NBC’S CONTROVERSIAL NEW LIVE COMPETITION SERIES ‘PHENOMENON’ ---- THE SEARCH FOR THE NEXT GREAT MENTALIST FEATURING CRISS ANGEL AND URI GELLER -- TO PREMIERE WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 24

Special Two-hour Episode to Air Halloween night, October 31

BURBANK -- September 26, 2007 -An intriguing and mystifying meeting-of-the-minds is set to take place on NBC when world-renowned mystifier Criss Angel ("Criss Angel Mindfreak") and famed mentalist Uri Geller conduct an intensive search for the next great mentalist on "Phenomenon." The riveting new live reality series will premiere on Wednesday, October 24 (8-9 p.m. ET) airing its five-week run Wednesdays at 8 p.m. ET, with a special two-hour live episode on Halloween night, October 31 (8-10 p.m. ET).

The announcement was made today by Craig Plestis, Executive Vice President, Alternative Programming, Development and Specials, NBC Entertainment.

"To be able to showcase the unique talents of this stunning and mysterious genre on live television, where absolutely anything can happen, ups the ante enormously," said Plestis. "We hope viewers will watch with their friends and talk about and debate what they see, making this a truly interactive television experience."

"Phenomenon" is an exhilarating and mystifying live show based on a successful Israeli version judged and monitored by Geller, which achieved a historical record-breaking viewing audience. The series showcases 10 carefully selected mentalists who will compete live against one another each week by demonstrating a wide spectrum of mystifying talents on a panel of celebrity guests who experience the spellbinding illusions along with the studio audience.

Together, Geller and Angel will assess the contestant's talents each week and offer their unfiltered opinions. Ultimately, the fate of the winner is in the hands of the viewers at home, who will vote to determine which competing mentalist will receive the grand prize of $250,000 and become the next great mentalist.

Geller soared to international fame by claiming extreme mind-over-matter abilities that aroused much controversy to this day in his hundreds of TV shows across the globe -- particularly the ability to bend spoons, among others. He was instrumental in creating the first interactive TV show worldwide when mysteriously objects bent in people's homes and broken watches came alive.

The visually arresting Angel is the creator, director and star of his self-titled, alternative cable series, "Criss Angel Mindfreak," which has wrapped production on its third critically acclaimed season and is currently in pre-production on season four.

In addition, Angel created and starred in two cable television specials: 2002's "Criss Angel Mindfreak" and 2003's "Criss Angel: Supernatural." He has been the featured guest-star on both NBC's "Las Vegas" and "CSI: New York." Angel also has appeared on numerous talk shows including "The Oprah Winfrey Show," "Larry King Live" and NBC's "Late Night with Conan O'Brien." In the summer of 2008, Angel will team up with Cirque du Soleil for a live magic experience at the Luxor Resort and Casino in Las Vegas that is slated to run for 10 years and over 4,600 shows.

"Phenomenon" is executive produced by Suzy Lamb ("Grease: You're The One That I Want"), Michael Agbabian ("Last Comic Standing") and Dwight Smith ("Last Comic Standing"). The series is a Granada America/Keshet Broadcasting/Kuperman Productions co-production in association with SevenOne International. SevenOne International controls the worldwide rights to the program.

Source: NBC Press Release

 

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