‘X-Factor: Das Unfassbare’ returns with new episodes airing on RTLzwei on November 1 and 3, featuring Richard Karn from ‘Home Improvement’ as Bill, a grieving widower. The marathon on November 1 includes classic episodes of the series, which has captivated audiences since its original airing from 1997 to 2002. The format includes five stories per episode, leaving viewers questioning the truth of each narrative. Karn’s character confronts his sorrow with help from a mysterious woman who inspires him to face his struggles.
‘X-Factor: The Unfathomable’ is back! RTLzwei is set to air two new episodes of the mystery show on November 1st and 3rd, starting from 8:15 PM. Additionally, on November 1st, viewers can enjoy a marathon from 10 AM featuring classic episodes from the beloved series. Richard Karn, 68, known for his role in another cult series, will be featured in the new, US-produced episodes.
In the sitcom ‘Home Improvement’ (1991-1999), Karn portrayed Al Borland, the assistant to the handyman king, Tim Taylor (played by Tim Allen, 71). Born in Seattle, Karn became a familiar face on US television and even hosted several episodes of the game show ‘Family Feud’. In ‘X-Factor: The Unfathomable’, he takes on the role of Bill, a widower who isolates himself in his workshop following the death of his wife, where he repairs old electronics for a select few customers.
“Bill is going through a tough time; his wife was his entire life,” Karn shared in an interview during the Munich premiere celebration for the new episodes. “They traveled a lot together and enjoyed motorcycling. He struggles to move on, even creating a small shrine for her. Then one day, a woman enters his shop and encourages him to talk about his issues. But he soon realizes he’s unsure if she’s even real…” He noted that the shoot, which was kept quite simple, took place in an old electronics warehouse in the San Fernando Valley, just a few kilometers from his home. Karn, reminiscent of his past on ‘Home Improvement’, spent considerable time at the workshop table during filming.
Karn admitted that he wasn’t very familiar with ‘Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction’, the original title of the show, prior to this role. When the series premiered about 25 years ago, he was busy with work and had little time for TV. He did grow up watching mystery series such as ‘Twilight Zone’ and ‘Outer Limits’, and currently enjoys ‘Ghosts’. “I’ve always been fascinated by mysteries and the paranormal,” he expressed.
Reflecting on his past in television, he fondly stated, “I’ve kept in touch with Tim. We worked together on another show called ‘More Power’ a few years back. I still see Debbe [Dunning, 58, who played Heidi] from time to time as well,” said Karn, who has resumed watching the old episodes of ‘Home Improvement’. “They are available for streaming on Hulu. I hadn’t seen the show in 30 years, but my wife and I started watching it again. It’s enjoyable because I can relax and watch without remembering all the cuts and edits we made during filming (laughs).”
More Familiar Faces in the New ‘X-Factor’ Episodes
Alongside Richard Karn, the new episodes of ‘X-Factor’ will feature well-known actors such as Bryan Langlitz (‘House of Cards’, ‘Orange Is the New Black’) and Betsy Baker (69, ‘New Girl’, ‘True Blood’). Baker is also recognized for her role in the cult classic film ‘Evil Dead’, where she starred as Linda in 1981. She has frequently appeared in horror films since. In ‘X-Factor’, she plays a hotel owner in 1990, where three teenagers plan to spend a night in her establishment, previously the site of horrific murders. However, their ghost-hunting adventure takes an unexpected turn.
‘X-Factor: The Unfathomable’ has captivated audiences for over two decades, having been produced from 1997 to 2002 on Fox in the USA. It became a cult favorite in Germany after its first broadcast in 1998. This led to the production of new episodes starting in 2021, aired on RTLzwei.
Each episode of ‘X-Factor’ is divided into five stories that are revealed to be either true or false at the end, often without clear evidence. Details regarding the time and place of the events, as well as the sources of the stories, are usually vague. “Do you wonder if the story is true?” asks the iconic host Jonathan Frakes, 72, during each story’s conclusion. Frakes took over hosting duties in 1998 from actor James Brolin, 84, who hosted the show’s first season. Since 2021, Frakes has also been presenting the new episodes and is considered an integral part of the series by many fans.