Long Island Medium
| Long Island Medium | |
|---|---|
 Intertitle | |
| Genre | Reality |
| Starring | Theresa Caputo |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language | English |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 48 |
| Production | |
| Production location | Hicksville, New York on Long Island |
| Running time | 22 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Network | TLC |
| Release | September 25, 2011 – present |
Long Island Medium is an American reality television series airing on TLC. It premiered on September 25, 2011.[1] Based in Hicksville, New York, the show stars Theresa Caputo, who is a medium who claims to communicate with the deceased. The show follows her life as she juggles clients and her family. The second season premiered on March 25, 2012.[2] The third season premiered on September 9, 2012.[3] Produced by Wendy Douglas, and Executive Producer Diane Townsend.
On November 2, 2012, TLC renewed the series for a 30 half-hour episode fourth season, which is set to premiere in March 2013.[4]
Synopsis
Each episode focuses on Caputo as she conducts private and group readings, with both believers and skeptics. Her husband Larry and two children, Victoria and Larry Jr., have learned to live with her mediumship, but it can be tugging on their relationships. Especially when messages from the dead spontaneously interrupt dinner, visits to the dentist or grocery shopping trips. Caputo claims she has the ability to communicate with people who have died. "Things are just there," she says. "When I was younger I used to actually see images and hear things. As I got older and shut down, it had changed. Because it was frightening to see people standing there who actually weren’t there. For me now, I feel spirit. I could be in a store standing next to a woman, and her husband passed of a heart attack. I would feel as if someone was laboring my breath, like I couldn’t breathe. That’s my symbol for someone passing by the heart, chest, lung area when they labor my breathing."[5][6][7]
Reception
Season 1 of Long Island Medium averaged 1.3 million viewers per episode.[8]
Variety's Gregg Goldstein emphasized the appeal of Theresa's vivacious personality. "In an era of hit reality shows about families and denizens of New Jersey, the series' equally big selling point is the dynamic with her husband and two wisecracking teenagers, making it play like a combination of Real Housewives of New Jersey and Bewitched - particularly when their frustrations surface over her random communications with what she calls 'Spirit.'"[9]
The Season 2 premiere episode drew 2.28 million viewers.[10]
On April 1, 2012, the James Randi Educational Foundation awarded Caputo a Pigasus Award for being, in its view, the "psychic" performer who fooled the greatest number of people with the least effort in the preceding year. JREF founder James Randi, a long-time promoter of skepticism, stated "[the show] is utter nonsense and dangerous". A Pigasus award was also given to TLC for continuing to air the show.[11]
In June 2012, Mrs. Caputo appeared in a commercial for Priceline.com, in which she portrayed herself "connecting" with the late Priceline Negotiator character previously played by William Shatner.[12] However, this commercial has sparked controversy, since the commercial appears to make light of the Native American belief of smudging.[13] JREF President DJ Grothe released a press release calling out Priceline.com, stating, "It is difficult to watch the show and not feel heartbroken for those who are desperate to hear from the departed... and even more so if they are being manipulated by a charlatan." Grothe urges Priceline.com to "invite... your new representative" to take the James Randi Million Dollar challenge and prove her credentials.[14]
Episodes
Season 1
| Ep # | Title | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "No Turning Off" | September 25, 2011 | |
|
Theresa Caputo has a very special psychic gift, but her family gets annoyed by her inability to turn it off. | |||
| 2 | "Driving Me Nuts" | September 25, 2011 | |
|
Theresa reads a distraught mother; Victoria learns to drive. | |||
| 3 | "Spirit Release" | October 2, 2011 | |
|
The spirit of a 6-year-old boy won't leave Theresa, taking a serious emotional toll on her. | |||
| 4 | "This Isn't Working Repack" | October 2, 2011 | |
|
Theresa meets with her clients in her home. | |||
| 5 | "Theresa's Upgrade" | October 9, 2011 | |
|
The kids get Theresa something more advanced than her cassette recorder; a woman seeks closure. | |||
| 6 | "Reconnecting" | October 16, 2011 | |
|
Theresa plans a trip to reconnect with her friends. | |||
| 7 | "Blessing & a Curse" | October 23, 2011 | |
|
Theresa finds herself putting spirits first and her family second. | |||
| 8 | "Theresa Explains It All" | October 30, 2011 | |
|
Theresa and her family answer questions; explaining it all. | |||
| 9 | "Sailing with Spirits" | November 6, 2011 | |
|
Theresa is invited to do a group reading on a cruise ship traveling to the Bahamas. | |||
Season 2
| Ep # | Title | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Meeting the Parents" | March 25, 2012 | |
|
Theresa invites Victoria's boyfriend over for dinner. | |||
| 2 | "Drumming and Healing" | March 25, 2012 | |
|
Theresa hosts a drumming circle to reground herself. | |||
| 3 | "Losing It" | April 1, 2012 | |
|
Spirits interfere with Theresa's workout; Theresa has an emotional breakdown during a reading. | |||
| 4 | "Poor Petey" | April 1, 2012 | |
|
A visit to the vet turns into more than just a checkup; a couple hopes to hear from their son. | |||
| 5 | "Christmas Spirit" | April 8, 2012 | |
|
Theresa spreads the gift of giving when she brings her family to a soup kitchen. | |||
| 6 | "Spirit Al Dente" | April 8, 2012 | |
|
A spirit gets in the way of Theresa becoming an expert chef. | |||
| 7 | "Car Crazy" | April 15, 2012 | |
|
Victoria tries to get a car from her parents; Theresa helps a woman reconnect with her father. | |||
| 8 | "Just Like Me" | April 15, 2012 | |
|
Theresa's friend divulges that her son has the ability to see spirits. | |||
| 9 | "Wheelin' & Dealin'" | April 22, 2012 | |
| 10 | "Long Island Romance" | April 22, 2012 | |
| 11 | "Bellies & Babies" | April 29, 2012 | |
| 12 | "Apply Yourself" | April 29, 2012 | |
|
Victoria is stressed out by the pressures of her senior year in high school and her parents' fixation on the importance of a college education. Meanwhile, Theresa gets to play skeptic for a change at a friend's house. | |||
| 13 | "Uneasy" | May 6, 2012 | |
| 14 | "Spirit and the City" | May 6, 2012 | |
Season 3
| Ep # | Title | Airdate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Homecoming" | September 9, 2012 | |
|
Theresa's son graduates from college and moves back home, but he soon realizes that his mom wants him to stay there forever; a woman who recently lost her daughter seeks help from Theresa to find closure, which she ends up getting. | |||
| 2 | "A Medium Surprise" | September 9, 2012 | |
|
With Theresa's birthday quickly approaching, Larry and the kids hope to throw her a surprise party, but surprising a medium isn't the easiest task, so they must be sneaky; a widow seeks help to find closure after losing her husband several years ago. | |||
| 3 | "Help Me" | September 16, 2012 | |
|
Theresa's looking for an assistant but isn't quite sure with the decision; She helps a family connect with their son who died of a tragic partying death. | |||
| 4 | "The Princess and her Prom" | September 16, 2012 | |
|
Victoria's Prom is coming up and she recently broke up with her boyfriend and so she decides to take her friend, was it a mistake?; Theresa reads someone at a boutique; She has a private session at her house; And a group reading | |||
| 5 | "The Flying Larrys" | September 23, 2012 | |
|
Theresa's husband and son decide to go skydiving; To relieve her stress Theresa reads the owner of the skydiving center | |||
| 6 | "My Keys Now" | September 23, 2012 | |
|
After Victoria has two car crashes in a week, Teresa takes her car keys away; The family takes a defensive driving course together, and Theresa reads a class member; | |||
| 7 | "Beach Bonding" | September 30, 2012 | |
|
Larry and Theresa spend some time at the beach; | |||
| 8 | "The Graduate" | September 30, 2012 | |
|
Victoria graduates from high school; | |||
| 9 | "On The Road" | October 8, 2012 | |
|
Leaving her family and Long Island behind, Theresa packs up her hairspray and treks across America to surprise unbeknownst fans with readings. With a little help from spirit, Theresa shocks everyday families with her amazing gift. | |||
| 10 | "The Family Photo" | October 14, 2012 | |
| 11 | "Joe Skeptic" | October 14, 2012 | |
| 12 | "FAQ" | October 21, 2012 | |
| 13 | "Never Before Seen" | October 21, 2012 | |
| 14 | "Theresa and the Tent" | October 28, 2012 | |
| 15 | "Like Father, Not Like Daughter" | October 28, 2012 | |
| 16 | "Halloween Spirit" | November 4, 2012 | |
| 17 | "Hello College" | November 4, 2012 | |
|
Victoria Moves out, and moves to college; while Theresa reads Victoria's college roommate's mom. | |||
Season 4
On November 2, 2012, TLC renewed Long Island Medium for a fourth season, to consist of 30 episodes. The fourth season is scheduled to premiere in March 2013.[15]
References
- ^ "Long Island Medium Episode: "No Turning Off"". Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ "Long Island Medium Episode: "Meeting the Parents"". Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ "Long Island Medium Episode:"Homecoming"". Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ "'Long Island Medium' Renewed for Season 4 by TLC". Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ "Interview with Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo on new TLC series". Channel Guide Magazine.
- ^ "Long Island Medium renewed: Is Theresa Caputo for real?". EW.com.
- ^ "Rare Medium well done". New York Post.
- ^ "TLC Renews "Long Island Medium" for Season 2". Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ "'Medium' gets into family spirit". Retrieved 9 November 2012.
- ^ "Sunday Cable Ratings: Basketball, 'Mad Men' Season Premiere & More". TV by the Numbers.
- ^ "2012 Pigasus Awards Announcement". JREF. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
- ^ "TV's Long Island Medium Theresa Caputo Channels The Dearly Departed Negotiator In New Priceline.com TV Spot". Finance.yahoo.com. 2012-06-25. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
- ^ "Petition | Priceline: Remove the Long Island Medium smudging commercial from the air". Change.org. Retrieved 2012-08-13.
- ^ Grothe, DJ. "Priceline.com: Will You Prove Your Spokesperson Worthy for a Million Dollars?". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 8/15/2012.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help) - ^ http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2012/11/02/long-island-medium-renewed-for-season-4-by-tlc/155924/