THE TRUTH

Vol. 1 Issue 2

December 1, 2000

EDITORIAL

Greetings and salutations to all our subscribers! Thank you for sticking with us! I heard nothing but good reviews on the first issue, and I’ve got to tell ya: We’ve got more for you this week. We have three more columns for you to read!! The Truth would like to welcome Katherine, Sweet Li and RageGrrl to the staff. (Cue applause) Thanks for joining us!

OK, I’ll stop running my yap and let you get to read what my talented writers have for you.

In this week’s issue

X-Phile News You Can Use

New Episode Review

Real Life X-Files

Classic X-Files

Shipper’s Corner

X-Phile Speakout

David Duchovny Movies

Closing Notes

X-PHILE NEWS YOU CAN USE

Season Ten in X-File’s Future?

USA Today reported this week a bit of what Fox chairman Sandy Gurshow had to say on the probable future of the cult hit: "Discussing the November ratings sweeps with reporters Tuesday, Gurshow singled out Ally McBeal's David E. Kelley for breathing new life into the drama. Berman praised Chris Carter for doing the same for The X-Files. Of note, since some thought both shows might be on their last legs. Viewers have taken to new X-Files lead Robert Patrick, and Berman predicts the show 'has the potential to add a couple more years to its life.'"

The Latest Ratings

"NBC secured a win in the last Sunday of sweeps behind the blockbuster hit "Titanic." In the overnight metered market ratings (Nov. 26), the Peacock dominated the night, taking a 12.6 rating / 18 share (last week, 7.2/11). ABC still managed to be a close second, 11.4/16 (11.7/17), followed by CBS, 10.7/15 (10.6/16). FOX, with "The X-Files," was fourth, 7.8/11 (8.6/13), followed by The WB with a 2.7/4 (2.8/4). "'Futurama' opened up the night for FOX at 7 p.m., 4.9/7 (8.7/14), followed by "King of the Hill" with a 5.6/8 (6.3/9). At 8 p.m., "The Simpsons" rose to a 9.1/13 (9.6/14), followed by "Malcolm in the Middle," 8.8/12 (9.1/13). "The X-Files" was the night's top show for FOX, taking a 9.2/13 (9.2/13)." (Excerpted from Zap2It)

Narrowing Down The Favorites

The NBC sitcom "Will & Grace" is the No. 1 TV show among gay and bisexual men. That's according to a survey of 200 homosexual or bisexual men conducted in the Bay Area by San Francisco-based ad agency Better World Advertising. Fox TV's "Ally McBeal" comes in second, followed by a tie between Fox's "The Simpsons" and UPN's "Star Trek: Voyager" and a tie between "ER" on NBC and "The X-Files" on Fox. Rounding out the top 10 are NBC's "Friends," "The Simpsons" in syndication, and a tie between the WB's "Buffy, the Vampire Slayer" and ABC's "The Practice." The most watched networks, according to the poll, are NBC, FOX, ABC, CBS, PBS, UPN, HBO, WB, CNN and MTV." (Excerpted from Entertainment Today)

Bowman To Helm Next Die Hard?

X-Files director Rob Bowman has signed on to direct Bruce Willis in the 4th Die Hard movie! "Bowman, who directed the X-Files movie [in 1998] has agreed to follow John McTiernan and Renny Harlin and direct Willis in his most famous role as Detective John McClane. "It's reported that Bowman and Willis have already agreed [on] the story to the 4th film, [in which] Willis will pursue mercenaries that have kidnapped his son." (Obtained from an unnamed mailing list, passed on to the xf-news list)

NEW EPISODE REVIEW

by Jesouhaite – (jesouhaite78@hotmail.com)

REAL LIFE X-FILES

By Sweet Li – (sweetnymph@collegeclub.com)

Ok, so I am a BAD girl. I didn't get my article for last week's Truth out!! But, I believe I have rectified that situation, for in my research to cover THIS week's paranormal activities, I came across an interesting mixture of the last two episodes as well as some previous! I have discovered a few odd, real life cults believed to have the ability to turn them selves into animals!! Could it be?!? Is it possible!?! Yes, though very unlikely, perhaps the batman was truly a man after all!! A man with strange, powerful abilities!!

Before you think I am insane, let me put this together for you: In last week's episode (Roadrunners), Scully is kidnapped by a cult of men and women who believe that the "worm' they have placed in her back is the messiah. They are willing to kill to protect. A cult is, by rough definition, an authoritarian group, which demands strict obedience from its members.

In the prior episode (Patience), Scully and Doggett are on the tail of a creature that is half bat, half man. Still don't see the connection? Maybe the following creepy facts (obtained at the Cults R Us site) will help:

A little known cult that has reportedly killed 33 plus people has recently been arrested in Congo. According to cults R us, one suspect admitted to killing and eating five individuals. Cult members and villagers claim the group uses witchcraft to turn themselves into "Crocodile men", "monsters with human legs, faces and hands but other crocodile features below the waist (Cults R Us)".

Another cult group, that is terrorizing the southern portions of Sierre Leone, is believed to have over 300 members. Known as the Jombola Cult, the sect is believed to posses the ability to transform into cats, dogs, and BATS, as well as other people, before killing. Already, 30 deaths are blamed on Jombola members, most of which are politically based. Victims are sometimes members of a rival sect, also claiming mystical powers, known as the Kamajors.

It seems obvious that the ideas entertained by these cults are not uncommon. Just type the word Shape-Shifter into any search engine! Shape shifting is a prevalent theme is many cultures- the Norse believed in three types of shape-shifters, which gained their power through spiritual means. Halloween is littered with pictures of were-wolves and witches that transform into black cats. Likewise, in New Guinea, sorcerers use crocodiles and snakes as familiars, sometimes even sending them on missions to harm or kill. Some practitioners of magick say that Native American tribes and shaman also practiced the technique.

If this has you intrigued, keep watching and reading...episode guides hint that there may be more cult action on the way for the new X-Files team....

To learn more about these real-life paranormal reports, check out the following sites:

http://www.gotoit.com/titles/shapes.htm

http://www.witchs-brew.com/shadows/animals/shapeshifting.html

http://www.rialian.com//shape.htm

http://www.mayhem.net/Crime/cults1.html

CLASSIC X-FILES

By RageGrrl – (ragegrrl@collegeclub.com)

Review: The Jersey Devil

The Jersey Devil is about a "beast-like" creature that has been coming out of the New Jersey woodwork since 1947 and dragging unsuspecting people back into the woods when it then proceeds to devour various parts of their body. This X-Files is very similar to the story of the Bigfoot. I wasn't too stimulated by this one due to the scarcity of energy and charisma; (unlike the majority of the later episodes) although there were definitely a few sections that I felt were redeeming.

One scene was between Scully and Mulder that shows, even this early on, that there is definitely an "affinity" between the two. Scully goes on a date with a man she is introduced to at her nephew's birthday party. Later on in the episode he then calls her at the office with Mulder present. He (Mulder) leaves the room seemingly "agitated" and when they meet up in the hallway he asks her if she's going to continue to see him which indicates a hint of jealousy on his part.

Another scene that occurs earlier in the episode is where Scully is in the kitchen with her sister and she (the sister) makes reference to Scully pursuing a relationship with Mulder. Scully seems defensive when she calls him a "jerk" which made me feel that that wasn't something she hadn't thought of before. She then corrects herself by saying "he's too obsessed with his work" giving me a feeling of curiosity as to whether or not she has feelings for him that are more than just work-partner/friend related. Those two scenes were a nice touch.

I felt that this episode lacked in the "surreal" department, in relation to both earlier and later ones, which is something I intensely look forward to in the X-Files. Another minor detail about this episode caught my eye. There is a scene where Mulder is at his desk reading some papers and he is wearing glasses. Glasses! I thought this was strange. "Mulder wears glasses," I thought to myself. Then I thought that this could just be a case of lack of observation on my part, but I don't recall seeing glasses on him previously. I also favored the scene toward the end where Mulder and the lead local cop have a stare down. I thought this was effective for the scene. All in all, it was a mediocre episode. Not good and not bad, but in my opinion not a plot I would like to see in the future.

By Jesouhaite - (jesouhaite78@hotmail.com)

MULDER: (stands) She gone?
(Scully nods yes, she is upset)

MULDER: I'm sorry. I know what she meant to you. (pause) When I came to find you, you weren't in your room I got scared that something had happened..and I read some of what you wrote.
(S sighs, walks closer to Mulder)

SCULLY: I didn't want you to read that. I had decided to throw it out. I decided tonight that um..that I'm not going to let this thing beat me. I came into this hospital able to work, and that's how I'm leaving.(M nods)

MULDER: Byers tell you about Dr. Scanlon?

SCULLY: Yes.

MULDER: He may very well have killed those women.

SCULLY: That will have to be proven, if we find him.

MULDER: When we find him. Scully something was done to you, something that you're just beginning to remember. You can't quite figure it out but it can be explained and it will be explained. And no matter what you think as a scientist or a doctor, there is a way, and you will find it, to save yourself.

SCULLY: Mulder I can't kid myself. People live with cancer. They carry on, and so will I. You know I've got things to finish, to prove to myself, to my family, but for my own reasons.
(they smile, then hug)

MULDER: Come on back. (pause) The truth will save you Scully. I think it'll save both of us.
(Mulder kisses Scully on the forehead, Scully exits down the hall, Mulder takes vial of Scully's ova out of pocket and looks at it thoughtfully)

*transcript from Inside The X: The X Files Transcript Archive

X-PHILE SPEAKOUT!

X-Treme X-Phile here with this week's Speakout! column. I must let you all know I was very disappointed...with my local Fox affiliate that is. I lost almost ten minutes of my beloved X-Files due to a news break-in on the election! I don't know about anyone else, but if it came down to Bush or X-Files, its X-Files all the way for this phile!

Ragegrrl:

Something has been bothering me about the recent episodes. I think I can safely speak for everyone when I say we are all worried about Scully and her pregnancy. Either Carter is a genius, or just seems to overlook this fact. After watching episode after episode of Scully being thrown against walls and a crazy "it" being on her spine, I am always left with a feeling of unease. I wish they would make reference to the baby after those things. I would like to be reaffirmed that the baby is ok even though she was slammed into a wall by the morphing bounty hunter. Maybe Carter realizes that we feel this way and thinks that if he doesn't plug that in the end of the episode we will be sure to tune in next week. I know that during "Road Runners" I was relieved when she was screaming that she was pregnant because I wasn't absolutely positive that she still was after the attack of the bounty hunter. I wish he would try to make reference to the baby when unsettling things happen to Scully during the episode. Anyway, I just thought I would let everyone know my view on that lack of information.

DAVID DUCHOVNY MOVIES

By Katherine – (mthidem@aol.com)

This weeks movie I am reviewing is:

Playing God

Playing God is about Eugene Sands. He is a doctor who has a drug problem, because of this drug problem he is then fired from his job..and his doctors license is thus taken away. He falls in with the bad crowd one night after helping a mobster’s friend. The rest is a story about a man trying to better himself from his current position. I thought it was ok...but the script was weak. David Duchovny did a good acting job..but when you don’t have much to work with via a script....you cant do 100%. Ok so now its your job....tell me what you think....I'll add up the for the movie votes....to the against the movie votes...and then give you its grade. This shouldn’t be hard.....I’m counting the votes...Florida isn’t.....it should be done in a fairly efficient manner...::drum roll::

CLOSING NOTES

I hope you enjoyed The Truth. As you can see, compared to last week’s issue, this newsletter will keep evolving. Get your friends to subscribe, keep checking back at the website and e-mail me with your thoughts. Next week, I plan on adding at least two more columns. Thank you to all that helped with this issue, especially my writers. THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE…