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Fun with press releases: NBC's 'Phenomenon'
Sometimes something in a press release catches your eye, and you just have to pass it on.
In this case, it's a line from an otherwise routine announcement from NBC about its show Phenomenon. The unscripted series will give a big cash prize to "the next great mentalist" after a five-week run that starts in two weeks.
The release announced that Tim Vincent of Access Hollywood will serve as host of the show; spoon-bending mentalist Uri Geller and magician Criss Angel will judge whose conjuring or psychic-like skills are the best. The release also mentioned the identities of the 10 contestants and gave some brief information about each one. (The full release is here, if you're interested.)
Here's what caught my eye. It's a line from the bio for Guy Bavli, one of the contestants and a regular performer at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas: "Guy is engaged to be married and has a 7-year-old daughter who is developing mentalism skills of her own, having recently bent her first spoon."
All together now: Awww.
Seriously, I love this job sometimes. I did not get to read stuff like that when I was a city editor.
As for the show? Eh. I enjoy in-person magic just fine, but televised tricks don't do much for me. I'm curious to know, though, if you're planning to watch: Does this sort of thing work for you on TV?
This show would be more interesting if they used James Randi as a judge. You know, the magician who exposed Uri Geller as a fraud!
bornonce | Oct 10, 2007 4:38:33 PM | #With Eran Raven on the show it is worth the watch, he is so beautiful!! rarrrr!!
Tamitha | Oct 11, 2007 4:51:57 PM | #I agree that Eran Raven is a hottie! I am going to watch the show just to check him out!
Kim | Oct 12, 2007 5:40:56 PM | #I think that guy bavli is the only real thing there. He will actually increase the production value of the show. I think that the skills needed to create fanatsy LIVE is something to be respected.
Fani Star | Oct 14, 2007 2:50:00 PM | #Guy Bavli's eyes are so mezmorizing. He has that good guy look. I love his genuine modesty, given that he is reknowned for his expertise in metal bending.
the purpose of the show, I think, is not to prove that they have "special powers" - It is to demostrate the oh so "special skills" that these people have. Do you think that Charlie Chaplin really had two left feet, and that Houdini could really escape from the locked case under water, or that Cris Angel can really fly?
give me a break and start respecting this as an art. Start to consentrate on the positive and enjoy, because I sure will.
Elizabeth | Oct 14, 2007 2:56:18 PM | #I am excited to see Phenomenon and could care less for James Randi. I am sick of people trying to make money off of belittling other artists.
It is about time that we allow ourselves to escape to the world of magic and fantasy. Life is too tough anyway.
I've seen the movies "The Illusionist" and I forgot the other one. Anyway, Mentalism is the art of creating a magical experience.
I could definately understand if you wanted to criticize and belittle scam artist that ask for money claiming that they can heal, read your future, and speak to your dead grandmother.
that is bullshit. But Phenomenon is a reality show in order to showcase the art of mentalism and the skill it takes to create the illusion of magic in front of millions of scrutinizing eyes and cameras. That is impressive - AND LIVE!!!!
I am repulsed by some of you bitter skeptics out there.
Mo Retzer | Oct 14, 2007 3:03:11 PM | #I agree that it takes a lot of gutts to perform LIVE
Ariel | Oct 14, 2007 9:06:58 PM | #Of course the art of mentalism is a fine and entertaining one (any of you catch Derren Brown on the Sci-Fi Network? If it comes back, you should watch it). However, Uri Geller has gone about for decades claiming that he is not doing tricks or putting on a show, but that he has REAL POWERS. That crosses a line.
James Randi has respect for Uri Geller as a magician, but he will keep dogging him as he claims to have psychic power.
Swmbo | Oct 15, 2007 9:42:43 AM | #"Extraordinary claims require extraordinary proof."
--Marcello Truzzi
Uri Geler did claim. But that was in the 70s. Today he no longer makes such claims. And anyway it's "extraordinary skills" not "extraordinary claims or abilities..."
What aren't you all so hard on the reality show about psychics airing now and trying to bash them.
PHENOMENON is not about extraordinary claims, its to showcase "the next greatest mentalist". There still is no definition in any dictionary for "mentalist", but our media sure is setting standards and good ones for that. exampoe: Darren Brown. I agree!
Do you know that most of these mentalists where once geeks or freaks or simply weird with ticks etc. They found a way to be special and get the hot chicks through metalism. At least that's my theory for how they started.
Maybe that's why they are so motivated to create awe and mystery.
Maybe we should stop judging and look forward to an exciting show.
TK | Oct 16, 2007 9:50:13 PM | #I watched the show. I thought it was OK. No one really impressed me.
I thought Geller's "mentalism" exercise was funny though. He projected 1 of 5 images into the minds of the viewing audience. Everyone was then supposed to vote online for which shape he "transmitted" to our minds.
28% picked his selected shape - the star. The most of any shape. But what they hurried through was the fact that you would get 20% by pure luck. The second most voted on shape received 27%.
Interestingly, throughout the experiment, he pointed to the middle 3 shapes which had votes of 28%, 27% and 22%. The other two shapes only received a total of 23% combined.
If you ask me, this wasn't a phenomenon, it was a phenomenot!
OMG! Did you see Eran Raven?!!!
He looked even better on TV than the his photo!
I wish he would come to my house with his nail guns! Now we are talking!
Kim | Oct 26, 2007 9:41:33 PM | #DID YOU SEE THE SHOW LAST NIGHT, HALLOWEEN! IT WAS AMAZING. GUY BAVLI BLEW ME AWAY. RAVEN'S REACTION AND HIS FIANCE'S LOOKED SO SCARED AND SHOCKED. I HAD TO HOLD MY BREATH UNTIL HIS HEART STARTED BEATING AGAIN. WOW!!! HE IS PHENOMENAL
Jade | Nov 1, 2007 11:49:35 AM | #I hope it was Eran's looks and not his prediction that impressed folks. I almost (emphasize Almost) would have picked up the nail guns myself.
I wrote the number on paper and slid it under my wife's placemat while we ate dinner watching the show before Eran ever turned around. (She hates I won't tell her how. )
I **will say** he had a excellent bit of showmanship, though, that made it edgy. And I know it's the art of it that really counts. Plus the "mysteriously handsome looks" helped enough that I think he could have made a good show even if he was only using a office stapler.
Unfortunately the trick was a dead tell from the get go.
Jaws | Nov 2, 2007 12:28:39 PM | #Eran Raven is a fake. He should have won the show. He is as fake as his girlfriend. Plastic. Empty. He is the ultimate illusionist.
Beth Armstrong | Nov 21, 2007 10:46:03 PM | #Eran Raven should have won the show. He is smoken hot. Does anyone know where I can see him perform now?
Sophia | Dec 12, 2007 8:36:56 PM | #Beth, because his GF is blonde does that make her fake?!
Kim | Dec 14, 2007 3:21:45 AM | #I wish Eran Raven would have won!
Angela | Dec 22, 2007 10:42:56 PM | #Where can I see Eran Raven?
Jill | Feb 11, 2008 10:30:37 PM | #I just saw him last week in Las Vegas. Such a cool guy. He gave me a hug!!!!
Meli | Feb 29, 2008 11:26:07 PM | #Just saw his show, he kicks A**! and he is hot!
Megan | Mar 4, 2009 1:52:55 PM | #
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