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Mind-Bending 'Phenomenon' Contestant Hopes Viewers Are Ravin' About Raven

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 31, 2007

Eran Raven got off to an impressive start on the debut of NBC's 'Phenomenon' last week.

He played Russian roulette with a half-dozen pneumatic nail guns and survived.

Once again, kids and adults, don't try this at home. Don't try it anywhere, for that matter.

The 35-year-old 'mentalist' from Tampa won praise from judges Uri Geller and Criss Angel.

He also impressed Carmen Electra, who was his assistant during the demonstration. If you missed it, check it out on nbc.com.

At 8 tonight, Raven will find out whether America liked the performance. If he got enough votes from viewers, he will still be in the running for a $250,000 grand prize and the title of the next great mentalist.

'I was nervous because I knew about 8 million people were watching,' he said in a telephone interview Monday.

Raven, whose real name is Eran Feigenbaum, is the only contestant on the new reality show who is not a professional, full-time performer.

He has a day job. When he's not reading minds, moving objects and bending spoons, he's enjoying a successful career as a senior manager for a national business security firm.

He helps protect businesses from hackers and others who might pilfer private corporate information.

That's impressive work, but not as glamorous as having Carmen Electra hand you a nail gun.

Thousands auditioned to be on the show, and Raven says he is honored just to be among the 10 finalists.

'This has already exceeded my expectations,' he says.

'My abilities have evolved over time,' he explains. 'I started when I was about 7. I would bend spoons and stop watches.'

As a teenager, he often impressed friends and family with skills that included making objects move and shattering light bulbs from across a room.

He says that by age 9, he was getting paid to perform at birthday parties.

He recalls being in Emeril Lagasse's restaurant once when he bent so many spoons that the famed chef ran out from the kitchen demanding Eran use plastic utensils.

He grew up in New Jersey, and when he was 17, his family relocated to Orange County, Calif.

He says he paid his way through college and graduate school by performing in theater tours and at private parties.

He has a bachelor's degree in electrical and computer engineering from the University of California, Irvine and an MBA from Pepperdine University.

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

His day job as an expert on computer security systems and cryptography landed him in Tampa four years ago. 'I have been performing part time when I can,' he says.

Raven does a lighter, less death-defying show for children and a more serious show for adults. He has put on performances at nursing homes and pediatric hospitals. (Go to eranraven.net for information).

If he has survived the national vote, then he will have to perform a new stunt live on camera next week.

RENEWALS: Even though the ratings aren't great, the Kelsey Grammer-Patricia Heaton comedy 'Back to You' on Fox has been picked up for a full season of 22 episodes. Airing at 8 p.m. Wednesdays, it has struggled. But come January, it will follow 'American Idol,' and that could make it a hit.

ABC plans to bring back the romantic drama 'October Road' on Thursday, Nov. 22, at 10 p.m. before moving it to its new time period, 10 p.m. Monday, on Nov. 26.

ABC's underwhelming comedy 'Notes From the Underbelly' will return for a midseason run on that same Monday at 9:30, following the network's current new hit 'Samantha Who?' at 9 p.m.

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