The Sacred Mushroom

I actually saw this episode when it aired. I still vividly remember the host's reaction as the psychedelic effects of the shrooms kicked in.

John Newland was a classy host with a serious understated demeanor, so when he opened up under the influence of the mushrooms it was impressive.

"It's fantastic!" (or something equivalent) he gushed ecstatically. "The colors! I can't describe how beautiful it is!" (or something like that.)

Unlike the other shows on the series, which were dramatized stories of allegedly true paranormal events - all well written and directed - this was a "live" documentary event.

If you have never seen One Step Beyond it's well worth checking out. Especially if you're a fan of the original Twilight Zone series or the paranormal. It was a great series, much better than most of the "true paranormal" drivel being telecast these days.

I find it funny to watch an episode where it is about mushrooms which permit to dream, make journeys into another world. Was this episode written as a sort of warning against drug, opium smoking? Maybe, maybe not, but I hardly guess that is it. I understood it as a metaphor of drug abusing. Anyway, I am not shocked, just amused, and why not speaking about it? This mushroom story told this way has nothing to do to enhance the eerie atmosphere of this famous TV series. No acting here, no directing, but this tale should have been commented yet.

This episode is a pure documentary on mushrooms, nothing to do with other fiction, pure fiction, stories of this eerie show.