New TV show makes viewers sit up, watch and marvel

OGIE Alcasid is hosting a provocative new show on GMA 7 titled “Mind Master” that’s making viewers sit up, watch and marvel.

The show’s title says it all: Featured mentalist Nomer Lasala blows the socks off viewers’ feet as he makes one “divination” after another about guest stars and starlets’ secret thoughts, wishes and desires.

Last April 30, for instance, he correctly guessed or divined the unspoken wishes of one amazed guest after another. He quickly followed up on that feat with a visual challenge that involved his “reading” the image in guest Glaiza de Castro’s mind: Even as Glaiza was sketching the images, Nomer was doing his own sketch. When the two images were put together, they were strikingly, even startlingly, similar.

‘Flat line’

Next, the mentalist demonstrated his “death-defying” ability to slow down his breathing and heart rate to produce a “flat line.” Frankly, this wasn’t as entertaining as his other gambits, particularly when he portentously announced, “Tonight I will die for your entertainment.” Oh, please don’t. We can’t take the responsibility!

How does the startlingly gifted mentalist do it? Other mental prestidigitators we’ve encountered, including wizards of international repute, have confessed (off the record) that there’s method to the mental marvels they come up with—but, they sure aren’t about to let the cat out of the bag. So, stop trying to figure things out and just enjoy the tantalizing trip while it lasts.

To make the show an even better viewing proposition, the mentalist should stop coming up with “annotations” on what he’s  doing, and just focus on his amazing feats instead. It’s Ogie who should do the annotation and lead-ins to make the proceedings even more diverting.

We need more TV shows like “Mind Master” because they provide greater viewing fare. Tangentially, the show also reminds viewers that, on occasion, things are not what they seem, there’s more to mind power than meets the jaundiced eye.

Some viewers may also be enticed to develop their own mental ability and acuity,  way  beyond the minimal way that some experts say we use the power of our brains. No, we don’t all have to end up as professional mentalists, we  just need to make better and more creative use of our own Mind Power.

But, no more “flat line” capers, OK? The show is interesting enough without having to engage in such show biz brinkmanship. Being the TV veteran in the production, Ogie knows better when enough is enough—and harum-scarum gimmicks and tactics are too much!