Entertainment

<< Previous   of   Next >> Associated Press  (click to enlarge) Legendary mentalist Uri Geller is co-host of "Phenomenon," a new five-week NBC series. Geller and self-described mystifier Criss Angel ("Criss Angel Mindfreak") will scrutinize 10 contestants demonstrating spellbinding illusions. The show premieres Wednesday.   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Saturday, October 20, 2007 New series searches for next 'great mentalist' By Frazier Moore Associated Press "Phenomenon" aims to find the next great mentalist. Who knew we needed another one? But that's the point: Those kooky mentalists know things you can't imagine. And it can blow your mind. This new five-week NBC series is hosted by legendary mentalist Uri Geller and self-described mystifier Criss Angel ("Criss Angel Mindfreak"), who will scrutinize 10 contestants demonstrating spellbinding illusions on a panel of celebrity guests and the studio audience. Which of those contenders will take a mind trip to victory? Viewers at home will choose the most mind-blowing mentalist, with $250,000 the grand prize. And the whole thing happens live. Angel says "Phenomenon" will be "a mind treat" where the rival mentalists can "paint with a lot of different brushes and colors to see what is possible and what is not possible." Is it paranormal? Psychic? Magic? An illusion? "I don't want to know what it is," Geller said. "I want to see performances that will make your hair stand on end." Gather a bunch of mentalists, turn them loose on live TV with the title of Next Great Mentalist up for grabs, "and anything can happen, for goodness' sake," Geller said. "Anything!" He should know. "Phenomenon" premieres at 8 p.m. Wednesday. Other shows to look out for: She's a caring, efficient supermarket manager: How does she rise to the position of her country's prime minister? That's the saga of "The Amazing Mrs. Pritchard," a five-part "Masterpiece Theatre" miniseries about a frustrated British subject who runs for Parliament to make a point: The people in power are a lousy lot. A political neophyte, Ros Pritchard finds herself at the forefront of a feminist revolution -- the new Purple Democratic Alliance -- which wins in a landslide. But once in office, she must learn fast while holding on to the qualities that got her there. By turns funny, touching and inspiring, this series will speak to any viewer who ever scoffed at government and thought: I wouldn't do a bit worse if I were in charge. Starring Jane Horrocks, it premieres at 9 p.m. Sunday on PBS. A good man is hard to find: Not in Cowboy Country. Or so says a new reality series, "Girl Meets Cowboy," which bears the message: "Go West, young woman." In each episode, four city girls who are friends, sisters or co-workers relocate to rural America, where they must vie for an attractive cowboy's heart through a round of country challenges such as ridin' and wranglin'. This week, California girls Stephanie, Brianna, Amber and Rebecca head for Montana's Big Sky country and the 320 Ranch. Will one of them be able to lasso charming Cowboy Kevin? Find out when "Girl Meets Cowboy" on WE, airing at 10 p.m. Sunday Lifetime network observes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month: "Matters of Life & Dating" stars Ricki Lake as a woman who returns to the dating scene after having a mastectomy. Until her cancer diagnosis, Linda Dackman (Lake) had been happy, both career-wise and romantically. But the surgery shatters her body image and confidence, filling her with fear that she will never find real love. Not only does she confront reconstructive surgery, but also rebuilding her life. Holly Robinson Peete ("For Your Love") co-stars as a long-ago friend with whom Linda reconnects in a support group. The film, airing as the centerpiece of Lifetime's 13th annual Stop Breast Cancer for Life campaign, echoes many of the campaign's messages, including its call for early detection and treatment of breast cancer. The film premieres at 9 p.m. Monday. Your fingernail never stops growing: So why shouldn't your finger grow back, if it were severed? This isn't just wishful thinking or science fiction, according to "Wired Science," the PBS science and technology newsmagazine. This week's edition explains how regenerative medicine is a reality (albeit rudimentary). One encouraging example: A man who grew back his finger tip, nail and all. Also during the hour, correspondent Adam Rogers combs Kansas wheat fields for rocks from outer space, and Wired editor-in-chief Chris Anderson explores the world of unmanned aerial vehicles. Produced by Los Angeles' KCET and Wired magazine, "Wired Science" airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday on PBS.

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