program.

As far as what channels, the Beyond Science program airs here in Orlando at least on the Science Channel, channel 141 on Brighthouse networks, and the "Is It Real" program airs on the National Geographic Channel, on Brighthouse networks as well.


Welcome to the forum from fellow Orlando area JREFer!:) You are off to a good start!!

[RecoveringYuppy]

Seen Is It Real?

I was in it.
Did they have to rename the show "Are they real?" for that episode?

[tkingdoll]

Did they have to rename the show "Are they real?" for that episode?

:Banane20:

[GT/CS]

Seen Is It Real?

I was in it.

I rule!

Which reminds me, I must YouTube that particular piece of televisual splendidery.

As a topic or an expert?

[tkingdoll]

As a topic or an expert?

As a skeptical investigator.

[Gravy]

As a skeptical investigator.Was the segment we saw online way back when on the show's website?

[tkingdoll]

Was the segment we saw online way back when on the show's website?

If you mean the bit where I said I didn't believe in ghosts, looked around a haunted castle for a few hours then left in the middle of the night cause my grandmother was ill, yep.

One of the finest moments in TV history.

Quite a skeptical show though, they pretty much came right out and said 'ghosts? Probably not'.

[Monza]

When most shows try to present a balanced viewpoint, they usually spend the majority of the program allowing the believer to present his view and then a few minutes with a token skeptic to rebut.

Is It Real? is one of the few programs that truly balances both sides of a topic. Most paranormal claims are confonted with an expert decribing a more rational and reasonable explanation. I enjoy watching this show and agree that we need more programming like this. It's frustrating watching most TV and realizing I actually do have a scientific explanation when they ask the rhetorical, "Could this actually be proof of [ghosts, UFO's, psychic powers, etc.]." At least Is It Real? usually does it for me.

[tkingdoll]

When most shows try to present a balanced viewpoint, they usually spend the majority of the program allowing the believer to present his view and then a few minutes with a token skeptic to rebut.

Is It Real? is one of the few programs that truly balances both sides of a topic. Most paranormal claims are confonted with an expert decribing a more rational and reasonable explanation. I enjoy watching this show and agree that we need more programming like this. It's frustrating watching most TV and realizing I actually do have a scientific explanation when they ask the rhetorical, "Could this actually be proof of [ghosts, UFO's, psychic powers, etc.]." At least Is It Real? usually does it for me.

The crew were very nice, although there's a lot of TV fakery and crap, but that is just how the industry is. However, they did seem to be 'on the side of science' so to speak when chatting to them during filming breaks.

But, a lot of it was bogus - for example they really wanted to scare the skeptics, simply because that's better TV than us going "yep, no ghosts here". So they did some daft things like take our torches away, asked us to read ghost stories, etc. I said "just because I'm a skeptic, it doesn't mean I don't get spooked if I watch a horror movie. The difference is how I rationalise my fear'. They didn't seem to understand that at all. They acted like skeptics claim to be fearless in the face of spooky happenings. I explained that spooky happenings are spooky regardless of who they happen to if the explanation isn't immediately apparent. That doesn't mean I must then go away and assume it must have been a ghost. I would have to come up with a logical best guess (for example the rather massive fireplace in the haunted bedroom is a likely source of the wailing noises, but I couldn't prove it).

To be honest, in hindsight (only because my grandmother has made it safely through two operations), I'm glad that we had to leave when we did. Although it would have been interesting to genuinely investigate the hauntings, that's not what was happening. They just wanted entertaining footage. What happens on TV and what happens in real life are not the same.

[Monza]

Thanks for the background info, tkningdoll. Hopefully, I can catch this episode with you in the future. I am not sure if I have seen it before.

Was it Einstein who said, "I don't believe in ghosts, but I am scared of them."?

[fuelair]

Don't know, but I am told by S. Quinn that electrically charged silver mesh permanently disperses them if they trouble you.

[c4ts]

Randi has appeared on these shows more than once, and he was not dismissed outright or taken out of context from what I saw.