Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
August 7th, 2010 by John WolfeA couple weeks ago, I was talking to my good friend Goldie about the new SyFy show, Fact or Faked. During our conversation, she reminded me of the James Brolin/Jonathan Frakes show, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, which originally aired on Fox during the late 1990s and early 2000s. I remember catching the program a few times during its run, but had forgotten completely about it until we started discussing SyFy’s latest venture.
So, I did a little digging and it didn’t take long to find several of the individual stories from Beyond Belief on You Tube. In case you’re like me and you’ve forgotten the premise: The show featured five, spooky/suspenseful stories — some of these were said to be true and others were complete works of fiction, but it was up to you to decide.
At the end of each program, the host would reveal which ones were fact and which were farce. Now, YT user, Maddogmezza has uploaded these as individual stories, so there’s no reveal at the end, however, the determination of “fact” or “fiction” is included in the vid’s title.
Up first, we have a couple plagued by paranormal plumbing problems. Can anyone say “Jason and Grant, where are you when we need you?” 
Up next is a mystery writer’s encounter with a supernatural experience in his own home.
August 8th, 2010 at 1:26 am
Yep! This was one of my favorite shows in the 90′s. Prior to the 90′s I was a fan of a show called “Ripley’s Believe It or Not!” which aired from 1982 to 1986 with host Jack Palance. What I liked, and appreciated, about Beyond Belief, other than Jonathan Frakes that is
is how they combined paranormal activity in with the other stories. With the rise in popularity with shows like “The X Files”, paranormal research started to slightly become more main stream, however, not at all to the heights we see that today with cable tv. Aside from the stories being told, I always enjoyed the scenery of their stage. It was always dark, creepy, cold and looked very much like a sophisticated dungeon.
You know, now that I think about it, I would LOVE to replace Jonathan (sorry Mr. Frakes) with John Wolfe!! Your voice…..your stance….the spooky ways about you and in a setting like that……gives me chills just thinking about it. Talk about setting the ambiance John!! I’ll get you in a long, thick, black cloak yet my friend.
Oh and I wanted to thank you for going old school on me. One of the many, many, things I can count on you for John is a trip down memory lane via online or on the phone. Sometimes you take me back further than when you were born and other times just as far back as the 90′s. My immense list of gratitude continues to grow for you my special friend.
I also wanted to express to you how much I have always enjoyed my visits to SeasonofShadows. I’m proud to say that I remember when you had all of your spiritual writings on here prior to WindoftheSoul. I spent hours upon hours, days upon days on your website taking in the archives. I’ve seen first hand the development of WindoftheSoul and the changes that brought to SeasonofShadows. You have an outstanding and remarkable talent in creating, and keeping, SeasonofShadows to be a accumulation of ALL things Halloween and paranormal sprinkled with a delightfully odd sense of humor
I think you’ve come a long ways John and I only see the highest of greatness for you and your charming website. Most might think we’re odd but I LOVE how your mind thinks and I cannot begin to encourage you enough to continue to do so and to remain so true to yourself. Beautifully done John @}—}—}———– and excellent posting.
P.S. Thank you for the shout out, tickles my fancy every time you do so of little ol’ me.
August 8th, 2010 at 2:28 am
I just saw an episode of this show on Chiller a few months ago (I’m not sure how long ago). I can see the connections between it and Fact or Faked, although I think there are some key differences.
August 8th, 2010 at 7:20 am
I remember this show. It was pretty good . And it always made me want to encounter a ghost/ spirit as these people did in the show. But it never happened and the show ended. Thanks for reminding me of this show. I`m going to look it up and see what else they got on YT
August 8th, 2010 at 8:59 am
I like the kid skeleton. I should make one like that just setting in the corner of my garage. lol
August 8th, 2010 at 5:30 pm
Goldie,
I used to love the original Ripley’s, too — Sunday night’s, after grabbing a bath, putting on pajamas (I was eight-years-old) and brushing my teeth, I was glued to the screen to watch Jack and his daughter host the show. That little bench pressing frog at the beginning rocked!
What’s interesting to me about Jonathan was how FOX really put him to work hosting a lot of their paranormal/unexplained programming at this time. If I remember correctly, he hosted the Alien Autopsy special they aired and I think he may have hosted the program which explored the claims that the moon missions were hoaxed. Add to that Beyond Belief and he was really getting around on the network during the late ’90s.
I’d totally love to lend my voice to a show like that, especially if I could dress up in a cloak that covered me from head to toe (sort of like what the Angel of Death is wearing in today’s entry). That would be awesome! But if I had to get really up close and personal with the camera like Jonathan, well, that would take some doing on my part to be comfortable and probably a little extra therapy sessions in the process!
Thanks for the vote of confidence!
Also, thanks for everything you said about my work at Season of Shadows. Honestly, you guys–the visitors, are the ones who make everything I do possible. I share what inspires me and all of you, in turn, inspire me back in all sorts of different ways with your feedback and continued interest in visiting the site. I couldn’t ask for a kinder group of regular visitors than those who comment on this blog. So, thank you (all) for that.
GHFans,
Oh, yeah, though I don’t have cable or satellite, I heard Chiller was running this again. Do they still show a lot of the old Alfred Hitchcock Presents, too?
No, you’re absolutely right that there are key differences between Fact or Faked and Fact or Fiction. I think it was more the similarity in titles that got Goldie and me talking about the old Beyond Belief show than it was the actual programming. Thanks for your comment.
ssflipo13,
It’s funny how most hauntings portrayed on television and in movies (even those purported to be real) never usually live up to the real-world experiences most people have with the paranormal, huh? I’m not saying they can’t happen the way we usually see them played out on supernatural programming, but more often than not I think they sensationalize the heck out of all of them, even the ones that are said to be based on real events.
Thanks for watching. Let me know if you find some good stuff in your YT searches!
Ethan,
I was wondering if someone might be eyeballing that as a good prop to create! With your talents, I should have known you’d zero in on the potential in a heartbeat.
August 9th, 2010 at 4:32 am
I remember looking for a tell on Jonathan. This was a great show.
August 9th, 2010 at 2:01 pm
Were you ever able to spot any sort of a tell as he was introducing the story or finishing it up? Great to hear from you, Edward. Thanks for your comment.
August 26th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
Yeah when he was done. Something about him blinking. I’m kind of glad I forgot, it kind of took the fun out of the show after a while.
August 27th, 2010 at 5:01 pm
Very observant on your part, Edward! I never caught that. I’m sure I’ll see the show in its entirety again at some point, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for those blinks.