The all Canadian Cast:
Dan Aykroyd (as himself) is the Host
Colin Fox is Dr. Anton Hendricks
Director of Operations Joanne Vannicola is Mia Stone
Parapsychologist Nancy Anne Sakovich is Lindsay Donner
Senior Data Analyst Barclay Hope is Peter Axton
Chief Science Analyst Matt Frewer is Matt Praeger
Case Manager Soo Garay is Dr. Claire Davison
Turner Network Television / Time Warner Company, 60 minute weekly
drama
The show presents psychic subject matter without the usual psychic-
believer ridicule that is common to other shows on the topic.
Therefore, I have referred to a variety of PSI Factor episodes
as being of good psychic educational value - in fact, I have
referred this show to clients and students more often than any
other program of it's kind.
The writers are often trying to fit too much regarding one subject
and it's combined/related issues into one episode. In the TV
world a program has only so much time to be created, the deadlines
and 60 minute time restraints are brutal; this issue combined
with the show resorting to an obvious Hollywood tone, damaged
(temporarily) the show's overall psychic and spiritual educational
worth. But, I still feel it's one of the best in it's genre,
and is a show to watch and learn from. If you wonder if the
show portrayed something accurately or not, don't! Instead,
drop me a line suzannerh@kimberleedawn.com
and I'll answer your question in the "Wake Up… and Smell the
Reality" magazine's Behind the Scenes segment.
Unfortunately after Mat Frewar became involved as a producer
the tone of the show went decidedly Hollywood--and sold out
hard, but lately it seems to be trying to get back on track,
which I appreciate. I'm not certain if Matt Frewar himself is
responsible for this Americanized ratings cave-in or not, but
the timing of his arrival to the production team / cast, coincided
with the script's lapse of believability and was indeed quite
noticeable.
PSI Factor: Chronicals of the Paranormal is a Canadian Production
with a Canadian Cast (all living in or near Toronto, Ontario),
and most - if not all - episodes revolve around Eastern Canada
or the USA. According to Canadian Government Stats., Edmonton
(Alberta) is rated the #1 Canadian city of PSI believers, so,
why aren't more episodes set in Edmonton? Haven't they researched
Edmonton's potential for legitimate paranormal story-lines?
Furthermore, as Alberta was ranked as the #1 *Province of PSI
believers in Canada (*independent of it's capitol city, Edmonton,
being ranked as #1) I would be satisfied if episodes were set
in other parts of Alberta such as Red Deer, Wetaskiwin, Calgary
or Brooks. Wild Rose Country as Alberta is called, is host to
a rather large amount of diversified paranormal activity that
I am personally aware of (and intimate with), so I know the
Province is more than able to produce something more than grain,
first class hockey stars, oil and lumber! I suggest that everyone
reading this review contact the producers of this show and/or
the OSRI and ask where the heck the OSRI research team is! After
all, we're famous for parapsychological activity here in Alberta
(i.e.:Western Canada), therefore it only stands to reason that
someone producing a show (i.e.: Eastern Canada) such as this
should acknowledge it. Could the rivalry between the Canadian
East and West be so biased as to ignore Alberta's PSI and spiritual
philosophy value?
I also suggest that you check out PSI Factor's web-site, it's
quite interesting and fairly informational. Their web-site professes
that the stories are dramatizations of case files of (an actual
and operational) paranormal investigative organization called
OSRI. Personally, I don't know if the OSRI exists or not, but
I have noticed that they use a combination of accurate data
and unfortunately also a lot of very common & even outdated
psychic misinformation for their show and web site write-ups.
Even so - professionally speaking as a FSV Teacher, not just
a psychic and believer, as I'm actually particularily skeptical
- it's much better than the majority of what is available out
in cyberspace and TV land.
Dan Aykroyd's brother is rhumoured to be a prominent member
of the OSRI and according to the web site Mr. Aykroyd's father
and great-grandfather were avid collectors of PSI research,
his grandfather was a member of the Society of Psychic Research
at the turn of the century.
Remember: If you visit the web site, please don't get all wound-up
by the Psychic test they promote because it is more akin to
a joke than anything else - it certainly will not (and frankly
cannot) indicate that you are psychic or not. It also makes
excuses for the viewer just in case they fail the test which
is not considered a responsible act in the legitimate psychic
field, although I am not convinced that they intend to be irresponsible.
click here to read 2 episodes from the Teacher's perspective
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