Posted by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
Over seven years, TLC's "Long Island Medium" has been a swirly blend of Theresa Caputo's personal life and her work as a medium.
Unfortunately, the personal part is taking front and center this upcoming spring portion of the season, returning Sunday, April 8 at 8 p.m. (Buy tickets here.)
In December, she and her husband Larry Caputo separated after 28 years of marriage. She hinted in an episode in November about marital troubles. (According to E!, Larry blamed their problems on lack of communication and lack of time together.)
"It's a very emotional show," Theresa Caputo said in a recent interview. "We're not the only couple that goes through this."
She didn't get into details on why they are separating. "We are doing okay," she said. "We're doing the best we can for our family. At the end of the day, we will always be family. Larry and I are still friends. We're just taking a break right now."
The show must go on. TLC is playing up her marital troubles in trailers for the spring episodes. And she is continuing her busy touring schedule, returning to Fox Theatre on June 24 to do live readings.
Caputo is only one person and many of her clients would have to travel out of state to see her on Long Island. Live shows are an efficient way for her to channel multiple spirits in a short period of time. "It's like 'Long Island Medium' without the shopping," she said. "It's great even if you personally don't get read. You're able to connect with so many things that happen that evening, to witness how spirits communicate with everyone else. It's fascinating and amazing."
She walks through the crowd, a camera in tow, seeking loved ones to connect with. The show lasts about two hours long. She said the crew will signal to her to wrap up because theoretically, she said, "I could channel all night long."
On "Long Island Medium," she also will feature several celebrity readings, fueled by fan response. (Competitor Tyler Henry on E!'s "Hollywood Medium" does celebrity readings exclusively.)
She said it started a few years back with actress Olivia Munn. "She's a friend of mine," Caputo said. "People seemed to enjoy it. To me, whether someone is a celebrity or not, we're all the same. It doesn't matter."
Two of the celebrities she worked with have Georgia ties: Marietta native and actor Robert Patrick ("Terminator 2," "The X-Files," "Scorpion) and Athens native Tituss Burgess ("The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt"). Others include singer Melissa Etheridge and celebrity trainer Jillian Michaels.
RELATED: My 2016 interview with Caputo
ON TV
"Long Island Medium," returns Sunday, April 8 at 9 p.m., TLC
IN CONCERT
Theresa Caputo
7:30 p.m., Sunday, June 24
$81-$357
Fabulous Fox Theatre
660 Peachtree St. NE
Atlanta
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