America's Psychic Challenge

Denver · 16th September 2007, 05:39 PM

New reality show coming to Lifetime network Oct 12.

Found some info at thefutoncritic:

"Do you believe in psychic powers or are you a skeptic? "America's Psychic Challenge" puts the unique skills of psychics to the test, where they compete in a series of challenges to ultimately see whose clairvoyant abilities are the greatest. The series will premiere on Friday, October 12 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)..."

Should be... interesting.

Miss Anthrope · 16th September 2007, 05:57 PM

"to see whose clairvoyant abilities are the greatest"......

And that's where we go wrong right there.

Reno · 16th September 2007, 06:52 PM

If it's anything like the UK version, you do not want to watch it. It'll just make you mad.

hmmm... · 16th September 2007, 07:50 PM

I can't see this one as being a huge victory for rational thinking somehow...

Slimething · 16th September 2007, 07:54 PM

Maybe the first test is to see which one can choose which of five cars is not fitted with explosives. Of course, a true psychic would quickly determine that they are all fitted with explosives.

PreciousD · 7th October 2007, 06:54 AM

I just watched the first episode which is available for free download on iTunes. It was appalling. The worst part is when they exploited a grieving family. One of the sons was murdered in front of their house and the killers were never caught. The psychics were supposed to read the scene and determine the nature of the tragedy. The family was actually hoping to get some answers from these fakes. It was horrifying to watch.

666 · 7th October 2007, 06:59 AM

Originally Posted by Reno

If it's anything like the UK version, you do not want to watch it. It'll just make you mad.

There's a UK version? Glad I missed it.

Big Les · 7th October 2007, 07:44 AM

Originally Posted by 666

There's a UK version? Glad I missed it.

Indeed. Aptly enough, it was called "Britain's Psychic Challenge". And it made me mad.

Diane Lazarus got quite a PR boost from winning it, even though none of the participants did better than chance (several did worse!).

Sherlock · 7th October 2007, 11:10 PM

Interesting that it went back-to-back with the premiere of a new Biography Channel 'Psychic Investigator' series with Noreen Renier. Or are these new/old recycled Court TV episodes from Psychic Detectives? I fortunately skipped both but let my old VHS record one and a PVR record the other.

shalomsteph · 8th October 2007, 12:57 AM

It's FREE on iTunes, (In the USA) so if you want to watch without contributing to ratings or paying for it, download it quickly. iTunes usually only has them for free for a few days.

I did...here is the gist of it.

Four "psychics."

They have to find a person in an abandoned hospital in Los Angeles. I was more shocked that there was a reasonably nice piece of property that was abandoned in LA, but whatever. Of the four, three were not even close. One was close-next door.

Then, they had to "read" a celebrity, who was behind a wall. Unfortunately, the celebrity was Lisa Williams, so...she was anxious for the "psychics" to be correct. One basically only said she had a grandma and liked eyes and got 15 out of 25 points.

The third test was the only one that really irritated me. The psychics went to the home of the family of a murder victim. Their son was murdered in their front yard. The psychics were only told "a tragic crime happened" and they had to guess. One actually guessed incredibly well, but she "got a headache" and had to quit before she got too much actual information, like WHO DID IT. Another one guessed it was their "baby" and he was "shot or stabbed" outside. The other two blew it badly.

The two "winners" continue on towards the $100,000 prize. It's sort of like a watered down Randi prize.

sthomson · 8th October 2007, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by shalomsteph

They have to find a person in an abandoned hospital in Los Angeles. I was more shocked that there was a reasonably nice piece of property that was abandoned in LA, but whatever. Of the four, three were not even close.

Probably a property owned by a production studio and used for TV shows like this one.

RSLancastr · 8th October 2007, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by sthomson

Probably a property owned by a production studio and used for TV shows like this one.

It could easily have been an actual hospital.

Many L.A. hospitals - especially those which provided emergency care - have had to close their doors in recent years. They cannot turn away a patient, and, thanks in part to the huge local population of illegal aliens, they had an unacceptable amount of non-paying patients.

There are far fewer Southern California facilities providing emergency care now than there were five or ten years ago.

Fnord · 8th October 2007, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by hmmm...

I can't see this one as being a huge victory for rational thinking somehow...

I don't see how it will improve the reputation of psychics, either!

16th September 2007, 05:39 PM	#1
Denver Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Denver, Colorado Posts: 6,599	America's Psychic Challenge New reality show coming to Lifetime network Oct 12. Found some info at thefutoncritic: "Do you believe in psychic powers or are you a skeptic? "America's Psychic Challenge" puts the unique skills of psychics to the test, where they compete in a series of challenges to ultimately see whose clairvoyant abilities are the greatest. The series will premiere on Friday, October 12 at 10:00 PM (ET/PT)..." Should be... interesting.

16th September 2007, 05:57 PM	#2
Miss Anthrope All your post are belong to us Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: A Tiny Oasis in the PNW Posts: 3,597	"to see whose clairvoyant abilities are the greatest"...... And that's where we go wrong right there.
	__________________ We're not elected officials, nor are we paid professionals. You want us to act as such? Fine. Cough up the cash - because as a professional, I don't come cheap."-Jmercer, who happens to rock.[/color]

16th September 2007, 06:52 PM	#3
Reno Inquisitor Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Scotland, West Coast Posts: 1,234	If it's anything like the UK version, you do not want to watch it. It'll just make you mad.
	__________________ "Well, if it matters not to you how things are phrased, nor whether they make any logical sense, then here is my answer to your question: Twenty-seven rumbly-tumblies in a tinhorn fandango." - Robert S Lancaster Stop Sylvia Browne

16th September 2007, 07:50 PM	#4
hmmm... Thinker Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 144	I can't see this one as being a huge victory for rational thinking somehow...
hmmm... Thinker Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 144

7th October 2007, 06:59 AM	#7
666 Whingeing Pom Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Slightly to the east of Kernow. Posts: 1,327	Originally Posted by Reno If it's anything like the UK version, you do not want to watch it. It'll just make you mad. There's a UK version? Glad I missed it.
	__________________

16th September 2007, 07:54 PM	#5
Slimething Illuminator Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Arizona USA Posts: 3,727	Maybe the first test is to see which one can choose which of five cars is not fitted with explosives. Of course, a true psychic would quickly determine that they are all fitted with explosives.

7th October 2007, 06:54 AM	#6
PreciousD New Blood Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Odessa, TX Posts: 24	I just watched the first episode which is available for free download on iTunes. It was appalling. The worst part is when they exploited a grieving family. One of the sons was murdered in front of their house and the killers were never caught. The psychics were supposed to read the scene and determine the nature of the tragedy. The family was actually hoping to get some answers from these fakes. It was horrifying to watch.

7th October 2007, 07:44 AM	#8
Big Les Not so much a medium as a large Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 5,004	Originally Posted by 666 There's a UK version? Glad I missed it. Indeed. Aptly enough, it was called "Britain's Psychic Challenge". And it made me mad. Diane Lazarus got quite a PR boost from winning it, even though none of the participants did better than chance (several did worse!).
	__________________ "Feeling you’ve done something is not quite the same as the empirical scientific proof." -Stephen Fry The BS Historian

7th October 2007, 11:10 PM	#9
Sherlock Critical Thinker Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 425	Interesting that it went back-to-back with the premiere of a new Biography Channel 'Psychic Investigator' series with Noreen Renier. Or are these new/old recycled Court TV episodes from Psychic Detectives? I fortunately skipped both but let my old VHS record one and a PVR record the other.
Sherlock Critical Thinker Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 425

8th October 2007, 12:57 AM	#10
shalomsteph Critical Thinker Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: St. Cloud, MN Posts: 356	It's FREE on iTunes, (In the USA) so if you want to watch without contributing to ratings or paying for it, download it quickly. iTunes usually only has them for free for a few days. I did...here is the gist of it. Four "psychics." They have to find a person in an abandoned hospital in Los Angeles. I was more shocked that there was a reasonably nice piece of property that was abandoned in LA, but whatever. Of the four, three were not even close. One was close-next door. Then, they had to "read" a celebrity, who was behind a wall. Unfortunately, the celebrity was Lisa Williams, so...she was anxious for the "psychics" to be correct. One basically only said she had a grandma and liked eyes and got 15 out of 25 points. The third test was the only one that really irritated me. The psychics went to the home of the family of a murder victim. Their son was murdered in their front yard. The psychics were only told "a tragic crime happened" and they had to guess. One actually guessed incredibly well, but she "got a headache" and had to quit before she got too much actual information, like WHO DID IT. Another one guessed it was their "baby" and he was "shot or stabbed" outside. The other two blew it badly. The two "winners" continue on towards the $100,000 prize. It's sort of like a watered down Randi prize.
	__________________ "Those who make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities."--Voltaire Last edited by shalomsteph; 8th October 2007 at 01:00 AM.

8th October 2007, 11:04 AM	#11
sthomson Muse Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 934	Originally Posted by shalomsteph They have to find a person in an abandoned hospital in Los Angeles. I was more shocked that there was a reasonably nice piece of property that was abandoned in LA, but whatever. Of the four, three were not even close. Probably a property owned by a production studio and used for TV shows like this one.
sthomson Muse Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 934

8th October 2007, 12:32 PM	#12
RSLancastr www.StopSylvia.com Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Salem, Oregon Posts: 15,541	Originally Posted by sthomson Probably a property owned by a production studio and used for TV shows like this one. It could easily have been an actual hospital. Many L.A. hospitals - especially those which provided emergency care - have had to close their doors in recent years. They cannot turn away a patient, and, thanks in part to the huge local population of illegal aliens, they had an unacceptable amount of non-paying patients. There are far fewer Southern California facilities providing emergency care now than there were five or ten years ago.
	__________________ Who is "Kaz?" Read about her at www.StopKaz.com. Curious about Sylvia Browne? Read about her at www.StopSylvia.com. Ever wonder "What's the Harm?" with psychics, alternative medicine, etc?

8th October 2007, 12:35 PM	#13
Fnord Metasyntactic Variable Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 6,633	Originally Posted by hmmm... I can't see this one as being a huge victory for rational thinking somehow... I don't see how it will improve the reputation of psychics, either!
	__________________ Belief is the subjective acceptance of a (valid or invalid) concept, opinion, or theory; Faith is the unreasoned belief in improvable things; *and Knowledge* is the reasoned belief in provable things. Belief itself proves nothing.**