Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal is a Canadian sci-fi/drama television series which was filmed in and around Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and aired 88 episodes from 1996 to 2000. The presence of Dan Aykroyd opening and closing every episode and emphasizing the legitimacy of the organization it was inspired by led some viewers to take the show somewhat more seriously than intended, though it was in fact a scripted drama. Partly for this reason, in 1997 the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry, then called the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, awarded Aykroyd a "Snuffed Candle" award, for "contributing to the public's lack of understanding of the methods of scientific inquiry."

Plot summary

The series is hosted by Dan Aykroyd who presents dramatic stories inspired by the paranormal investigations of the "Office of Scientific Investigation and Research" (O.S.I.R.).

While beginning as a vignette show, it eventually developed into more of a serial, along the lines of X-Files. Season I consists of two half hour unlinked stories which were mostly shot hand held and featured a large rotating cast of OSIR Investigators. Seasons II and III are more of a classically structured one hour drama (albeit without a big budget), and they introduced Matt Frewer as the new Case Manager and Michael Moriarty as a decidedly paranoid, rogue agent. Frewer, Moriarity and much of the cast left the series shortly after the conclusion of Season III. The fourth and final season introduces the character of Mia Stone.

Main cast

• Paul Miller .... Professor Connor Doyle (1996-97)
• Maurice Dean Wint .... Dr. Curtis Rollins (1996-97)
• Nancy Anne Sakovich .... Lindsay Donner
• Joanne Vannicola .... Mia Stone (1999-2000)
• Matt Frewer .... Matt Praeger (1997-1999)
• Barclay Hope .... Peter Axon
• Colin Fox .... Anton Hendricks
• Nigel Bennett .... Frank Elsinger
• Soo Garay .... Dr. Claire Davison
• Peter McNeil .... Ray Donahue
• Peter Blais .... L.Q. Cooper
• Dan Aykroyd .... Host

Credits

The series was produced by Alliance Atlantis Communications (then called Atlantis Films Limited), distributed in Canada by CanWest Global Communications and by Eyemark Entertainment in the United States.

C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures produced the special effects.

The series was created by Christopher Chacon, Peter Ventrella and Peter Aykroyd.

Executive Producers: James Nadler, Seaton McLean, Peter Aykroyd and Christopher Chacon.

Principal writers: Will Dixon, Damien Kindler, Rob Cooper (Season I), James Nadler, Tracey Forbes, Sarah Dodd and Ricky Drew.

Principal directors: Craig Pryce, Clay Borris, Giles Walker, Ron Oliver, and Steven Williams.

DVD Releases

Currently, there is no region 1 DVD release of the show. There is a petition on tvshowsondvd.com to bring the series to the North American market. In the UK and Germany, the entire series has been released in region 2 format.

Show created by: Chris Chacon, Peter Aykroyd and Peter Ventrella

See also

• List of Canadian television series

External links

de:PSI Factor fr:Psi Factor, chroniques du paranormal it:PSI Factor pl:Czynnik PSI ru:??? ??????: ??????? ?????????????? ???????

---

Source: Wikipedia | The above article is available under the GNU FDL. | Edit this article