John Edward - Help needed
- Thread starter Richard
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rustytunes
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I don't have anything new to offer, but good luck with the TV spot. What program and when is it on Richard?
Go you good thing!
Go you good thing!
I like this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3QaVGEo2BM
He talks about Randi... direct quote: "Would I allow myself to be tested by someone who has an adjective in their first name?"
And please, please watch these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEQkd0wDoMo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ct2qt9fpo
The beginning of the third part is just awesome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_SnK5csnq4
But if you don't want to watch all that, here's the highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfByC1Iblxc
One where he totally messes up, completely, insanely, and does not stop once he does:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpxFB1ejTDs
And this article is a lot of fun:
'CROSSING OVER' HOST PACKS SHARONVILLE
Cincinnati Post, The (OH)
June 7, 2002
Author: Rick Bird
Charlatan or psychic?
For fans of the talk show ''Crossing Over,'' it probably doesn't matter whether host John Edward is a hoax, or really does get messages from dead people.
They certainly want to believe. And that's why almost 3,000 tri-state fans of Edward will pack the Sharonville Convention Center Saturday for the road show version of his TV talk show at $45 a ticket.
The show sold out the day it was announced. When WXIX-TV (Channel 19) announced a ticket give-a-way Wednesday morning it received 4,000 e-mail entries in a couple hours, shutting down its server.
Edward knows people want to believe all is well in the afterlife.
''That's my whole goal. Just to raise peoples' awareness and let them say, 'Hey, maybe mom or dad is still with me,' '' Edward said in a recent phone interview.
''Crossing Over'' was an instant cable hit when it debuted in 2000 on the Sci Fi Channel, airing 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday. It went into syndication this past TV season and is practically the only daytime talk program that has shown any growth.
It used to be carried in the Cincinnati market on low-powered WBQC-TV (Channel 25), but was snapped up by Channel 19 this spring. In May, the station got an instant ratings jump in the 3 p.m. hour ''Crossing Over'' airs - up 80 percent from the sitcom and children's programming in the time slot a year ago.
''I'm getting something about Tweety Bird,' the fast-talking Edward tells one woman on a recent episode. We see her face light up with emotional understanding as tears appear. We later learn Tweety was the name of her departed son's parakeet.
Each ''Crossing Over'' usually has a similar revelation, leaving viewers wondering, ''How did he do that?''
Time Magazine and ''NBC Dateline'' have run stories the past couple years exposing Edward as using time-honored tricks of the fortune telling trade, usually practiced in the darkened seances, not under TV's bright lights. Time suggested the waiting audience is ''bugged'' by producers, or producer ''moles'' mingle with guests to toss Edward some tidbits he can run with when taping begins. Others have claimed the show is heavily edited so only Edward's hits, not misses, are seen.
''The first time I meet the audience is when I'm walking out there. Producers don't know anything about these people. There's nothing they know. That's a strict rule,'' Edward said. He generally has a policy of not responding directly to the debunkers.
He says the Time piece was irresponsible journalism. ''The guy who wrote it never came to the show, never interviewed me or any producer. It was a speculative article.... It was all hearsay.''
Fraud or seer, Edward does have a life-affirming message: Connect with your loved ones before they pass.
He openly acknowledges he hopes his show doesn't get too successful, saying then it would be about him, not his message. He probably doesn't relish spending all his time defending his methods - indeed, almost a cottage industry has sprouted on the Internet debunking him.
''A ratings bonanza would raise my profile so fast and so high that people wouldn't come to understand the process and learning from it. Instead, I would become the biggest billboard target. I don't want to be a target. I'd rather be a teacher.''
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3QaVGEo2BM
He talks about Randi... direct quote: "Would I allow myself to be tested by someone who has an adjective in their first name?"
And please, please watch these:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEQkd0wDoMo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97ct2qt9fpo
The beginning of the third part is just awesome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_SnK5csnq4
But if you don't want to watch all that, here's the highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfByC1Iblxc
One where he totally messes up, completely, insanely, and does not stop once he does:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpxFB1ejTDs
And this article is a lot of fun:
'CROSSING OVER' HOST PACKS SHARONVILLE
Cincinnati Post, The (OH)
June 7, 2002
Author: Rick Bird
Charlatan or psychic?
For fans of the talk show ''Crossing Over,'' it probably doesn't matter whether host John Edward is a hoax, or really does get messages from dead people.
They certainly want to believe. And that's why almost 3,000 tri-state fans of Edward will pack the Sharonville Convention Center Saturday for the road show version of his TV talk show at $45 a ticket.
The show sold out the day it was announced. When WXIX-TV (Channel 19) announced a ticket give-a-way Wednesday morning it received 4,000 e-mail entries in a couple hours, shutting down its server.
Edward knows people want to believe all is well in the afterlife.
''That's my whole goal. Just to raise peoples' awareness and let them say, 'Hey, maybe mom or dad is still with me,' '' Edward said in a recent phone interview.
''Crossing Over'' was an instant cable hit when it debuted in 2000 on the Sci Fi Channel, airing 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday. It went into syndication this past TV season and is practically the only daytime talk program that has shown any growth.
It used to be carried in the Cincinnati market on low-powered WBQC-TV (Channel 25), but was snapped up by Channel 19 this spring. In May, the station got an instant ratings jump in the 3 p.m. hour ''Crossing Over'' airs - up 80 percent from the sitcom and children's programming in the time slot a year ago.
''I'm getting something about Tweety Bird,' the fast-talking Edward tells one woman on a recent episode. We see her face light up with emotional understanding as tears appear. We later learn Tweety was the name of her departed son's parakeet.
Each ''Crossing Over'' usually has a similar revelation, leaving viewers wondering, ''How did he do that?''
Time Magazine and ''NBC Dateline'' have run stories the past couple years exposing Edward as using time-honored tricks of the fortune telling trade, usually practiced in the darkened seances, not under TV's bright lights. Time suggested the waiting audience is ''bugged'' by producers, or producer ''moles'' mingle with guests to toss Edward some tidbits he can run with when taping begins. Others have claimed the show is heavily edited so only Edward's hits, not misses, are seen.
''The first time I meet the audience is when I'm walking out there. Producers don't know anything about these people. There's nothing they know. That's a strict rule,'' Edward said. He generally has a policy of not responding directly to the debunkers.
He says the Time piece was irresponsible journalism. ''The guy who wrote it never came to the show, never interviewed me or any producer. It was a speculative article.... It was all hearsay.''
Fraud or seer, Edward does have a life-affirming message: Connect with your loved ones before they pass.
He openly acknowledges he hopes his show doesn't get too successful, saying then it would be about him, not his message. He probably doesn't relish spending all his time defending his methods - indeed, almost a cottage industry has sprouted on the Internet debunking him.
''A ratings bonanza would raise my profile so fast and so high that people wouldn't come to understand the process and learning from it. Instead, I would become the biggest billboard target. I don't want to be a target. I'd rather be a teacher.''
Jeff Corey
New York Skeptic
- Joined
- Aug 2, 2001
- Messages
- 13,714
Try a hot reading.
Go "I'm getting a Magee, John Edward MaGee, 17 Little Plains Court in Huntington, New York, scamming all those people in your living room, you bastard. Former dance instructor and with a crummy degree in some quasi medical thing from C W Post College in Brookville , issit? You rotten piece of slime."
You can be a psychic too.
Go "I'm getting a Magee, John Edward MaGee, 17 Little Plains Court in Huntington, New York, scamming all those people in your living room, you bastard. Former dance instructor and with a crummy degree in some quasi medical thing from C W Post College in Brookville , issit? You rotten piece of slime."
You can be a psychic too.
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How tough are you going to be?
Richard
Muse
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2001
- Messages
- 960
Ah, not that tough. The TV show will only use a little of what I say. Might ask why JE does not find some missing children while he is here.
It's TV, so you got to speak in short sentences. Here's a few ideas:
There is nothing he does that doesn't have a natural explanation.
It's a game of throwing out guesses and going with what the audience tells him.
We know that his show is heavily edited for content. Giving the impression that he gets far more hits than he really does.
John Edward has been caught using previously given information in a later reading.
John Edward is giving false hope to grieving people.
John Edward manipulates their emotions.
There is nothing he does that doesn't have a natural explanation.
It's a game of throwing out guesses and going with what the audience tells him.
We know that his show is heavily edited for content. Giving the impression that he gets far more hits than he really does.
John Edward has been caught using previously given information in a later reading.
John Edward is giving false hope to grieving people.
John Edward manipulates their emotions.
I'm sure he's already been asked that (about missing children). It might be worth your while checking up to see what his answer would be.
And I'd stay away from the million dollar challenge and also any accusations of bugging or fraud. That'll give him a chance to paint you as the bad guy.
Oh, and you could always invite him to be tested by you. Just a thought.
And I'd stay away from the million dollar challenge and also any accusations of bugging or fraud. That'll give him a chance to paint you as the bad guy.
Oh, and you could always invite him to be tested by you. Just a thought.
Seconded, would love to catch it if I can. Best of luck with it though.
Can't think much to help, just a brief mention of his methods, possibly of any of those specific instances where he has been caught out (don't have any cites, but there's at least a few stories floating around about him getting info before the show then coming out with it later as though it just came to him).
As well as of course a quick and clear outline of why what he is doing is wrong.
----
A good point. You'd do well to see how he has answered other skeptical questions in the past and address any points he has used against those. Couldn't hurt to show that you have listened to his justifications and are able to address those directly, rather than letting yourself be portrayed as someone just jumping in with a "PSYCHIC BAD!"
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ACA? Oh bugger. You KNOW they wouldn't know good journalism if it hit them in the back of the head.
I predict it won't matter what you say, it WILL be turned into 10 seconds of just "JE is a prat". IF you appear at all, that is.
You could try being interviewed with a clock with a second hand behind you, clearly in view. That will show any jump edits later.
Try to get the viewers to identify who actually provides the information in each "hit", JE, or the mark. Sorry, make that: grieving relative.
Get them to run a betting competition: How many questions does JE ask. And how many does he get a definite "yes" for.
I predict it won't matter what you say, it WILL be turned into 10 seconds of just "JE is a prat". IF you appear at all, that is.
You could try being interviewed with a clock with a second hand behind you, clearly in view. That will show any jump edits later.
Try to get the viewers to identify who actually provides the information in each "hit", JE, or the mark. Sorry, make that: grieving relative.
Get them to run a betting competition: How many questions does JE ask. And how many does he get a definite "yes" for.
rustytunes
Thinker
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2006
- Messages
- 235
A Current Affair? The report will almost certainly pro-Edwards, with a tiny snippet of Richard. If Edwards is touring here then Channel 9 is obviously promoting the tour. It would be nice if they actually did a skeptical report, but I don't think it's going to happen. I'd rather see him on Lateline.
rustytunes
Thinker
- Joined
- Feb 15, 2006
- Messages
- 235
He has answered (responded to) all the tough questions before, and knows his answers well. Perhaps you should just issue a public challenge? Australian Skeptics involvement would be good.
RSLancastr
www.StopSylvia.com
Flange Desire
Muse
- Joined
- Apr 4, 2005
- Messages
- 572
Hope it goes well for you Richard.
Probably too late for advice but -
Steer clear of the 'religious aspects', eg, souls, 'over there', and all that stuff.
That stuff is too confronting for many.
PS, I really miss Yawning Vent. She had great talents.
She worked on ACA for a while didn't she?
Probably too late for advice but -
Steer clear of the 'religious aspects', eg, souls, 'over there', and all that stuff.
That stuff is too confronting for many.
PS, I really miss Yawning Vent. She had great talents.
She worked on ACA for a while didn't she?
Yeah best to avoid any direct opposition to any notion whatsoever of an 'other side' or spirits etc in this case.
Probably safer to attack from the angle of 'Whether or not there is an other-side, this guy isn't in touch with it'. Viewers may dismiss anything you say out of hand if they feel you are attacking their base assumptions; and while you may be right to do so, it could distract from the more important immediate goal of your appearance which is to raise doubt about Edward
Richard, when you say tomorrow do you mean Thursday. If so I am not working so will see it. It is hard to put up an intelligent grab in one minute. The slime bags at ACA will surely want you to look bad, so best of luck.