*Lifetime released the trailer on Monday for the hotly anticipated biopic about beloved television personality Miss Cleo.
“Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall,” starring Robin “The Lady of Rage” Allen, premieres Saturday, August 10, at 8/7c, followed by the documentary “Call Me Miss Cleo” at 10/9c. According to the news release, directed by Tim Reid, the biopic cast includes Shane Johnson (Power) and Ian Bohen (Yellowstone).
The story centers on single mom Youree Dell Harris, who finds herself “desperate to take care of her family and takes a job at the Psychic Readers Network — only to become one of the network’s most beloved personalities, Miss Cleo,” per the synopsis. “But her challenges don’t end there and when the network faces allegations of fraud and deception, they turn their sights on Miss Cleo. For the first time ever, Miss Cleo’s side of the story will finally be told.”
Watch the official trailer above.
As we reported earlier, Miss Cleo called herself a voodoo priestess and regularly appeared on the Psychic Readers Network, where she gained a cult following. She became especially famous for her trademark line “Call me now!” which she uttered with a Jamaican accent.
Per the release: “Miss Cleo ultimately became the face of the Psychic Readers Network, earning the trust and loyalty for those that called her. Years later, Harris’ world was turned upside down with complaints that the Psychic Readers Network was fraudulent and spread false advertising. Facing angry fans, Harris was forced to defend her reputation to clear her name and escape financial devastation.”
In 2002, the Federal Trade Commission charged the owners of the Psychic Readers Network with defrauding customers who called the company’s 1-900 numbers for paid psychic readings. After the network shut down, Cleo bounced around to various jobs, including voicing a character in the video game, “Grand Theft Auto: Vice City.”
“Miss Cleo: Her Rise and Fall” features interviews with celebrities and those closest to the former psychic reader, and explores the many layers behind this complicated and charismatic figure, according to the release.
The documentary “Call Me Miss Cleo” was directed by Celia Aniskovich and Jennifer Brea. It first aired on HBO Max and will re-air on Lifetime to complement the new movie premiere.
HBO Max’s official description of the doc states, “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.”
Watch the trailer below.
