The Spiritualism Movement is Alive and Well in "Long Island Medium:" A Television Episode Review

Executive Producer: Wendy Douglas.

Cast: Theresa, Larry Sr., Victoria and Larry Jr. Caputo.

Air Date: Sun. at 10 p.m. on TLC.

When Theresa Caputo reveals that she is a medium and says “I talk to the dead,” some people are going to quirk their eyebrows and say “really?” To prove it, however, is still subject of the adage: do you believe? In the case of the "Long Island Medium," that should also include: do you trust this Fran Drescher wannabe?

While this television show is not "The Nanny" in disguise, the fact that she is “way out there" really has to be seen to believed. Sometimes, people may wonder if they are watching Gene Simmon’s "Family Jewels" instead; the conflicts she has with her family are clearly evident and that is the most entertaining aspect of this show. To see her deal with paying clients is quite boring.

Her family are sometimes uncertain if they want to be near her, like in the season one finale episode "Sailing with Spirits," where she is trying to get people to go to her show (carefully disguised as a 'group reading' somewhere on an unnamed cruise ship at a fill-in-this-blank lounge). The lack if disclosure really kills this episode.

Some of the better bits comes from the segments where Theresa is spontaneously hitting up supposedly random people while doing errands. The premiere episode's title "No Turning Off" says everything about how this medium works. But with season two now well under way, she may even be turning into a Dog Whisperer in "Poor Petey."

Her husband, Larry Sr., and two teenage children, Victoria and Larry Jr., just want a normal life. The problems of living with an individual who can hear from dead people everyday is enough to send some folks deep into the hills. A quiet life is better than a New Jersey life.

While a television series like this cannot have a long staying power, the show is curiously in its second season. A crossover episode with a paranormal reality show, like the "Ghost Hunters" (aka "TAPS") is inevitable. To not do so is irresponsibility from the production team. They may not want go all out in supporting their product. Some investigation groups even include a medium, so why not? Amazingly, no ghost hunter has yet to jump in and ask for a reading. With electromagnetic detectors, full spectrum cameras and audio recorders, they have an opportunity of the lifetime to see if they can put on tape what Caputo sees, and have a conversation with Abraham Lincoln.

That can easily help develop her credibility than to deliver messages from loved ones all the time. This television program really needs to vary its content if it is to survive, like to have her work with police to help put some unidentified bones to rest. Instead, all she does is entertain. The séance parties she attends are truly a nod to the direction the producers want: to show that the Spiritualism Movement is alive and well in Hicksville, New York and its surrounding areas.

But sometimes, audiences have to wonder if she is opening wounds instead of healing them. Most of the time, she is giving readings to a few people in the group than the whole. The rest are there to be entertained, but at whose expense? Even though those people have signed wavers to be on television, are they feeling happier?

Even worse for this show is that Theresa is sometimes not able to verify the identities of the spirits she hears from unless the client fills in the gaps. That alone should be a red flag, but most people are more willing to divulge the information needed for her to verify if Uncle John from Jamaica is truly from Jamaica. Realistically, the client should respond with simple yes and no answers. But some mediums defend themselves by saying they are sometimes receptors to simple ideas. If that’s an indication that some spirits cannot articulate, then there might be a problem.

Just like in Poltergeist, when Steven Freeling was trying to communicate to Tangina, the medium, with his thoughts, some may not like to show off their skills. But they have to do enough to verify to the client that they are the real deal than someone fishing for a random bite. Nothing is revealed about Theresa’s educational background in the show, and if she has a degree in grief counseling.

To hear about how some of these people died is sad. But as for why some people go to Theresa instead of a proper counselor is one that really needs to be talked about. Maybe the people who seek her out need to hear from sympathetic ear who cares about their plight than to be psychoanalyzed. And then, there is the question of payment. If Theresa truly cared about healing the world, her services should always be free just like when she goes about town giving random readings. The rest of the family can deal with the bills.

Overall 5 out of 10.

The film's homepage is here:

The Long Island Medium on TLC

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