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The "SCI-FI" Channel

Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
However, one of the people I know who watches John Edward religiously (and who I've unsuccessfully been trying to get started on Babylon 5 and Crusade), also watches Dark Shadows religiously. She also liked ST:TOS but dislikes all new Treks (TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT).

[/quote]

I have to say that the person you are talking about is a...

*tries to think of the right word*

Weirdo
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

KoshN: </font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
However, one of the people I know who watches John Edward religiously (and who I've unsuccessfully been trying to get started on Babylon 5 and Crusade), also watches Dark Shadows religiously. She also liked ST:TOS but dislikes all new Treks (TNG, DS9, VOY, ENT).

[/quote]

Just for the record, I found Dark Shadows to be quite fun when I first saw it. It's campy but so is Dr. Who, and I love Dr. Who (and wish I could still see it).

But John Edwards makes me want to throw things until I can make him join his supposed voices.

I think what he does is sick.

Anyhow, just wanted to separate the camp fun from the disgusting human here.

Dark Shadows and Barnabus Collins, what fun! /forums/images/icons/grin.gif
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
You liked that slimey mutant with six eyes? I tuned in, but turned the channel quickly because it just looked so cheap and "Z-Movie-like."

[/quote]

Indeed. I can't say that I'm a huge fan of such campy horror flicks, but I do enjoy them. And like I said, I'm a fan of Full Moon. Not a dedicated fan, mind you. More of a casual fan. A big enough fan to not simply dismiss it as utter trash.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
<font color="yellow"> Originally posted by hypatia: </font color>
But John Edward makes me want to throw things until I can make him join his supposed voices.

[/quote]

/forums/images/icons/grin.gif /forums/images/icons/grin.gif /forums/images/icons/grin.gif /forums/images/icons/grin.gif /forums/images/icons/grin.gif /forums/images/icons/grin.gif /forums/images/icons/grin.gif /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

[G'Kar] <font color="orange">I ... LIKE it! *</font color> [/G'Kar]


* The visual image of hypatia pelting him with things until he crosses over. /forums/images/icons/devil.gif /forums/images/icons/devil.gif /forums/images/icons/devil.gif
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

Heeheehee. Gawd, I can't stand him. I don't HATE him, but he's become insanely popular. Plus, he now has a frelling book out. /forums/images/icons/rolleyes.gif
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

Egads, I can see it now...
"OK, there is someone in this room, someone close to you, that has passed away.

If it is your father, turn to page 10.
If it is your sister, turn to page 20.
If it is your cat, turn to page 36..."

/forums/images/icons/smile.gif
--mcn
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

I simply cannot believe people fall for this guy. /forums/images/icons/rolleyes.gif

There's a sucker born every minute.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

Ok, I feel like I have to defend this guy just a little bit. I don't pretend to believe him at all, but a few times John Edward has come up with things that he couldn't have known unless he interviewed the people in the audience beforehand - like, for example, out of the blue - "Organ. St. Eulalia," or "I'm getting Nova Scotia, lounge singer," something like that. You can't guess stuff like that and win with an audience that small - the probability's way off. Although you can do stuff like this mathematically, some of the stuff is so way off the charts that it's crazy. And yet, it always matches up with someone in the audience.

He wouldn't be THAT stupid as to interview every show beforehand; even some, considering that the world is basically out to prove him a fake. SOMEONE would tell. SOMEONE would have blown the whistle right now, even if they had to find a legal loophole to do so.

And you have to notice his marketing campaign. Whenever he refers to himself, or whenever the ads refer to him, it's always "Crossing over WITH John Edward." I.E., reflecting his whole philosophy of "It's NOT ME; it's the PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE." The only time he's really plugged as "Look at John Edward" is in the opening credits, and that's to explain who this guy is.

He is also NOT a very good actor - his speech patterns are weird, and he talks too fast, even in his last commentary when he's not reading. If they wanted someone to promote, they wouldn't have chosen that guy.

I don't know if he's for real. Frankly, I don't give a damn if he is or if he's not, but if he's doing this for publicity, they're doing this the wrong way.

I don't think he's for real - at all - but I'm having a hard time smelling a hoax, as well...
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

The really off the wall stuff could be audience plants.

The key is that he talks past his mistakes VERY quickly.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

I've seen stuff like this before a LOT - I used to go to a lot of shows where you *knew* they were fakes. They used to talk past their mistakes, too, but they *never* got to the level of sophistication this guy does. He has to do it, 'cause he knows people will scream "fake!!!" He's either very good - or the real thing. I dunno. I don't pretend to believe, either way.

There's another key to the defense in the audience, though - we *know* these people in the audience aren't hired actors, or it would have come out by now, SOMEHOW. Now, they could be audience plants, but I've been working with community theater for long enough to know that most ordinary people, when faced with acting, really suck (including myself). Those reactions are real.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

All it takes is a few audience plants (meaning professional actors, but not well known) to lend a level of authenticity to it. Ever hear of non-disclosure agreements? I had to sign one once, and it was very binding, not the kind of thing you want to violate.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

One of the tricks is to have hidden microphones scattered around to pick up the audience before the show begins and show's "listeners" pick up on tidbits that are passed on to the host. Not saying this happening, but could.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

The standard trick for mind reading acts is to have several people in the crowd waiting to get in. They over hear specific details when audience members talk to each other while waiting to get into the auditorium. Perhaps they use microphones now, and they could even use those remote pickup microphones that look like a little radar dish.. Almost certainly this is where very specific info comes from for audience members. Addresses, however might be gotten in easier ways, if they fill out some kind of form to get tickets, just a name and a city or state could yeild an address.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

Houdini and David Blaine are outstanding illusionists. They are (were) extremely talented at what they do.

But there is no such thing as magic.
It's all entertainment.

This John Edwards guy wouldn't be so successful if he wasn't good at it.

Deconstructing the Dead

Having a weird speech pattern or what-have-you may seem like a disadvantage, but it actually adds to his "realism," eg, "I'm just a regular guy who happens to have these powers, I can't help it." He plays up the idea that it's not him, it's the spirits who are doing the work, which is a tried and true ancient technique, be it spirits, Jesus, ancestors, dead relatives, or other fictional or dead beings speaking "through" the person.

The audience there is already predisposed to superstition. The grief of dead loved ones only serves to enhance that- stress and emotional turmoil lead one away from rational thinking.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

I didn't mean to jump on you Channe, and can appreciate a devil's advocate. In that spirit, I will say that at one time, J. E. and his producers were planning on contacting 9/11 victims, but changed their minds, showing that they do have some sense of shame. If anyone wants to see a good film about being a 'mentalist' as racket, I recommend Nightmare Alley, staring Tyrone Power. It would be more than amusing if J. E. meets the same fate as Tyrone does in that one.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

I shanghai'ed Edwards' new book in a Borders today and took a look on the section of 9/11 (don't worry, I didn't buy it). His explanation for this is pretty practical, and the media response is pretty, well, what we expect from the media.

Apparently, after 9/11, Edward says that he wasn't asking for 9/11 victims to come through, and didn't actually want them to - because he knew what the media would do to him. Since a lot of people he read came from the NY area, where the show is filmed, he was going to get what he called 9/11 families anyway. There was some sort of misunderstanding between promotional offices, and the media jumped on it as "John Edward will contact 9/11 victims in November sweeps!" when in reality none of the 9/11 families that he read would even be shown until May, just because of the film schedule, like it is with any sort of show.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

</font><blockquote><font class="small">In reply to:</font><hr />
<font color="yellow"> Originally posted by Jade Jaguar: </font color>
In that spirit, I will say that at one time, J. E. and his producers were planning on contacting 9/11 victims, but changed their minds, showing that they do have some sense of shame.

[/quote]

Sense of shame, no, Fear of negative backlash, YES. They fear things that could possibly affect their wallets in a bad way.
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

Thank you Channe. You had summed up my same feelings about John Edward in a much better way than I could ever done. /forums/images/icons/smile.gif
 
Re: The \"SCI-FI\" Channel

I wondered how long it would be before a John Edwards supporter contributed to this thread! /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

I guess I'd just say that if he really could do what he says he can, he'd be doing a lot more.

Why hasn't he ever contacted Jesus for example? Wow, could THAT answer a few questions, eh? /forums/images/icons/wink.gif

Throughout the ages we've had this kind of act. If you don't think it's an act, then you might seriously question why he's doing this on national tv instead of in a temple.

Perhaps the sci-fi channel will bring in Mamma Cleo for an hour too. Oh, and don't forget the guy who reads goat entrails.... (or however you spell that) /forums/images/icons/rolleyes.gif
 
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