Super Douche MaGee (born October 19, 1969 in Glen Cove, New York), better known as John Edward, is the creator and host of the television show Crossing Over with John Edward. Purporting that Edward is a medium, the show features what is said to be communication with the dead.

A typical reading by Edward on his television program sometimes begins with him coming up with the way the person he claims to be communicating with the dead, necromancy. However, at other times he begins by describing various images or sounds he reports to be receiving. There is usually at least one person in the audience who believes this fits them and then he begins to talk with them about the names of people they are connected with. In some instances he will start with a letter or a sound in someone's name who is connected to that person in some way ("I'm getting an R sound" or "I'm getting a C or a K sound...Who is it that is close to you and whose name starts with that sound?"). This usually narrows it down to one person and he will then continue asking them questions related to the signals the deceased is allegedly sending him, making many claims (some of which are right, some of which are wrong), until he comes up with a description of the deceased. He then usually follows by saying that the deceased is with him right now and that he/she sends their love.

Many people find it hard to explain the instances in which Edward begins a reading with an image that is very specific and then relates the image to aspects of the person's life before engaging in conversation with the person. For instance, Edward might say something like, "I'm getting that somebody recently found a Mickey Mouse watch in their neighbor's trash can". These "hits" are explained by critics as proof that Edward gets access to personal information before the shows. However people who believe in the possibility or reality of extra-sensory perception use these examples as evidence that Edward is 'picking up' something of a supersensory nature.

In addition to his television show, Edward sells tickets for public readings, and has written several bestselling books on his work and how to develop psychic powers.

At the end of John Edward's show a legal disclaimer appears for 3.3 seconds. It can only easily be read using a "paused" recording. Some viewers, especially well versed conjurors, see this as deceiving. However, others point out that this type of disclaimer falls into a class which is applied to any activity that is even tangentically related to selling a product. In this case the disclaimer is not related to metaphysical speculation about the nature of perception.

Controversy and criticism

Skeptics call Edward's performance a scam or hoax. Believers state that Edward was tested under controlled laboratory conditions by psychologist Gary Schwartz, who concluded his abilities were genuine. Part of the test involved "reading" the subject while knowing nothing about them and before talking to them or seeing them. Skeptics then reply that CSICOP's Ray Hyman has severely critiqued Schwartz's methods. Dr. Schwartz replies that Dr. Hyman has simply ignored many facts, and that this is not acceptable in science.

Skeptics say that Edward's techniques are identical to the technique of cold reading, one of the ways many demonstrated hoax psychics fool their clients and audiences. The show is accused by its critics of being heavily edited, with a half-hour show taking up to six hours to tape, in which failed attempts are removed; this emphasizes only Edward's "hits" while discounting his misses, critics argue. It is also alleged that Edwards' staff collect information on people before a reading takes place - a technique termed "hot reading". The show's producers deny this charge. This sort of back-and-forth is characteristic of the entire field, which often arouses strong emotions.

The show has attracted many believers (or at least the curious), as evidenced by its popularity. In defense of Edward, many believers point out unique things that he has said about dead people that they believe he could not have known unless he could in fact communicate with the deceased. This "proof of immortality" gives the grieving, teary-eyed seekers comfort.

Edward in the media

A 2002 episode of the cartoon television comedy South Park entitled "The Biggest Douche in the Universe," focusing primarily on Edward, portrays him as a cynical and exploitative fraud who knowingly manipulates the bereaved. The character Stan works to expose him by mastering cold reading himself and repeatedly argues that what Edward does is fraudulent, and more importantly, immoral in its deception of the bereaved and vulnerable. In the end, aliens bring Edward to an intergalactic awards ceremony where he is honored with the Biggest Douche in the Universe Award.

There are reports of a documentary in the works developed by a group of independent researchers which will demonstrate aspects of Edward's readings that have yet to be explained by the "cold reading" and "hot reading" hypothesis. This documentary has been rumored to come out in early 2006.

Penn and Teller also called him the biggest douche in the universe on their TV show Bullshit!.

Edward also made a cameo appearance on Will & Grace.

External links

• John Edward's official site
• A salon.com article claiming to debunk Edward
• A Time Magazine column claiming hot reading techniques are used.
• Greatest Hits and Misses of John Edward
• The Many Contradictions of John Edward
• South Park TV satire.
• Hyman on Schwartz
• Schwartz on Hyman
• Hyman rebuts Schwartz
• "How come TV psychics seem so convincing?" article on The Straight Dope
• "Demystifying John Edward of Crossing Over" article on Re-QUEST dot Net