Crossing Over with John Edward – Nostalgia Central

2 0 0 1 – 2 0 0 4 (USA)
15 x 30 minute episodes

Self-proclaimed psychic medium John Edward built a huge following, sharing messages from deceased loved ones with members of his studio audience in this Sci-Fi Channel show.

The format of the show was simple. Edward performed what he called a ‘gallery reading’ in front of the studio audience, during which he connected with his spirit guides (helpers from beyond the grave), who, in turn, relayed messages from the loved ones of the assembled spectators.

In this way, he was drawn to parts of the studio, to certain people, and received certain names and information, which he asked to be understood.

Normally, his hit rate was pretty good, but it looked as if he made a cock-up when one day he was drawn to the back row of his audience.

Alighting on a group of women, Edward couldn’t understand why they weren’t aware of a man who had been killed in a car crash, who was mentioning the names Richard, Tony or Timmy, a connection to a teacher, the number sixteen, as well as falls somewhere.

As there was no one behind this particular group in the studio, he decided to move on to the other spirits demanding his attention.

When the show had finished, one of the producers told Edward that they thought they had figured out why he hadn’t been able to validate his message. One of the team brought out a man wearing a parking attendant’s jacket, and it transpired that his name was Basil and he worked in the car park adjacent to the studio.

Edward was utterly confused until Basil told him that he had a brother who died aged sixteen in a car crash when Basil was a teacher in Jamaica. The audience was shocked, and one of the production assistants told Edward that when he had pointed to the back row and found nothing, the assistant felt compelled to go slightly further back, which led him into the car park.

This was where he found Basil. Edward then asked Basil whether the name Tony or Timmy made sense to him. Basil replied that his other brother’s name was Tonto. Close enough.

Turns out that Edward could even be psychic through walls.