Emmy Winner Ken Estin and Mentalist Banachek Team Up for Psychic Fraud TV Series

Two-time Emmy winner Ken Estin is taking charge of a new paranormal comedy and drama series titled "Psychic Predators," starring mentalist Banachek as himself. Organic Media Group, also known as OMG, first introduced the show at the Taiwan Creative Content Fest in Taipei, and the project is now heading to the American Film Market.

Production Details

Estin, whose past work includes "Taxi," "Cheers," and "The Tracey Ullman Show," will run the series alongside Steve Chicorel. Chicorel created the show, serves as an executive producer, and wrote the pilot titled "The Voice of God." If the show gets picked up for a full run, Estin will oversee the writing for the rest of the season. Organic Media Group was co-founded by Chicorel and Kelly Mi Li, who stars in and executive produces the Netflix show "Bling Empire" and hosts "Stir the Pot." The company maintains offices in Los Angeles, Taipei, and Brisbane.

Plot and Characters

Banachek stars as a famous mentalist who makes a living by tricking people but always admits his acts are illusions. In the show's story, a driven TV producer convinces executives at The Reality Network, or TRN, to back a show that exposes fake psychics. Banachek goes undercover alongside a disguise expert and a tough female FBI agent. The team must also deal with demanding network executives, clashing egos, and the struggle between telling the truth and making a hit show. The pilot script features a con inspired by Banachek helping the late skeptic James "The Amazing" Randi unmask televangelist Peter Popoff, who used a hidden earpiece to fake messages from God. Future episodes plan to target bogus medical treatments, fake alien encounters, expensive fortune-telling scams, and doomsday cults.

Background

The show draws heavily on Banachek's real-life history. He was mentored by James Randi and took part in Project Alpha, a famous paranormal research sting. Banachek and other top magicians want to use the show to debunk scams just as Houdini once exposed mediums who preyed on grieving people.

Context

Mentalism is a performing art where artists appear to use mind reading or psychic powers, though performers like Banachek openly use sleight of hand and psychological tricks. Paranormal stings and skeptic investigations have a long history of testing scientific controls and exposing fraudulent claims. Entertainment companies frequently use trade events like film markets to pitch new television projects to potential buyers and network executives.