Call Miss Cleo Now! Throwback Thursday
Back when I was in high school, I was feeling myself because I didn’t have a bedtime anymore. As a natural night owl, I’d stay up til wee hours of the early night (like midnight) watching TV. That was when I got introduced to Miss Cleo the Psychic. Nothing says “Get your GOOFASS to bed” like the broadcasting of terrible infomercials and hers was the worst.
Miss Cleo was a JaFAKEcan Jamaican psychic who used tarot cards to read you your future for the low low price of TOO MUCH DAMB MONEY! She’d tell you to “CALL MEH NAO!” with enthusiasm so she could solve your love and life issues. Chile, lemme refresh your memory.
Ma’am. No. Miss Cleo was neither Jamaican nor was she a psychic. She was just a terrible actress with a quick scheme and a gullible people to sell to. Homegirl’s real name is Youree Dell Harris and she was a part of the Psychic Readers Network. They made money hand over fist selling folks these bald-headed lies from fake ass shamans but Miss Cleo was one of the main ones I remembered.
A good mess! Did yall ever call in to her or know someone who did?
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15 Comments
She was from Jamaica! Jamaica, Queens that is. My friend use to call her. I knew then that my friend was special.
Miss Cleo read my cards for free, actually. I called in during an infomercial taping. Correct, but scary.
LOL I remember Miss Cleo very well. My husband’s a red, black, and green Jamaican MON. He used to shake his head and clown us gullible Americans for falling for the scam.
I know she was a Ja-FAKEN, but I so wish somebody would give me a reading on what my next steps are since Scandal finale. Lawdy, what is we GWINE do?
I used to see these infomercials and I felt the same way you did…I’m really hoping Miss Cleo sat her goofball ass down somewhere…tuh!!
Did she go to prison for fraud or something like that? Did Phillip Michael Thomas deal with the same network?
Back in my college days my friends and I would call when you could get the first 3 minutes for free. Never believed what they said it was just something fun to do, lmao!
My aunt called in for jokes once and the first thing she said was “Whats yuh name child?” And my aunt yelled back “You da psychic bitch! You tell me!!” Lmaooo
Ha!
she was actually a good spiritual advisor. but, she was used and corrupted like many talented people. and now, she’s a joke. it’s actually not funny. she was exploited.
I used to impersonate her while bartending. Made some awesome tips!!! People love a good laugh. “Let da cards tell ya feutcher!!!”
I thought you might enjoy this blog post from someone who WORKED for Psychic friends network! Read on: http://www.xojane.com/it-happened-to-me/it-happened-to-me-i-was-a-telephone-psychic-for-miss-cleo
So back in the day, I used to know Ms. Youree Harris. At that time, she was going by Ree Paris (pronounced Pahree), smh. She was an actress and director. I used to work at a local performing arts community center in Seattle and she did a stint there writing and directing community plays. I assisted her for a while… She was a trip, always hella “extra” and dramatic. Then she left to pursue her acting and a couple of years later we saw her Ms. Cleo commercials and we all were like “Oh Hell Naw!!!!!”
She’s in Canada: http://www.vice.com/read/we-spoke-to-ms-cleo-about-her-fake-patois-and-getting-ripped-off-by-her-old-bosses
I never called, but the bestie called Dionne and her psychic friends.
I too remember my high school-era nights being filled with the dulcet tones of CALL MEH NAOW FA YAH FREE TARRO READIN. I always wanted to call her just to call her out on the fake accent by speaking patois and having her understand none of it (Jamaican nanny = patois is my first language #suburbanwhitekidproblems).
I love your blog.
My sister was one of the “callers” (actress) in one of the commercials. She needed extra cash for med school.