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A New Challenge for Randi

timokay said:
I would like to form "The Bunko Squad", which, in concert with local authorities, would perform sting operations against psychics, televangelists, hucksters....basically anyone who makes claims, charges fees and willingly commits fraud.
That I would watch.
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a_unique_person said:
If the mountain will not come to Mohammad? Unfortunately, litigation seems to be the defense that is used, and it works.
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There are plenty of "Invesitigative Reports" type shows, that bust criminals on television. If done well, it would be a great show, and hopefully raise awareness that these vultures prey on the weak, old and addle minded. With cooperation from authorities, it should be protected from litigation.
 
The difficulty in starting a show about the challenge is this: The E in JREF stands for Education, not Entertainment ;) Invariably in television, producers will push something for its entertainment value, and ultimately I think that would not be in the best interest of the challenge.
 
petre said:
The difficulty in starting a show about the challenge is this: The E in JREF stands for Education, not Entertainment ;) Invariably in television, producers will push something for its entertainment value, and ultimately I think that would not be in the best interest of the challenge.
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Entertainment and Education are not exclusive. Mythbusters is a great example of this, as well as my High School Physics teacher.

Producers care about money, and that may effect whether or not to go after the Brownes, Edwards and Poppos's, but it damn well better be entertaining or it will not last as a show.
 
Welcome to the world of Show Biz, my friends ...

I understand the enthusiasm for a Challenge TV show, but the thing is, no TV show is going to make it with the public unless the prize is actually awarded. Think about it!

Turns out, we're not the only ones who have throught about it. Kramer gave me permission to post this response from him:

We have had many meetings and discussions with producers and network executives over the years regarding a TV show based upon the Million Dollar Challenge, and each meeting is cut short soon after we are asked the following question:

"How often do you propose to award the million dollar prize?"

It's really that simple. A show that offers a million dollar prize but never actually awards it to anyone will never fly.

~KRAMER~
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Well, darn it!
 
rjh01 said:
There will be no more preliminary tests. Kramer has made it difficult for 'those who are so self deluded that they actually believe they have paranormal powers' to actually take the test,
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How is it that it is too difficult?
 
gnome said:
How is it that it is too difficult?
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If the affidavit requirement is performed unilaterally, then every applicant must submit them stating the witness actually saw something unexplainable. Since it is rare that an applicant can actually demonstrate their ability, most are now cut off at this step.
 
petre said:
If the affidavit requirement is performed unilaterally, then every applicant must submit them stating the witness actually saw something unexplainable. Since it is rare that an applicant can actually demonstrate their ability, most are now cut off at this step.
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I don't think it's so rare that an applicant can demonstrate their ability without controls on it. Let me rephrase that--I don't think it's rare that an applicant capable of agreeing on a protocol can demonstrate it without controls. The rest are just a waste of JREF's time anyway, aren't they?
 
gnome said:
I don't think it's so rare that an applicant can demonstrate their ability without controls on it. Let me rephrase that--I don't think it's rare that an applicant capable of agreeing on a protocol can demonstrate it without controls. The rest are just a waste of JREF's time anyway, aren't they?
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Some rather enjoyed the prospect of people testing for something they are unable to demonstrate. The rest of us agree the new status quo saves time :)
 
Gayle said:
I understand the enthusiasm for a Challenge TV show, but the thing is, no TV show is going to make it with the public unless the prize is actually awarded. Think about it!

Turns out, we're not the only ones who have thought about it. Kramer gave me permission to post this response from him:



Well, darn it!
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I do not see this as a major blocker. Anyone watched 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' They went for years and only recently gave out a $1m (This is in Australia) . Several people got 0.5 million. Lots of people got smaller prizes. No reason why JREF cannot duplicate that. The money will come from sponsors and the TV networks themselves. JREFs money can stay safe.
 
rjh01 said:
I do not see this as a major blocker. Anyone watched 'Who wants to be a millionaire?' They went for years and only recently gave out a $1m (This is in Australia) . Several people got 0.5 million. Lots of people got smaller prizes. No reason why JREF cannot duplicate that. The money will come from sponsors and the TV networks themselves. JREFs money can stay safe.
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Oh, I love that idea! You are totally brilliant! It would greatly widen the JREF's name recognition. If the crazier of the applicants weren't screened out, it would be the funniest show on television. I might even turn on my set again.

Of course, there'd have to be some sort of prize that is awarded, basically, for just appearing. Perhaps a 'panel' of applicants who are allowed to make their claims with any sort of casual demonstration that they like. (Sort of like the current JREF 'trial run'.) Allot 8 minutes to each of the 4, to allow for commercials, and then the audience (studio or at-home-through-computer) gets to pick one each week to carry over. That one gets a small, but considerable, amount of prize money...say $5,000? Once 4 or 5 are chosen, there could be a '2-hour special' where they demonstrate their claims under standard JREF protocol. Then, to keep the audience hooked, the winner gets the million (yeah....right :rolleyes: ) and the voted-for 'audience favorite' could win another $5,000. (Anyone who withdrew before the 'real' demonstration would have to give a taped exit interview in order to claim the original $5,000.)

Audience participation, ala 'American Idol', would keep it suspenseful, it would be hysterically funny and it woud give JREF the opportunity to keep hammering away at the failures. (It would also give another chance to challenge Sylvia. After all, if she can do her thing on TV for Montel, she surely can do it on TV for Randi...right? Maybe with a large ticking clock...?)

I can see JR wheeling the securities through eerie, green, slo-mo fog out of a perfectly gigantic bank safe now...
 
a_unique_person said:
I would like to posit a new facet to the challenge.

It is that a someone can actually prove that an accepted theory of science is false. By this I mean that someone can prove that evolution is false, anthropogenic greenhouse warming is false, gravitation is false, etc.

"String Theory", which is, as I understand it, a theory which is very much a work in progress, would not be a part of the challenge, for example.
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Hey!
Why not make it even more interesting and start your own foundation?
Then we could go there and see who's trying to win your money.
;)
 
KnotKnitWit said:
Oh, I love that idea! You are totally brilliant! It would greatly widen the JREF's name recognition. If the crazier of the applicants weren't screened out, it would be the funniest show on television. I might even turn on my set again.
quote]

It is not me that is brilliant! It is you! You have developed the idea into something that could well work. Give them all interviews at the start to say what they can do and what they have done and then get them to demonstrate it. Only broadcast the good bits of the interviews.

The show could travel around the USA.
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rjh01 said:
<snip> Give them all interviews at the start to say what they can do and what they have done and then get them to demonstrate it. Only broadcast the good bits of the interviews.

The show could travel around the USA.
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Isn't there some sort of show that travels around where people can bring things for evaluation to see if they're junk or antiques? My mother watches that one. That's another great idea.

I'm not much on television but this would be a really funny show.
 
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