X-Files: an Eerie Indiana ripoff?

[froodle]

Talk about global conspiracy! After many long and arduous minutes of research, I have uncovered evidence leading me to believe that Chris Carter's 'The X-Files'-- which debuted in 1993-- is a poorly disguised copy of José Rivera and Karl Schaefer's 1991 series 'Eerie, Indiana'! Don't believe me? You will: check out this Evidence List for the grim details. For those few of you who fail to realize the signifigance of the below developments-- although I can't imagine who wouldn't-- I have taken the liberty of including a Rip-Off Rating on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being 'Holy Corn! Trust No One-- especially TV show producers!' and a 1 being, well, 'Believe the Lie' a.k.a 'Talitha, you pulled that out of your #%$!' Anyway, folks, the truth is out there-- but its roots are in Eerie....

THE EVIDENCE LIST
'Have these earthlings no shame?'

THE BASIC PLOT

EERIE: Paranormal investigator Marshall Teller teams up with younger, red-headed partner Simon Holmes to expose the supernatural activity of Eerie, Indiana.
X-FILES: Paranormal investigator Fox Mulder teams up with younger, red-headed partner Dana Scully to expose the supernatural activity of the world.
RIP-OFF FACTOR: "You can't suppress the truth.. the people have a right to know! Roswell! Roswell!!" Is it any more obvious?! Rating: 10

THE VILLIAN

EERIE: A mysterious, gray haired man in black (Dash X) with no name continually tries to ruin Marshall and Simon's investigations-- as well as attempt to kill them.
X-FILES:A mysterious, gray haired man in black (Cigarette Smoking Man) with no name continually tries to ruin Mulder and Scully's investigations-- as well as attempt to kill them
RIP-OFF FACTOR: "Burn it!" "Bye-bye, slick!" Took off half a point for lack of nicotine on Dash's part, but then again, CSM didn't start until his twenties... Rating: 9.5

THE EVIDENCE FACTOR

EERIE: Marshall keeps his evidence of the paranormal filed, tagged and hidden in the Secret Spot.
X-FILES: Mulder keeps his evidence of the paranormal filed, tagged and hidden in his FBI office.
RIP-OFF FACTOR: "The truth is in the X-Files, Scully." "Where's the Secret Spot?" Eh, close enough! Rating: 9

THE WRITER FACTOR

EERIE: In one episode, Marshall encounters a strange writer named José Schaefer.
X-FILES: In one episode, Mulder encounters a strange writer named José Chung.
RIP OFF FACTOR: Holy Corn! Two strange writers named José with non-Hispanic last names? Puh-lease!...Rating:10

THE PARANORMAL IMPOSTER FACTOR

EERIE: Marshall and Simon must debunk Professor Zircon, who claims to be an expert on the 'parabelievable.'
X-FILES: Mulder and Scully must debunk the Stupendous Yappi, an expert on psychic ability and UFOs.
RIP-OFF FACTOR: As Zircon lacked both a TV show and those cool eyebrows, this one only gets a rating of 7

THE CHOICE ATTIRE OF OUR HEROS

EERIE: One of Marshall's favorite items of clothing is his sweatshirt baring the logo of a New York Sports team-- the Giants.
X-FILES: One of Mulder's favorite items of clothing is his T-shirt baring the logo of a New York sports team-- the Knicks.
RIP-OFF FACTOR: "This is mega-voodo-eerie-weirdness, Simon." As both character don't live anywhere near New York, this gets a 9 However, I doubt we'll be seeing Simon in a Donna Karan suit anytime soon-- at least, I hope not...

THE EVIL ENEMY

EERIE: Marshall and Simon must battle an evil secret society-- the Loyal Order of Corn.
X-FILES: Mulder and Scully must battle an evil secret society-- the Syndicate.
RIP-OFF FACTOR: "They've been here a long time, Mr. Mulder" "We hail your fruitful cob!" Well, the Syndicate is lacking in a catchy tehem song, but there's always next season... Rating:7.5

THE HORIZONTALLY CHALLENGED BUREAUCRACY FACTOR

X-FILES: The deadly Syndicate is headed by the feared Fat Elder.
EERIE: The deadly Eerie government is headed by Elvis Presley, circa 1972.
RIP-OFF FACTOR:Oh man oh man oh man oh man! This is IT! Now we know where Elvis has been hiding since Eerie's cancellation-- obviously that lack of dental hygiene on the Fat Elder's part was to keep us off track...but they ain't foolin' no one! Rating: 10+