Evaluation: Long Island Medium

            The television channel, TLC, is known to have an extremely strange variety of shows that reflect the lives of ordinary everyday people. One show in particular called “Long Island Medium” is a show that is unlike any other. The star of the show is Theresa Caputo, who likes to consider herself as an ordinary Rhode Island mother and wife. However, there is a little twist, Theresa can speak to the dead. Channeling with the dead is what Theresa does for a living; she says she feels compelled to tell people about their loved ones who have passed on. 

 Theresa Caputo and her family. [I do not own this photo]

            In my eyes, the show is a success for which is brings one important thing to its viewers: hope. Many viewers are intrigued by this show because they have lost a loved one. The show could perhaps encourage other people to go speak with a medium to find closure with themselves and the loved one that has passed on. Theresa will have meetings with her clients, discussing many unanswered questions that the client may have. For example, in the last episode I viewed, Theresa had a client whose husband committed suicide. Theresa was able to be the communicator for the wife and the husband, getting many questions answered. The husband had Theresa announce that he takes all responsibility for his death and wants his wife to know that he approves of her new husband and that he can play the father role for their daughter.

            This show is also successful for which is eliminates many peoples skeptical thoughts. Theresa isn’t an ordinary medium. As I said before, she claims that she is compelled to give people messages from their loved ones that have passed on. In every episode where she is out in public, she will walk up to a random stranger and ask if someone has passed. Theresa will state several facts about the person and the spirits relationship, validating that Theresa isn’t making anything up. For example, in an episode I have watched, Theresa and her family went ice skating; as they were finishing up and taking off her skates, a spirit came to her and she once again felt compelled to go the spirit’s loved one. Theresa went to the skate rental counter (it was an employees loved one that had passed away) and asked the two girls if there was a tragedy in one of their families. The one girl said yes. Theresa then asked if it was a murder. The employee said yes it was. Theresa began telling the employee what her loved one wanted her to know. The employee was in shock but also elated to hear her loved one is okay. This makes skeptics revaluate their beliefs for which things like this do not just happen. Strangers do not just walk up to random people and ask about their personal lives. What Theresa Caputo does for a living is amazing; she touches the hearts of people everywhere and everyday. This is a show that has a true purpose; it is giving people hope.