SEANCES RE WTC VICTIMS - Plans to broadcast scrapped

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John Edward scraps terrorist victims seance plan

Broadcasting & Cable 10/25/2001 6:45:00 PM

The one thing John Edward definitely crossed over was the line and the 'psychic' has shelved plans for a series of Crossing Over With John Edward episodes focusing on people killed in the Sept. 11 attacks.

Studios USA Domestic Television said Thursday that it is retreating from the plan to air the segment on broadcast syndication and cable’s Sci Fi Channel.

Citing 'a reaction that none of us expected,' the company's president, Steve Rosenberg, said that while some segments for the shows have already been taped, they will not be broadcast.

The shows, tentatively scheduled for November sweeps, would have featured psychic John Edward purporting to communicate the messages of victims of the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks to their surviving family members.

After the story broke in Broadcasting & Cable Wednesday night, Edwards got a new vision, one of reporters flooding Studios USA with inquiries.

All the attention, 'seemed a little crazy,' says Rosenberg, 'But we have too good a show to do something that might offend people.'

Rosenberg said there had never been a firm decision on how or when the segments would air. He reiterated that victims' families were the ones asking to get the shows made.

In fact, he said, many families affected by the tragedy have gone to see Edward privately for readings.

Rosenberg cited one woman who said it was the happiest she'd been since Sept. 11.

Several CBS stations carrying the show, including WCBS-TV New York, apparently knew the WTC-themed shows were being developed.

But industry executive said they didn't realize Studios USA might be close to committing to them.

Insiders say CBS station executives contacted Studios USA Thursday about the series.

But CBS station executives contacted for this story say that it was ultimately Studios USA's decision to pull the plug. - Susanne Ault

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2001

Answers

That's just far too personal to be showing on TV, methinks. If I had the psychic ability to do that sort of task, I wouldn't allow it to be filmed, nor would I charge anything for doing it. The victims are already going through enough and are just looking for some peace of mind.

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2001

I suspect that John Edward himself pulled the show. If you have read his book, you would know that during the course of his television series, in the beginning, the producers, without his knowledge, tried to load the audience with people who shared the same tragedies. He was totally against it after the first time he discovered it was done, and got royally pissed, and told them never to do it to him again. I suspect this is hype from Sci-Fi promoters, to tell you the truth. This "theme" show goes against his philosophy of random audiences, and he just prefers to let "the boys" communicate to him where ever he is drawn. John believes in the message and comfort he offers people, not necessarily the medium (of TV).

-- Anonymous, October 25, 2001

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