Psychic Readings Live
| Psychic Readings Live | |
|---|---|
| Presented by | Flathan, Psychic Wayne, Countess Nadia Starella, Sue Hudd Erik |
| Country of origin | Hungary |
| No. of series | 1 |
| Production | |
| Running time | 2 hours |
| Original release | |
| Network | TV3 |
| Release | 16 June 2012 – Present |
| Related | |
| Play TV | |
Psychic Readings Live is a live two-hour late night phone-in television programme first aired on Ireland's TV3 network at midnight on 16 June 2012. Just over two years after TV3 removed Play TV from its schedules, it began to air Psychic Readings Live in the same slot. Newspaper reports compared the controversy generated by Psychic Readings Live to the scandal generated by Play TV, with one saying "it will remind TV3 of a past life".[1]
Produced by Eso.tv (ESO.TV is part of the Telemedia Group[2]), the programme, which airs between midnight and two a.m., invites viewers to dial a premium-rate telephone line. Calling this line grants viewers the chance to communicate with a team of in-studio psychics, who offer predictions of future events. Psychic Readings Live has attracted criticism over its apparent use of stock photographs showing pictures of its psychics, and because of the number of hoax calls from viewers. It is this controversy that has led to it being described as "an Irish pop culture phenomenon", with internet message boards buzzing nightly with netizens dissecting the latest incidents.[3]
Presenters
The series is fronted by three presenters: Sue Hudd, Erik and Countess Nadia Starella, who each claim to possess psychic powers. They are backed up by a team of alleged off-screen clairvoyants. Previous presenters have included Psychic Wayne and Flathan, both of who left within weeks of the show's debut. Psychic Wayne was the first to leave, followed by Flathan, who announced his departure on 4 July 2012. Erik made his presenting debut the following day, on 5 July. As of the 7th July Wayne has returned to present the show, while Flathan has returned albeit as a psychic backstage.
Controversies
The identities of the team of alleged off-screen clairvoyants were subjected to scrutiny after a blogger, Alan Rice, sifted through the programme's online images of its off-screen psychics only to discover the programme was deploying stock photographs. His comments on this discovery led to complaints about false advertising and inspired a lengthy discussion thread on the Boards.ie internet forum, where users posted screenshots of some of the images.[1] On 22 June, the website JOE.ie reported that the discussion board had attracted 2,700 posts within six days of the programme's launch.[3]
In addition, a number of hoax callers or "trolls" have contacted Psychic Readings Live, the first of these within days of the programme's launch. The trolls ask apparently genuine questions, only to tell the psychic they do not believe the reading or hurl abuse at them. The Irish Times reported that one viewer called the show pretending to be Will Smith’s character from the U.S. television series The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, footage of which was subsequently posted on YouTube, while another concluded her call: “They don’t have Play TV anymore so I can’t try and lose my money, okay. I’ll try and save it...I’ll be in touch with BAI[Broadcasting Authority of Ireland] soon.”[1]
Illusionist Keith Barry stated his disapproval of Psychic Readings Live and in a somewhat tongue-in-cheek manner challenged Psychic Wayne to a magical dual. Declining the invitation, Psychic Wayne gave an equally light-hearted response, claiming that he was bowing to the greater forces of Keith Barry, and maintaining that such a battle, were it to ever occur, would have irreparable consequences for the entire universe.[4]
In response to such criticisms of the show, TV3 sought to distance itself from Psychic Readings Live, issuing a statement on 26 June 2012 stating that it had no responsibility for the programme's content,[1] and describing Psychic Readings Live as an infomercial.[4] Eso.tv described the show as being “for entertainment purposes only”, though this is not made clear enough by the presenters.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Hegarty, Shane (30 June 2012). "Will TV3' s psychics stay on air? Only they can tell". The Irish Times. Irish Times Trust. Retrieved 30 June 2012.
- ^ "Psychics.Eso.TV". Eso.tv. Retrieved 6 July 2012.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|1=(help) - ^ a b "TV Review: London Calling provides inspiration, while Psychic Readings Live offers hilarity". JOE.ie. 22 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.
- ^ a b "TV3 distances itself from Psychic Wayne TV broadcast". The Journal. 26 June 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2012.