Say it with us now: “Call me now for your free tarot reading.”
That infamous phrase and its originator (or at least the only one we recognize), Miss Cleo are the subject of a new documentary, Call Me Miss Cleo, the documentary will premiere on HBO Max, December 15.
Produced by Gunpowder & Sky, Call Me Miss Cleo chronicles the rise, fall, and reinvention of controversial and revered ‘90s television psychic Miss Cleo and features testimonials with those closest to her, as well as actresses Raven-Symoné and Debra Wilson.
Synopsis: Known for her larger-than-life persona and memorable accent, Miss Cleo, born Youree Dell Harris, garnered a nationwide cult following on the Psychic Readers Network, a popular telephone hotline that later came under fire for its alleged deceptive practices. Featuring interviews with celebrities and those closest to the self-proclaimed voodoo priestess, the film explores the many layers behind a complicated and charismatic figure. Revisiting an era of corded phones and 1-900-numbers, CALL ME MISS CLEO ultimately reveals the truth behind the ever-enigmatic woman who took TV by storm, only to abruptly disappear from public consciousness.
Jennifer Brea and Celia Aniskovich and directed the project. The producers are Joanna Zwickel and Celia Aniskovich. Van Toffler, Floris Bauer, Barry Barclay and Anne Loder serve as executive producers. Executive producing for HBO Max is Jennifer O’Connell and Lizzie Fox.
So here’s a refresher for anyone who may or may not remember/know about Miss Cleo.
Miss Cleo purported to be a Jamaican soothsayer, and psychic who would advertise her abilities during television commercial breaks. While giving her spiel, the psychic’s phone number would be displayed on the screen, beckoning those looking for guidance to give her a ring. The number led to the Psychic Readers Network, which was a pay-per-call service.
But in reality, her real name was Youree Dell Harris and she was Los Angeles native who was hired to embody the gifted psychic.
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Then in 2002, the Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation on the Psychic Readers Network she worked for. The FTC accused the network and its owners of deceptive advertising, billing, and collection practices, bringing her psychic reign to an end.
Harris died of cancer in 2016, at the age of 53.