Comments on: It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad Day on the Set http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/ The official blog of the Skeptologists Sun, 12 Feb 2012 15:44:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: GG http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8830 GG Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:56:40 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8830 No, but you clearly are soft-minded if you haven't checked out via Google. Know what you're talking about - THEN comment, John. No, but you clearly are soft-minded if you haven’t checked out via Google. Know what you’re talking about – THEN comment, John.

]]> By: Podblack Blog http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8652 Podblack Blog Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:56:14 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8652 UPDATE - <a href="http://podblack.com/?p=1425" rel="nofollow">Message from Michael Shermer on Twitter:</a> <i>Ah, Brian Dunning just got a note from the producer of the Marc Wootton show saying that the point is to make psychics look like idiots......and that in fact the producers are skeptics in support of our work. Shirley Ghostman is punking psychics, not skeptics. Good to know......but now I'm mad at myself for not realizing who was punking whom. Alas, I think I need to apply my own philosophy of using humor here.So, Wootton/Little Duke Productions, if you're all skeptics making fun of TV psychics...GO FOR IT because if anyone needs punking it's them!</i> UPDATE -

Message from Michael Shermer on Twitter:

Ah, Brian Dunning just got a note from the producer of the Marc Wootton show saying that the point is to make psychics look like idiots……and that in fact the producers are skeptics in support of our work. Shirley Ghostman is punking psychics, not skeptics. Good to know……but now I’m mad at myself for not realizing who was punking whom. Alas, I think I need to apply my own philosophy of using humor here.So, Wootton/Little Duke Productions, if you’re all skeptics making fun of TV psychics…GO FOR IT because if anyone needs punking it’s them!

]]> By: Devil's Advocate http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8603 Devil's Advocate Thu, 11 Jun 2009 00:27:13 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8603 I viewed the youtube vid offered in post #4, "Shirley Ghostman VS The Skeptics". The premise is great, ripe for some great comedy. Ghostman hit a few spots, but was largely off the mark. With a little tighter writing and a professional comedic actor, this type of bit could be hilarious. I'd love to see Eric Idle or maybe Bill Murray play the psychic. I viewed the youtube vid offered in post #4, “Shirley Ghostman VS The Skeptics”.

The premise is great, ripe for some great comedy. Ghostman hit a few spots, but was largely off the mark. With a little tighter writing and a professional comedic actor, this type of bit could be hilarious. I’d love to see Eric Idle or maybe Bill Murray play the psychic.

]]> By: Henk van der Gaast http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8558 Henk van der Gaast Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:00:31 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8558 I'm usually the weirdo Brian... this time i just don't get it. Ive asked the dolphins... they dont get it either and they do have a porpoise in life. Pilchard? I’m usually the weirdo Brian… this time i just don’t get it. Ive asked the dolphins… they dont get it either and they do have a porpoise in life.

Pilchard?

]]> By: MadScientist http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8462 MadScientist Sun, 07 Jun 2009 07:34:44 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8462 I wonder if this will be a 'guest segment' on another show or if there is a revival ('special') being produced. From what I can tell using my meager internet skills, the show seems to have, as the Australians like to say, "died in the arse". I wonder if this will be a ‘guest segment’ on another show or if there is a revival (‘special’) being produced. From what I can tell using my meager internet skills, the show seems to have, as the Australians like to say, “died in the arse”.

]]> By: Susan Gerbic http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8452 Susan Gerbic Sat, 06 Jun 2009 01:30:41 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8452 But Brian it will all pay off in the end, because it is publicity! Susan But Brian it will all pay off in the end, because it is publicity!

Susan

]]> By: Brian Dunning http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8451 Brian Dunning Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:14:58 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8451 Yeah, same show. I have no problem with being the butt of the joke. They paid me well, in advance, so in spite of the red flags I did my best to give them what they paid me for. The only part that sucks is that I spent a considerable amount of time doing preparation for the tests, all of which was UNpaid, including purchasing materials, consulting with a number of people, and writing out detailed protocols. From what I saw of their "set" and their "script", I clearly put more work into it than they did!! Yeah, same show. I have no problem with being the butt of the joke. They paid me well, in advance, so in spite of the red flags I did my best to give them what they paid me for. The only part that sucks is that I spent a considerable amount of time doing preparation for the tests, all of which was UNpaid, including purchasing materials, consulting with a number of people, and writing out detailed protocols. From what I saw of their “set” and their “script”, I clearly put more work into it than they did!!

]]> By: Bertrand Le Roy http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8450 Bertrand Le Roy Fri, 05 Jun 2009 19:37:00 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8450 I find that pretty hilarious. Problem is that what is funny to some might seem unfunny to others. Sense of humour is not universal: not everybody has one and we don't all have the same. Saying that something is not funny is a risky exercise, because it implies it won't be funny to anyone, which applies to almost nothing. And when you've been tricked, you tend to be on the defensive and dismiss the tricker's humor. I'm wondering if the whole piece here isn't itself the author pretending to be offended, as a joke... I find that pretty hilarious. Problem is that what is funny to some might seem unfunny to others. Sense of humour is not universal: not everybody has one and we don’t all have the same.
Saying that something is not funny is a risky exercise, because it implies it won’t be funny to anyone, which applies to almost nothing. And when you’ve been tricked, you tend to be on the defensive and dismiss the tricker’s humor.
I’m wondering if the whole piece here isn’t itself the author pretending to be offended, as a joke…

]]> By: John http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8446 John Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:14:20 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8446 Sounds dumb. This toolbag needs some lessons in comedy, it sounds. Sounds dumb. This toolbag needs some lessons in comedy, it sounds.

]]> By: John http://www.skepticblog.org/2009/06/04/its-a-mad-mad-day-on-the-set/#comment-8445 John Fri, 05 Jun 2009 17:12:49 +0000 http://skepticblog.org/?p=2834#comment-8445 Are you soft in the head? Are you soft in the head?

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