At first I thought it was a hoax, but I clicked through the CNN.com headline anyway.

The story said that the SciFi Channel was suing the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) over the agency's apparent refusal to hand over documents pertaining to something called the "Kecksburg incident."

According to the CNN story, which originated with the Reuters news service, Kecksburg residents watched a fireball slam into a forest 40 miles from Pittsburg. The area was cordoned off by the military and the town was placed under martial law. No one was ever told why.

Gumbel's participation, as well as that of "investigative journalist" Leslie Kean, whose "Coalition for Freedom of Information" Web site is solely devoted to "exposing" the truth about Kecksburg, made me continue to think the whole thing was just a publicity stunt. Another "investigative journalist," Stan Gordon, has apparently devoted most, if not all, of his adult life to Kecksburg; he's also part of Kecksburg Exposed.

Then there's John Podesta.

John Podesta?

At a SciFi Channel-sponsored appearance a year ago, Podesta said he was an avid X-Files fan but certainly a "skeptic" who knows the difference between fact and fiction. He claimed to be a big believer in an open government and freedom of information, lending his voice to SciFi and Kean's in asking the government, NASA and the Air Force to declassify any documents related to Kecksburg (any UFO-related work, really) so that the public could decide for itself.

That lent some measure of credibility to the investigation. On the other hand, Podesta wouldn't be the first former presidential staff member to go out on a limb about something. So, I decided to check out the law firm which actually filed the papers on behalf of SciFi and Kean. Lobel, Novins & Lamont, based in Washington, D.C., reportedly is well known for representing various clients in actions involving federal agencies, especially on oil and gas issues.

OK, so this would appear to be a real suit filed by a real law firm on behalf of SciFi, Kean and Podesta against NASA with reportedly more to come against the Department of Defense and the Air Force. Sure, announcing their pending suit a week or so before Kecksburg Exposed is supposed to air still leaves a bit of an opportunistic taste in my mouth, but why not?

Well, guess what?

I wish they hadn't done it.

Surprised to hear that coming from a bonafide science fiction and fantasy fan? But my love of those genres is exactly the point. The SciFi Channel was originally created as a spot on the cable TV dial to watch original sf/f (as the combined genres are sometimes referred to), repeats of old favorites (like the original Star Trek and Space: 1999) and beloved theatrical releases (my favorite is Enemy Mine with Dennis Quaid, and Louis Gossett Jr. as a repitilian-looking alien).

It was never supposed to delve into the darkness of late night shock TV or docudramas. It was supposed to be about science fiction, not an attempt to ferret out science maybe.

However, ever since Vivendi/Universal snapped up SciFi and its sister network, USA, and placed Bonnie Hammer in charge, things have gone downhill. Not only have more horror movies appeared on the channel than almost anywhere else on television (sorry, I'm just not a fan), but the network's given us psychic John Edwards, Scare Tactics with Shannen Doherty, Beyond Belief, Sightings and the venerable In Search Of…

I suspect things will get even worse, now that NBC and Vivendi's television arm are merging. (Ironic how former NBC-er Gumbel's involved in Kecksburg, eh?)

Truth to tell, I hardly watch SciFi anymore. They've forgotten who their audience is, and The New Roswell: Kecksburg Exposed is continued proof of that.

Do I believe there are other people on other planets somewhere out in our galaxy? Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. Do I believe they've ever visited Earth? Possibly, but unless they're following some prime directive, you'd think they would have left better calling cards by now. Did something of extraterrestrial origin come down in Kecksburg?

Maybe, but I'm inclined to doubt it. Although the SciFi Channel and Keane have produced documents showing that the Kecksburg object was not a piece of a Russian satellite that fell in Canada earlier the same day, couldn't something else of earthly origin have fallen? Or perhaps a meteor?

The truth is out there somewhere, and I fully support the public's right to know. But the SciFi Channel has lost its way chasing Kecksburg. Its money would be better spend coming up with a more faithful version of Battlestar Galatica.

Or even better, get rid of Shannen Doherty, and get Farscape back in production.