Celebrity “psychic medium” James Van Praagh made the news again, on August 25, 2011. He declined a $1,000,000 offer made by the James Randi Educational Foundation, JREF, to prove he has psychic abilities. James Randi is a stage magician and ultimate skeptic. The Challenge made its debut in 1964 when Randi offered $1,000 of his own money to the first person who could prove the paranormal existed under controlled conditions. When he founded the JREF in 1996 to promote critical thought about claims of the paranormal, the ante was raised to $1,000,000.
Van Praagh: Dubious Reading on TV Show
Reporter David Moye wrote that James Van Praagh Failed to Accept Nightline’s Psychic Challenge, reference to the JREF’s Million Dollar Challenge. The offer came in the wake of Van Praagh’s appearance on a recent episode of ABC’s Primetime Nightline: Beyond Belief, a special show that explored whether or not psychic ability exists. Van Praagh gave a reading to Good Morning America anchor Josh Elliott.
Elliott, initially, appeared surprised by Van Praagh’s accuracy; however he said that information in the reading seemed to be from a two-year-old interview with Elliott that was available online. He knew that there was a lot of information regarding his past available on the Internet, including the interview in which Elliot talked about his adoption and dead relatives, except for the death of Leo, his mother’s boyfriend. He rechecked that interview after Van Praagh’s “reading” and discovered he talked about Leo’s death.
During the ABC show, Van Praagh denied using Google. He refused to do a reading for Elliot's segment producer, claiming he was too tired.
HuffPost Weird News tried to contact Van Praagh for a comment about his performance on the TV show to find out if he had plans to take part in the $1,000,000 challenge. It’s not surprising that there was no response.
Randi: Van Praagh and the Million Dollar Challenge
According to the JREF, Randi Challenged Top Psychics after Nightline Episode when celebrity “psychic mediums” were featured on ABC’s Primetime Nightline: Beyond Belief. Randi stated that Van Praagh turned the scamster art of cold reading into a multi-million-dollar business that preys on families’ worst fears and remorse. He should be ashamed by the blatant performances he showed to the world on the TV show.
Banachek, the JREF’s Million Dollar Challenge Director, was also in the episode. He stated that they were challenging the featured frauds. If one of them could prove they had psychic abilities, by giving readings to randomly selected strangers, not celebrities, under mutually agreed upon specific conditions without using charlatan’s tricks, the JREF would donate $1,000,000 to their chosen charity.
Van Praagh’s Repertoire of Psychic Tricks
Cold reading is a mind game in which the psychic tries to gather information while appearing to know more than the audience thinks s/he does. These psychics know that people tend to remember information that appears to be correct and forget those that don't. The ”psychic’s” words appear to be specific, but apply to most people, such as “You enjoy having a good time.” These psychics also make educated guesses to gather information, sometimes couched in questions, such as, “You like puppies, don’t you?” If the response is yes or no, the reply is, “That’s what I thought.”
Editing tapes is another trick. Tapes are cut and/or spliced to make the “psychic” appear to be more accurate than s/he is.
Hot reading, another trick, is when a person, usually covertly, gathers information about people before taping a show. The question is Celebrity “Psychic Medium” James Van Praagh Real or a Charlatan? Van Praagh was also featured on the TV’s 20/20. During a break in filming, Van Praagh suddenly called out to audience member Mary Jo, and asked her if her mother had died. She said her mother was alive, but her grandmother died. After the taping resumed, Van Praagh told Mary Jo that there was a lady behind her who “felt” like a grandmother. The producers and he weren’t aware that the camera was taping during the break. Van Praagh stated he was set up when he saw the video. He proclaimed, more than once, that he didn’t cheat, although he wasn’t accused of it.
Van Praagh was on a guest on the Howard Stern Show. He said missing woman Chandra Levy's body would eventually be found. Her body had been found about two years before.
Van Praagh accused TV “psychic” Sylvia Browne and others of being frauds, claiming they were irresponsible and made money by taking advantage of emotionally distressed people. Stern accused Van Praagh of the same allegations. Van Praagh giggled nervously, then, immediately changed the subject, a habit of his when he doesn’t want to hear or admit to the truth.
Van Praagh and “Psychic” Sylvia Browne
Queen of Celebrity “Psychics”: Sylvia Browneis the only one of a trio of celebrity psychics that includes Van Praagh and John Edward, who is a convicted felon. People vs Brown was featured in the June 6, 1992 edition of the San Francisco Chronicle. Browne and then-husband Kensil Brown were arraigned on six counts of grand theft and investment fraud because they, allegedly, sold securities for a gold mining venture using false pretenses. There was a plea bargain. Grand theft and other charges were dropped on the condition that Browne and Brown repay the victims before their Superior Court sentencing. Sylvia paid the restitution. She was sentenced to one year’s probation for selling securities without a permit.
Among her many wrong “readings” was her high profile TV appearance on the, now defunct, Montel Williams Show, telling Shawn Hornbeck’s parents that their missing eleven-year-old son was dead. She described the killer and his vehicle. After the show, she contacted the Hornbecks to tell them she would help them for a $700 fee, which they couldn’t afford. The boy had been kidnapped and was alive. When this was brought to Browne’s attention, she shrugged it off.
Van Praagh and “Psychic” John Edward
Dateline caught “Psychic” John Edward, in chicanery, hot reading. Edward proclaimed spirits were telling him to "acknowledge Anthony." A cameraman said this was his name. Edward asked him if he saw his father before he died. Anthony had been a cameraman on a prior taping of Edward’s show and the two conversed. While Edward claimed he received information from spirits, in reality he was recalling the information from their discussion. Edward, like Van Praagh, also uses cold questioning and editing tapes before they are televised.
Why do Celebrity “Psychics” Decline Randi’s Challenge?
Browne, initially accepted to take part in the challenge, then withdrew. According to JREF’s information about the Challenge, $1MM Challenge/Challenge FAQ, there are some mutually accepted conditions that must be met to qualify for the prize. These are negotiable and, if there’s a deadlock, the application process is ended. The foundation’s rules cannot be challenged.
Before people can apply for the challenge, they have to see a doctor for physical and mental examination to make sure that they are competent to undergo testing. Applicants must tell the doctor about their paranormal talents and test themselves to make sure they can respond to commands. Applicants pay for all expenses incurred in taking the challenge, such as travel, lodging and food.
The celebrity “psychics” makes big money, so paying for expenses involved in taking the challenge shouldn’t be a deterrent. Other requirements might present a problem. Indisputable evidence concludes that Van Praagh, Browne and Edward use chicanery, not psychic abilities. Is it possible they don’t want to be publicly debunked – again?
Jill Stefko - I'd rather deal with the paranormal than human abnormal - having dealt extensively with both.
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