Sci Fi examines mystery of crystal skull
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
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Any sober, God-fearing newsperson is wary when the subject turns to magic and myth.
So Lester Holt says he tread cautiously, when working on "Mystery of the Crystal Skulls," for the Sci Fi Channel. "My skepticism meter was clicking the whole way."
Still, he did it — just as he did a Bermuda Triangle special three years ago. And he emerged with an upbeat view:
The man he traveled with and interviewed, Bill Homann, isn't lying or scamming, Holt said. "He's a true believer."
The documentary doubles as a promo for the arrival Thursday of Steven Spielberg's "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull."
Legend says there are 13 crystal skulls, made by Mayans or aliens. They're scattered around; the majority must be gathered up, to prevent a cataclysm on Dec. 21, 2012.
There is much mumbo-jumbo here, but Holt proceeded. In his main duties, he reports for NBC and anchors its "Weekend Today" and weekend newscast; NBC and Sci Fi have the same corporate ownership.
"I always try to (think), 'Don't be a news snob. ... Ask the tough questions and have healthy skepticism," Holt said.
There are skeptics in the documentary, including one with damning evidence: A sales receipt shows that a skull supposedly found in the Belize jungle was actually bought at an auction at Sotheby's.
Even then, Homann sticks to the story that has been passed on to him:
All of that takes some extreme belief. Still, Holt says the skull seems ancient — there are no signs of machine tools — and Homann seems sincere.
"It was fun to see someone who has that sense of discovery and imagination, and of possibilities," Holt said.
And it was fun to leave the "news snob" world, to travel amid Mayan mysteries.
