I used to watch Edwards on TV and read a few of his books. I was drawn to his charisma and charm. After our family suffered a tragic and sudden loss, I bought tickets to see John Edwards. I paid extra for closer seats and the possibility of a "private reading" or more intimate experience following the show. When we arrived, we were told we couldn't sit up close, even though we paid extra. This was because we were supposedly emailed the day of the show to arrive an hour early to secure the seats. During the show, it was painfully evident that Edwards only "saw images" pertaining to people in the high dollar section of the room. It makes me wonder what he would have "seen" from our loved one, had we been sitting in the seats we purchased. The "more intimate" event following the show turned out to be a chance to stand in line for 20 minutes to have our photo taken with the fraud. The whole experience was a painful lesson in naivety.
18 Reviews
What a joke!!
meloniedurkin18 August 2022
I went to see this show tonight in Palm Beach Gardens at the Marriott. My friend had asked me to go with her. I did not know who John Edwards was at the time and I looked him up and he seem like he was pretty legit have been on some impressive TV shows. I did not read any reviews on him though. Our tickets were $100 each. The VIP tickets were 175 each. There was a room with about 175 people. I was very disappointed. He asked a lot of questions and would ask vague questions and saving comments and asked the whole room if anyone had a family member that was for instance a pilot. Or if anyone had someone die in the last year. He even thought he had a female coming through for a Woman in the audience and he was saying the name was Mary Beth or Mary bell or Mabel and the girl said that she had a cat named marbles and then he said it was the cat that was trying to get through to talk to her. The first hour or so was fun just sitting' to him talk. He did do a lot of talking about his own life. But after an hour hour and 15 minutes it was the same song and dance with every person that he talked to. Don't waste your hundred dollars.
Run far away from this phony medium!!!
dianak-9784818 February 2022
I was so distraught over my mom's death that I took an exhorbitant amount of money out of my savings account to hear messages that my mom crossed over and is happy and I was feeling guilty over a few things and wanted to be relieved of the guilt. This man took full advantage of my emotional state and shame on you. He told me my mom likes sweets and used to go to a bakery in queens and that I am wearing a glittery bag of hers. When I asked if he can receive a message from her he was condescending and insulted me by saying yeah she said to play lotto. I should have used that money to go on vacation instead I gave it to make this phoney and fake medium richer. Oh and he spoke about himself the whole time. Please do not waste your money on this guy!!!!! Please go running and give your money to the poor instead of wasting it on him.
It's Impossible
jim-laymon1 April 2008
How could a dead person talk to you? Their brain is dead and dried up.
As someone in the science field, I don't believe anything unless there is proof. Well almost. I do go to a Presbyterian Church and there really isn't any proof to that whole story.
So I've watched John Edward (not Edwards) for a few years now. I started watching as a challenge to figure out how he does this. I read about how microphones are planted and how "plants" are planted in the audience. I read about Cold Readings and Hot Readings and how people can be led down a path that only helps the reader to get more "hits". I read about how the show is edited to remove massive numbers of misses and show only the hits.
And if these things are true, it explains how he is able to get specific references, like names, places, descriptions of house interiors, relationships, suicides, fatal diseases and the like. Because otherwise, this would be magic.
Then I actually attended a show in New York in Jan 2008. I was called upon and John surprised me by telling me the beginnings of my name and a brother's name. He referenced a second brother's profession. He reference a fourth brother's non-conformist lifestyle. He told me my uncle was Mark or Mike (it was Mark). He told me he died of lung cancer (I found this was true later on). He told me about a father figure who collected antique cars. (The next door neighbor took care of us after our father died and he collected antique Corvettes). There were other obscure references that all made sense except one reference to "George" And I can tell you now that they only knew my name when I arrived. Nothing else. No address, etc. We waited in a crowded room with music playing and I talked with my friends about imaginary people that we made up just in case someone was listening. When John was reading me, I offered up no information, in fact, I drew a blank on most things under the studio lights. He gave me somewhat specific stuff and even more specific to other people. There were many more hits than misses for the whole audience.
I have no explanation for it all, but I know that this info couldn't have been researched or overheard. I know that the info was not a cold read or even hot read. I know I am not a plant.
I can't explain it. It is almost statistically impossible that these items could have been guessed and had meaning to me. So I am now open to some things that can't be proved, even on days other than Sunday.
As someone in the science field, I don't believe anything unless there is proof. Well almost. I do go to a Presbyterian Church and there really isn't any proof to that whole story.
So I've watched John Edward (not Edwards) for a few years now. I started watching as a challenge to figure out how he does this. I read about how microphones are planted and how "plants" are planted in the audience. I read about Cold Readings and Hot Readings and how people can be led down a path that only helps the reader to get more "hits". I read about how the show is edited to remove massive numbers of misses and show only the hits.
And if these things are true, it explains how he is able to get specific references, like names, places, descriptions of house interiors, relationships, suicides, fatal diseases and the like. Because otherwise, this would be magic.
Then I actually attended a show in New York in Jan 2008. I was called upon and John surprised me by telling me the beginnings of my name and a brother's name. He referenced a second brother's profession. He reference a fourth brother's non-conformist lifestyle. He told me my uncle was Mark or Mike (it was Mark). He told me he died of lung cancer (I found this was true later on). He told me about a father figure who collected antique cars. (The next door neighbor took care of us after our father died and he collected antique Corvettes). There were other obscure references that all made sense except one reference to "George" And I can tell you now that they only knew my name when I arrived. Nothing else. No address, etc. We waited in a crowded room with music playing and I talked with my friends about imaginary people that we made up just in case someone was listening. When John was reading me, I offered up no information, in fact, I drew a blank on most things under the studio lights. He gave me somewhat specific stuff and even more specific to other people. There were many more hits than misses for the whole audience.
I have no explanation for it all, but I know that this info couldn't have been researched or overheard. I know that the info was not a cold read or even hot read. I know I am not a plant.
I can't explain it. It is almost statistically impossible that these items could have been guessed and had meaning to me. So I am now open to some things that can't be proved, even on days other than Sunday.
Experiencing is Believing
wellbeinghypnotherapy14 April 2008
Three years ago I would have thought this man is a fraud. However, three years ago I started receiving messages from the other side. It is hard to believe, I know, but it is true. I don't share this with many. I don't make any money off of it. And I am still in disbelief a lot of the time - and then I will receive another message that there is no way I could have known. I have read some of his book and it is very convincing. Just wanted to put it out there for those of you who will feel some comfort from knowing this type of communication does really happen. I have not yet gone to see a psychic myself but I think that b/c of this man I will. I haven't gone to see anyone else - well, because I have been a skeptic. I say, give the guy a chance. He brings peace to many people's hearts. It is and can be a blessing.
An execrable display of charlatanry
spidey38 November 2002
This show is one of the most egregious displays of pseudo-scientific charlatanry to be seen in recent years. Clearly a scam, Edward uses basic fortune-telling psychological techniques to give the impression that he can communicate with the dead.
It is even more amazing that this drivel appears on the the Sci-Fi channel. Well, it isn't science, but it is fiction.
It is even more amazing that this drivel appears on the the Sci-Fi channel. Well, it isn't science, but it is fiction.
Experience John Edwards in Person before you Judge him!
koenigcj-164-10199119 November 2014
I attended in person with no expectations of getting a reading.
I was more curious about the survival of human consciousness after having a near death experience (NDE) during which I personally experienced the survival of human consciousness.
In the session, I was given information about things that absolutely no-one in the room could possible know about. My family live some 13000 miles away. The information was 100% accurate I might add. I did not share any of these things with anyone in the room prior.
He even mentioned in detail the surgery my father had the previous week undergone on his mouth (which the person who had passed could not know about). He got the name of every one of my 6 siblings, including my own, and my initials.
I saw him consistently give information, accurate and detailed, to others and in some cases this related to situations still currently in the legal process and not publicly available.
Due to the general skepticism around this topic, I was extra watchful and observant, divulging no information about myself at all, including in my answers - giving a simple 'yes' and 'no'.
Before you place a comment here - you really need to attend IN PERSON - regardless of your beliefs beforehand.
I was more curious about the survival of human consciousness after having a near death experience (NDE) during which I personally experienced the survival of human consciousness.
In the session, I was given information about things that absolutely no-one in the room could possible know about. My family live some 13000 miles away. The information was 100% accurate I might add. I did not share any of these things with anyone in the room prior.
He even mentioned in detail the surgery my father had the previous week undergone on his mouth (which the person who had passed could not know about). He got the name of every one of my 6 siblings, including my own, and my initials.
I saw him consistently give information, accurate and detailed, to others and in some cases this related to situations still currently in the legal process and not publicly available.
Due to the general skepticism around this topic, I was extra watchful and observant, divulging no information about myself at all, including in my answers - giving a simple 'yes' and 'no'.
Before you place a comment here - you really need to attend IN PERSON - regardless of your beliefs beforehand.
Complete tripe. It's a mystery how anyone falls for it.
Priceguy15 February 2004
John Edward pretends to talk to the dead relatives of audience members. He gives them easy clues and lets them fill in the gaps. He never says anything specific except (occasionally) by chance, but instead says things like 'I sense a father figure' and lets his victims give it meaning.
Since the audience is desperate for it to work they let him get away with virtually anything. I've seen him say '4th Street' when it was actually '5th Street' and get credited with a hit. He says 'the car was found close to home; I'm getting a 4 or 5 mile radius' and the victim says 'yes, ten miles'. That's a miss by one hundred per cent, but the victim swallows it, because she needs him to be real so badly.
Even if he were, I don't see why anyone would want to watch this. It's utterly boring. It's the same old, same old, John Edward with his annoying voice going from audience member to audience member saying the same either obvious or vague statements over and over again.
That people fall for this is a tragedy and a testament to the horrid state of education.
Since the audience is desperate for it to work they let him get away with virtually anything. I've seen him say '4th Street' when it was actually '5th Street' and get credited with a hit. He says 'the car was found close to home; I'm getting a 4 or 5 mile radius' and the victim says 'yes, ten miles'. That's a miss by one hundred per cent, but the victim swallows it, because she needs him to be real so badly.
Even if he were, I don't see why anyone would want to watch this. It's utterly boring. It's the same old, same old, John Edward with his annoying voice going from audience member to audience member saying the same either obvious or vague statements over and over again.
That people fall for this is a tragedy and a testament to the horrid state of education.
John Edward is the Real Deal....no matter what the cynics think
koalaloversyd30 March 2007
Quite simply - John Edward is my hero and I was fortunate enough to tell him this in-person. For millions of people all over the world who have met John, attended his seminars, read his books, seen his t.v. shows, etc. we know what we witnessed and we know that John Edward is the real deal. Ever notice how the cynics (who have never actually done any serious research on the topic of psychic phenomena let alone attended any psychic seminar) continue to post negative messages in a desperate attempt to solidify their own beliefs (or non-beliefs)? What I would like to say to all of these cynics is that people who are content and fulfilled by their own religious and/or spiritual beliefs do not seek nor even need the approval of others. That is why you will never see any of John's viewers trash talking others (i.e. we don't care what others think...they are entitled to their beliefs as we are to ours - and none of us have any need or desire to convert anyone to our way of thinking). So you guys go your way....we'll go ours, o.k?
Moreover, "Crossing Over" was a milestone of a show and because of it's success there are now a lot of spiritual/psychic phenomena type shows being aired on various channels - two of the most successful being Ghost Whisperer and Medium (both are based on the experiences of real psychics). So think what you want cynics....John's viewers are intelligent, well-read and highly educated individuals who have researched this subject matter long before John Edward became a household name. And if any of the cynics ever do decide to attend a seminar (highly unlikely though) they will hear John describe in great detail how this skill is something that all of us can do (to different degrees of course) and how exactly his own skills evolved, as well as how the process works. Unlike fraudulent psychics (and there are many out there) John has never claimed to be an individual with special abilities that only he has; just the opposite in fact - he is forever telling his audience that we do not need him to do this for us as we all have the ability to communicate with the afterlife.
P.S. Thank you John Edward. Thank you for bringing my personal spiritual beliefs to television and to a worldwide audience. You are the Real Deal and you are my Hero...and that is good enough for me!
Moreover, "Crossing Over" was a milestone of a show and because of it's success there are now a lot of spiritual/psychic phenomena type shows being aired on various channels - two of the most successful being Ghost Whisperer and Medium (both are based on the experiences of real psychics). So think what you want cynics....John's viewers are intelligent, well-read and highly educated individuals who have researched this subject matter long before John Edward became a household name. And if any of the cynics ever do decide to attend a seminar (highly unlikely though) they will hear John describe in great detail how this skill is something that all of us can do (to different degrees of course) and how exactly his own skills evolved, as well as how the process works. Unlike fraudulent psychics (and there are many out there) John has never claimed to be an individual with special abilities that only he has; just the opposite in fact - he is forever telling his audience that we do not need him to do this for us as we all have the ability to communicate with the afterlife.
P.S. Thank you John Edward. Thank you for bringing my personal spiritual beliefs to television and to a worldwide audience. You are the Real Deal and you are my Hero...and that is good enough for me!
Featuring a man born without a sense of shame
lemon_magic11 December 2005
Warning: Spoilers
Actually, I'm not as angry at John Edward for appearing in this show (although I consider him to be an utter slimeball) as I am at the Sci Fi channel for broadcasting it. The cynical executives running the Sci Fi channel have proved, beyond a doubt that they will whore themselves out for money and broadcast ANYthing, no matter how stupid, degrading or duplicitous, as long as the FCC doesn't actually shut them down. And to think they canceled "Mystery Science Theatre 3000" so they could start carrying trash like THIS - oh, and movies like "Boa Vs. Python" and "Death Octopus III"...
As for the show itself...it's nothing but Edward performing "hot readings" on the studio audience. Often these members are preselected via screening and eavesdropping and other basic confidence stunts. Edwards uses the same old mind games and parlor tricks employed by every palm reader, fortune teller and faith healer before him. Skeptics like James Randi have been trying to educate the public about these scams for decades, but apparently the public WANTS to be fooled.
In fact, according to investigative reporters from "Reason" magazine, Edward and his producers also edit the studio footage extensively to cull out the vast number of "misses" and "strikeouts" that occur in a typical session in order to make Edward look better in the assembled footage.
There are also occasional extended case studies where Edward and crew take an extended look at some family's brushes with the supernatural and the afterlife, presented in a bland, "Hallmark Moment" format that prove, if nothing else, that people are incredibly gullible and will believe anything you tell them if you are vague enough. Of course, I am assuming that the episodes aren't made up from whole cloth in the first place and the "subjects" aren't actors being paid to lie through their teeth.
I have an open mind about the existence of spirits and the afterlife...but watching Edward toy with the emotions and deeply held griefs and sadness of vulnerable members of the audience is enough to make my gorge rise. I seriously want to travel to the studio and punch the man in the solar plexus. And then I'd tell him, "I am sensing a feeling in the room, a feeling maybe starting with a "P"..."Puke"?? Is it "Puke", John?? Am I right??"
As for the show itself...it's nothing but Edward performing "hot readings" on the studio audience. Often these members are preselected via screening and eavesdropping and other basic confidence stunts. Edwards uses the same old mind games and parlor tricks employed by every palm reader, fortune teller and faith healer before him. Skeptics like James Randi have been trying to educate the public about these scams for decades, but apparently the public WANTS to be fooled.
In fact, according to investigative reporters from "Reason" magazine, Edward and his producers also edit the studio footage extensively to cull out the vast number of "misses" and "strikeouts" that occur in a typical session in order to make Edward look better in the assembled footage.
There are also occasional extended case studies where Edward and crew take an extended look at some family's brushes with the supernatural and the afterlife, presented in a bland, "Hallmark Moment" format that prove, if nothing else, that people are incredibly gullible and will believe anything you tell them if you are vague enough. Of course, I am assuming that the episodes aren't made up from whole cloth in the first place and the "subjects" aren't actors being paid to lie through their teeth.
I have an open mind about the existence of spirits and the afterlife...but watching Edward toy with the emotions and deeply held griefs and sadness of vulnerable members of the audience is enough to make my gorge rise. I seriously want to travel to the studio and punch the man in the solar plexus. And then I'd tell him, "I am sensing a feeling in the room, a feeling maybe starting with a "P"..."Puke"?? Is it "Puke", John?? Am I right??"
Taking the challenge
csdouglas10 June 2006
This was a show that gave me my start in metaphysical research, which led to my awakening. When John said that everyone has psychic ability, I took it on as a challenge. I personally desired to know if psychic ability was for real. I also desired to know if I can develop this ability. After 3 years of research and practice, I have proved to myself that psychic ability is a gift to everyone! You just have to learn how to harness that God given gift everyone has. I am now teaching this to my fiancée. And she has already surpassed me in a short time frame. Meditation is the KEY, along with a positive mental attitude. This is a negative world. As such, those who focus on the negative, will never know what it is like to have, such wonderful insight. There is so much material out there to start the journey in remembering who you truly are. Don't let dogmatic beliefs stand in the way of open mindedness. Stop believing what anyone else tells you and do the work necessary to find out life's treasures for your very self. And if you can not find it, figure out why. Are you blocking yourself? Negative thoughts, words, actions and emotions are blocks that blind. The answers are ALWAYS within YOU!
Nuh uh...
AquaBoy4 February 2002
John Edwards is as ridiculous as all of the other psychics out there. Pay close attention to him, if you can handle it, and notice that those people he does the readings for are the ones giving him the answers. Also note that any info that doesn't apply to the one he's focused on, is then applied to "someone" else in his audience. Cheap tricks, good laughs, and a great way to waste your time. I just feel sorry for those that believe this guy's clever ruse.
Actors appearance
Darsideous18 April 2005
Katherine Heigl and her mother Nancy also appeared in an episode of the Sci-Fi TV talk show "Crossing Over with John Edward" (1999), during which she spoke with John Edward, a psychic medium, about her late brother, Jason.
Actors appearing on such shows? Seems a little strange don't you think? Don't get me wrong, Katherine Heigl i'm sure is a good girl and starting to make great strides in acting, i wish her the best but, this is one of her mistakes. It was either a quick job or an innocent attempt of her and her family to communicate with her desist brother, little did she know John Edwards was a fraud. Don't get me wrong, he was very impressive at the beginning but the Network kept him on past his prime. A lot like David Blaine the magician and what soon fallowed "The Other people" that was a short episode spot on Network TV in the late months of 2004, magicians that did tricks in public places. ARF!
Typical for Network TV to air this kind of trash knowing their hoaxes. I'd like to see real stuff about the same subject just not another gimmick.
Actors appearing on such shows? Seems a little strange don't you think? Don't get me wrong, Katherine Heigl i'm sure is a good girl and starting to make great strides in acting, i wish her the best but, this is one of her mistakes. It was either a quick job or an innocent attempt of her and her family to communicate with her desist brother, little did she know John Edwards was a fraud. Don't get me wrong, he was very impressive at the beginning but the Network kept him on past his prime. A lot like David Blaine the magician and what soon fallowed "The Other people" that was a short episode spot on Network TV in the late months of 2004, magicians that did tricks in public places. ARF!
Typical for Network TV to air this kind of trash knowing their hoaxes. I'd like to see real stuff about the same subject just not another gimmick.
Wow...what specific questions...er...
NoArrow27 June 2003
...Dear God thou art in Heaven, how could anybody believe this trash? Not only is it possible that John Edwards pays people off to make the audience believe that he's really 'crossing over', but the questions he asks are so incredibly vague. The questions he asks are usually like "Has someone in this audience full of hundreds of people lost a parent in the past decade?" Then suddenly, one utter moron jumps out of her chair and screams "Me, Me! You've found my father, I love you John!" Please. I wonder when this guy dies, if he'll even bother to 'cross over' with such morons. Of course, that would imply that 'crossing over' is even possible...utter crap.
One wonders...
HB25527 October 2001
...just how exactly the Sci-Fi channel chose to broadcast this series, completely devoid of Science and entirely devoted to Fiction. If you're interested in seeing a definition of the phrase "Cold Reading", sit through an episode, but apart from that don't waste your time. Contacting the dead may be somehow possible in this world, but as any skeptical eye can see, Mr. Edwards does nothing but tell grieving families exactly what they want to hear, in exactly the right way, all the while "discovering" details about the dead from either private conversations during non-taped breaks, recorded conversations among the audience before the show, and off-hand comments TAPED ON THE SHOW AND BROADCAST, all restated to imply that rather than clarifying, he's discovering.
Mesmerizing
Laura Black12 December 2001
I was flipping through the channels a few weeks ago, and I stumbled across `Crossing Over with John Edwards' and I could not take my eyes off the screen. Since then, I have been watching every episode possible, I have told friends and family members to watch the show, and they too have found it captivating. My friends who are skeptics pay close attention to John's readings, waiting for a reason to criticize the show, however, instead they too are astounded.
I am aware of `Psychic Phonies' out there, trying to charge $4.95 a minute to tell you about your beautiful future filled with 'money', 'love' and 'happiness', and I am skeptic of these gluttonous souls. However, John Edwards I have faith in. I have lost wonderful people in my life so far, and it comforts me to know that they are now in a better place. I thank Mr. Edwards for reassuring my comfort and encouraging others to have an open mind towards the 'other side'.
If all you have to do is believe ... why wouldn't you try?
I am aware of `Psychic Phonies' out there, trying to charge $4.95 a minute to tell you about your beautiful future filled with 'money', 'love' and 'happiness', and I am skeptic of these gluttonous souls. However, John Edwards I have faith in. I have lost wonderful people in my life so far, and it comforts me to know that they are now in a better place. I thank Mr. Edwards for reassuring my comfort and encouraging others to have an open mind towards the 'other side'.
If all you have to do is believe ... why wouldn't you try?
Captivating
bonbon200022 October 2001
My head tells me I should not believe in this John Edward fellow, but this show makes it easy to believe he has a unique gift. The details that John comes up with are quite specific and it makes for very involving television. I highly recommend this show, especially for those who doubt psychic powers.
WHOA!!!
random_ax20 October 2003
I'm amazed at the negative reviews. If you watch the show carefully, you'll see he comes up with specific things that are not the results of so called cold readings or gimmicks. I would love to see any of the people here do what he does. Edward has been tested in a controlled laboratory environment and passed with flying colors. Sure, there are people who could trick audiences but how does John Edward come up with nicknames known only to the people in the audience? He can't be paying off people because there would have been someone who leaked that by now for money. He can't bug the studio audience because that still couldn't get him all the info he needs. When he latches onto a person in th audience and knows that the death had something to do with a foot ,...how is that done? Most people die from something to do with the heart or lungs or brain. Watch the show again and tell me you could get what he does.
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