Network, cable, and syndicated television story segments - "A Dead Celebrity is Taking Over My Life"

- "A Ghost Named Sallie"

- "Communicating With The Dead"

- "JFK Still Lives"

- "My Co-Worker Is a Ghost"

- "My Pet is Psychic"

- "People From Another Time Dimension"

- "Psychic Peeping Toms"

- "The Face On Mars"

- "The FBI Is Hiding Dead Aliens"

- "The Most Haunted Mansion In America"

- "UFO Hot Spots"

TV shows that promote pseudo-science and misinformation - "Encounters" - prime time on Sunday-night, Fox Network

- "In Search Of..." - A&E Cable Television

- "Sightings" - weekly syndicated on 205 stations;

- "The Extraordinary" - weekly syndicated on 114 stations,

- "The Other Side"- a daily NBC talk show

- "Unsolved Mysteries" - NBC.

- "X-files" - Fox Network

TV as entertainment and a national liability A study involving 187 students, conducted by Professor Glenn Sparks of Purdue

University, found that exposure to a variety of "speculation" based television

shows heightens belief in the paranormal and pseudoscience. And when that

exposure is constant, says University of Oregon psychologist Ray Hyman, each

new repetition of a paranormal tale, even when related with a skeptical tone,

makes it more and more believable. Many scientist and educators are worried

that the proliferation of shows that relentlessly peruse the bizarre are contributing

to the public's scientific illiteracy, which they regard as a national liability.

Some television producer privately acknowledge that many of the subjects presented are pure hokum, but ultimately harmless.

Or are they?

No claims seem too far-out for the ratings-hungry television executives.

The climate is very ripe for a breeding ground of the most convincing virtual unreality.

Junk Food TV