In case you missed what Derren Brown regarded as being an "anus-invertingly unpalatable" idea and what the Guardian called "the worse single hour of television produced in 2009", here is the first part of Michael Jackson: The Live Seance:
Those willing to risk your anus being inverted can catch the rest of the show on YouTube.
It turns out they did, indeed, have a parapsychologist on as an observer. A rather pallid young man who sat in the background on a bar stool and, well, observed. He seemed kind of lost for words as he watched Derek Acorah lead four sequined (and perfectly well-balanced) Jacko "superfans" through the seance. At the end of the show he seemed genuinely concerned, along with many of the viewers no doubt, for the emotional wellbeing of said superfans. One superfan in particular, himself called Michael, had sobbed uncontrollably as his idol (or rather, Derek) spoke to him.
I guess both Derek and superfan Michael have recovered... I gather they are to appear on Harry Hill's TV Burp on Saturday night.
I think most people were lost for words watching that.I had a few but none printable.
ReplyDeleteOf course as a total non believer in any mediums I was not expecting much more than we got from Derek..(didn't think he would go so far as getting possessed thank goodness )but....the 'fans'!!!!!!!..If they were not plucked from some obscure(and not very good) acting school then....well..erm....words fail me.
Looking forward to Harry Hill..lol.
I'm afraid I couldn't force myself to watch it....not even for you!
ReplyDeleteI find the concept distasteful and disrespectful.
Matt,
ReplyDeleteim only about 5 mins into watching it on Youtube and already im looking for a hole to crawl into. how did you manage to sit opposite DA and not guffaw?
With or without Derek Acorah, the MJ superfans would have been weeping into their sequined gloves... They're a crazy bunch, and I've been at enough MJ concerts with them to know!! Mad as hatters...
ReplyDeleteE.
I know you have to make a living Dr Smith, but seriously prostitution would be more tasteful/ more ethical/ less humiliating than doing this stuff...
ReplyDeleteThis was on Derek Acorah's website:
ReplyDelete"Due to contracted filming commitments which have suddenly come to light, this show has been cancelled and rescheduled for the following Monday - the 30th of November."
If it was contracted he must have known about it. Doesn't the man own a diary? Or does he sign things without reading them?
Ooh Wendy that's rather harsh. I'm not sure how the programme is unethical - it's entertainment, no-one was harmed, no laws broken. And I'm not sure how prostitution is relevant.
ReplyDeleteWell prostitution worked out quite nicely for Brooke Magnanti (aka "Belle de Jour") didn't it? Another lifestyle blogger, who may have sold her body but still kept her soul intact. Additionally, in her professional life as a research scientist she has considerably outperformed every academic parapsychologist in the UK in terms of RAE/REF submissable publications (Check google scholar). I bet her book advances are bigger too. And she never has to hang out with Derek Acorah "faking it" (him, not her!)
ReplyDeleteSo, with that in mind I think it is entirely reasonable to suggest that prostitution would be preferable to the kind of cringe-worthy Media-Whoredom that seems to be the favoured career strategy of parapsychology PhDs (Wiseman included). What was that phrase from Ghostbusters? "You're not like a scientist, you're more like a game show host."
I don't think Brooke Magnanti's research output is particularly relevant, though she is clearly good at multitasking, but I have to say I think that declaring you are a parapsychologist in this type of situation does not show the discipline in a good light. Why would anyone want to be involved in this kind of circus? I'm baffled. I think, Wendy, you just seem to be talking about two different but parallel forms of prostitution.
ReplyDeleteBlimey....its not that serious.!!
ReplyDeleteMatthew can speak for himself but having a parapsychologist on the show is not a surprise given the subject matter.
Research takes all forms.
Of course there are those that will believe that Derek was truly having a little chat with MJ but the majority knew that they were tuning into a skit,especially as Derek was the medium.lol
Was this really research, lifes? Perhaps Dr Smith could say what sorts of tests he devised or controls he imposed. Or was he there for window dressing to give the enterprise spurious legitimacy? Did Dr Smith really think he was adding something scientific to the process or is he just a media whore happy to get some exposure and earn some easy money? Fair enough if he was, but it shouldn't be dressed up as something else.
ReplyDeleteHello anon...afraid Dr Smith is the only one who can answer your questions.lol.
ReplyDeleteMy own view of the whole thing is that it was a hilarious look at Derek in action again.
I suspect most people tuned in hoping he would get possessed ala Most Haunted...most know of him from that show.
I doubt anyone thought of it as in anyway scientific.
well, quite a debate developing. I'm 'anon' who first responded to Wendy - dunno how many 'anon's' there are but the subsequent 'anon's' are not me. Wendy - I thought you meant prostitution in the usual sense of the word, hanging out on the streets, not academic whoredom. I'm araid I still don't see why parapsychologists get such short shrift from you. I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with google scholar, I tend to use Athens. Will check out Ms Magnagti and see what I can glean from her output. I hope it makes interesting reading.
ReplyDeletedunno how many 'anon's' there are
ReplyDeleteI am anon!
No I an Spartacus, sorry Anon!
ReplyDeleteNo I am Anon!
ReplyDeleteAnon, I have to say that that is really very childish.
ReplyDeleteSome jokers here. If it is any consolation, Matt, according to Caitlin Moran in the Times, this wasn't quite the worst TV programme of the week, it was a close-run thing but that dubious honour went to some weird drama about hanging Gary Glitter. Having seen the clip on YouTube I can't work out why anyone would bother to waste their time on this sort of stuff, no offence, as someone suggested here, you have a living to make.
ReplyDeleteWhy post as anon in the first place...any name will do if you dont want to put your own.
ReplyDeleteTom..believe it or not but Derek still has many faithful followers.
My reason for watching...fun.
I had no problem watching the seance but the Glitter thing was just too crass for me to consider.
Michael Jackson is still dead.
ReplyDeleteYes God of Bacon..he is but you can still chat to him via Derek.
ReplyDeleteHey guys i want to share with you a peice of software that submits your articles (Blogs) and multiple websites very easyily and fast, making your site get LOADS more visitors. Just take a quick look at their website, if you own a website/want to make one and want to make alot of money then this is definatly something you should take a quick look at.
ReplyDelete