If you ever yearn for a healthy diet of Science and critical thinking then you can always make a pilgrimage to a conference like QED, or find a local Skeptics in the Pub group. There’s also plenty of great content to be consumed online, with fascinating documentaries, excellent YouTube channels, and even some Science-friendly TikTok-ers doing their best to stem the tide of misinformation on the fledgling platform.
As satisfying as all of this is, there’s nothing quite like a random encounter with Skepticism in regular broadcasting. The heart-warming feeling that there’s a writer or performer out there who shares some common values, mixed with the hope that people outside of the choir we normally preach to might be compelled to think more critically forms an exquisite synaptic cocktail.
As with most cocktails though, one never seems quite enough (or is that just me?), so I’d like to invite you to come binge drinking with me as we take a journey through ten tastebud-tingling samples of Skepticism in the wild. Before you imbibe though, please note the rules of my metaphorical drinking game which may have prevented some of your favourite content from making my list: we’re looking at genuine cases where Skepticism has cropped up (at least somewhat) organically here, so shows that are already science-heavy, or run regularly along themes of reason and critical thinking don’t make the cut.
That means no place for the likes of Doctor Who, Star Trek, The Simpsons (although you can get a good Lisa Simpson chaser courtesy of The Skeptic’s own Trevour Sloughter), and skeptics’ favourite kids show Scooby Doo, which regularly ends with the unmasking of a very much alive (and usually greedy) human behind a supposed paranormal threat. We’re also steering clear of the X-Files, and the heated debate about whether Scully qualifies as being a skeptic, due to her continued disbelief in alien visitation and other supernatural phenomena despite multiple direct encounters by the end of the second season.
Ok, so hopefully the preamble above has lined your stomach. Here goes:
10. Parks & Recreation S6E8: Fluoride
With the prospect of access to a neighbouring town’s reservoir, Pawnee is on the cusp of having fluoridated water for the first time in its history. Considering the ongoing controversy over what should be a no-brainer (and minimal-cavity) public health measure such as water fluoridation, it’s refreshing for both the mental and dental health of skeptics to see a positive stance on the show. Of course, being Parks and Recreation, shenanigans ensue: the dark opposing forces of Big-Dentist leverage chemophobia and the naturalistic fallacy (plus our first mention of Jenny McCarthy of the evening) to foment discontent. The response is a masterful piece of re-branding, which we could perhaps consider for the real world (albeit with a little refinement).
9. Jackie Kashian: Empaths
Always witty, but never offensive, Jackie Kashian has been in the stand-up comedy business for over twenty years. A compelling storyteller, her content ranges from day-to-day family and relationship tales, to thornier topics such as sexual harassment and police brutality. In her latest special there are plenty of offenders who catch her critical eye, including some very astute observations about people who believe in ghosts, but the closest she comes to ire is her razor-sharp takedown of so-called ‘empaths’.
8. The West Wing S1E2: Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
Back in the days when portraying the US President as competent and knowledgeable didn’t stretch credulity too far, The West Wing ran for seven seasons, picking up a slew of awards along the way. Skeptic Points are already on the board for naming the entire episode after a logical fallacy, and it doesn’t disappoint as President Bartlet (played to perfection by Martin Sheen) gives his advisors a lesson about faulty thinking.
7. South Park S6 E15: The Biggest Douche in the Universe
At the time of writing, South Park has just celebrated its 25th birthday. First aired in March of 1998 they’ve taken a scattergun approach to plotlines, frequently picking up the talking point du jour and roasting it mercilessly, for better or worse. Occasionally insightful, but not often enough to result in missing the cut in the same way as the Simpsons, their skewering of John Edward is a near-perfect takedown of the celebrity psychic phenomenon.
6. Asterix and the Soothsayer
Many skeptics may be somewhat surprised to see the diminutive Gaul making it on to this list. Not only is there frequent consumption of a ‘magic potion’ which gives his tribe super strength, but there’s also an occasion in Britain of all places when they run out of the aforementioned potion and druid Getafix prepares a fake batch which still appears to work due to the placebo effect (presumably just to annoy Mike Hall).
That being said, Asterix is generally portrayed as a critical thinker who uses brain rather than chemically and/or psychologically enhanced brawn, so when a traveller arrives in the village claiming to be able to see the future, our eponymous hero is the only one not to be taken in by the fakery. Happily, the story does not end well for the Soothsayer, who predictably never saw it coming. There’s even a fittingly brief and satisfyingly unflattering mention of a character called Homeopathix along the way for bonus Skeptic Points.
5. Orange is the new Black S6E4: I’m the Talking Ass
There are many pitfalls to be had when mixing comedy and drama. Firstly, your programme may be described using the horrific portmanteau ‘dramedy’, but more broadly the risk of being accused of trivialising other peoples’ struggles with humour is a constant danger. It does however mean that the juxtaposition between the highs and the lows can be considerably more pronounced, and OITNB was able to tread that line admirably for seven seasons, winning multiple awards and critical acclaim along the way. Set in a women’s prison (in the US), it has helped give a voice to many marginalised demographics in terms of gender, ethnicity, sexuality, and socio-economic status, and highlighted issues such as drug use, sexual violence, and mental illness to name but a few.
All of this contributes towards the ‘Skeptic Factor’ of the program of course, but this particular episode tracks (amongst other plotlines) the continued difficulty of Aleida to make ends meet after her release. Drawing attention to the US Justice system’s focus on punishment rather than rehabilitation, Aleida struggles to find gainful employment due to her criminal record. This results in her falling for a multi-level marketing scheme by the name of ‘Nutri Herbal’, which is different enough from real-life company Herbalife to avoid legal consequences, but close enough for obvious comparisons. The scene showing the back of her car loaded with products which she has had to pay for up front is a telling warning to all.
4. My Little Pony S2E15: The Super Speedy Cider Squeezy 6000
If a news story of a nazi problem in My Little Pony fandom cropped up before 2016 it would have been instantly flagged as satire. Nowadays though that’s sadly not the case. Such are the risks with a kids’ show that’s written in a way to appeal to adults as well, but thankfully the Bronies community is largely benign, and frequently a force for good. A prime example of the clever writing of the show is the introduction of Flim and Flam the salesponies with a dangerously catchy song and dance routine.
Without a doubt the younger viewers will have no idea of the origins of the word Flim-Flam, or the book of the same name from skeptical favourite James Randi, but those of us in the know will love the tip of the hat to the obvious comparisons to travelling Snake-Oil Salesmen. Recurring appearances from the salesponies throughout subsequent seasons all bring fresh attempts to push new but equally useless products to the unsuspecting magical equines.
3. Jim Jefferies: Vaccination
With a career built primarily on themes of misogyny, alcohol consumption, comedic sexual escapades, drug use, and such-like, it has been refreshing to see Jim Jefferies to steer towards more rational topics in recent times. His gun control routine shot him in front of a new audience (although 50% of them didn’t see the funny side), and his tip of the hat to scientists was much appreciated (even though it was very much at the expense of the religious community). The Skeptic Points though are awarded to his routine about getting his son vaccinated, with a bonus takedown of the aforementioned Jenny McCarthy along the way.
2. Time team S8E3: Llygadwy, Wales
The irony of a show presented by Tony Robinson helping to uncover the incompetence of a Baldrick-esque cunning plan to turn some farmland into an archeological wonderland is reason enough to get this on the list, but more notably though, the deviation of format for a long running and successful television show in order to systematically debunk an attempted fraud is a joy to watch. Of course, it’s so British that they softball the confrontation with the landowner’s spokesperson (his son-in-law) at the end of the show, but the damage has already been done by that point. Check out Paul Duncan McGarrity’s excellent article for a blow by blow account of proceedings.
1. Mitchell and Webb: Homeopathic A&E
No real surprise that this hits the list since David Mitchell is currently working his way through a long-term contract to appear as the indignant voice of reason in every single panel show the UK has to offer. The Mitchell and Webb sketch show was notoriously hit and miss, to the point that they parodied it themselves, but there’s no denying the quality when they’re at their best. There’s plenty of Skeptic-friendly material in their work, but the undiluted brilliance of Homeopathic A&E makes it the cream of the crop, and ensures that it rears its head in the comments area any time we broach the subject of the air-guitar of medicine.
This isn’t a ‘top ten’, and even if it was it’s probably not in the right order, so no need to come after me on social media for my omissions and oversights. Please add to the conversation in the comments though as I’m sure there’s plenty more great material out there! Thanks to my friends in the Skeptic community who helped me crowdsource my list. If your suggestion didn’t make it on to my list, it’s not you, it’s me.
