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Tampa Man Could Rate As 'Phenomenon' If His Spirit Moves Judges On NBC Show

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 24, 2007

'Phenomenon' is a show about finding the next great 'mentalist,' NBC executives say.

And that would be a 'psychic performer,' not necessarily a psychic.

The winner of this new unscripted competition does not actually have to possess powers and abilities far beyond the rest of us.

With the line between psychic and magician being very thin, an illusionist also could take the prize.

Debuting at 8 tonight on NBC, 'Phenomenon' is based on a hit Israeli television show called 'The Successor,' which involved a competition to find a successor to Israeli-born mentalist Uri Geller.

Geller, 60, was a rising star in the United States in the 1970s. But he retreated to England after a 1973 appearance on 'The Tonight Show,' where Geller's spoon-bending trick failed.

Geller is making a comeback. He co-hosts 'Phenomenon' with popular Greek-American illusionist Criss Angel. The two will challenge 10 contestants to perform a series of 'mystifying feats.'

One of the contestants is Eran Raven, a professional mentalist who lives in Tampa.

Raven could not be reached for comment Tuesday, either by telephone or telepathy. But then, I believe in ESPN, not ESP.

On his Web site, Raven, who also is a computer security expert, says he has had 'a special gift' since he was a child growing up in New Jersey.

At an early age, he began having vivid dreams about the future, according to www.eranraven.net. By age 7, he was 'amazing his parents' friends with his mentalist techniques such as bending spoons, moving pencils and shattering light bulbs from across the room.'

He writes that he paid his way through college by performing in theater tours and private parties. His biography lists a bachelor's degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California/Irvine and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

He says he has performed on cruise ships and as part of a USO tour in Korea. He has entertained audiences throughout the United States, Europe and Australia.

He also works as an Internet security expert and consultant. His NBC biography notes that two years ago, he was diagnosed with Bell's palsy, which caused him to lose the ability to move the right side of his face and made the left side of his face twitch. His condition, now under control, has taught him to look at life differently, live life to the fullest and further embrace his gift, according to NBC.

Raven also is a scuba diver and volunteers as a performer at nursing homes and pediatric hospitals.

Raven will be competing against a variety of 'Phenomenon' wanna-bes, including a mind reader, a man who does 'psychic stunts,' an illusionist, a man who channels dead spirits, a spiritualist, a comic magician and a former beauty queen who is a model, magician and medical student.

A panel of celebrity judges will weigh in on the performances. And viewers at home will get to vote on which of the performers get to stick around.

While Angel does not claim to be anything more than a talented performer who does amazing stunts, Geller says he gained special powers at age 4 when he had a mysterious encounter with a sphere of light while in a garden near his house.

After becoming a star in Europe, Geller became popular in the United States in the early 1970s. He would demonstrate his skills on television talk shows and variety shows.

Geller claims to have the ability to bend spoons and keys. He also claims to have telepathic powers and the ability to make watches run faster or stop.

Skeptics and magicians say Geller merely performs a sleight-of-hand trick that involves surreptitiously bending spoons or keys. On that memorable 'Tonight Show' episode, famed American magician James 'The Amazing' Randi advised Carson not to let Geller touch any props before the demonstration, and Geller's stunt failed. Geller claimed he was just having an off day, but his fame quickly faded in the United States.

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