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I don’t believe in magic anymore

[27 Comment(s)]

By Stephen Phillips

When a masked Val Valentino broke the magician’s code on Fox in 1997, my childhood ended. I was 12 years old, and up until that point I wanted to be a famous magician and had attempted every low-budget magic trick in the books. But after I saw the Masked Magician show millions of people how it was done, I just wasn’t that impressed anymore.

This was when stage magic died altogether, leaving only a few unique acts in Vegas and a couple of “mind over matter” displays on TV. But even the mystery of those could be destroyed with a few keystrokes on Google. We live in a time when nothing is without an answer or at least a few strong theories. Nothing on TV really wows me anymore.

A few years ago, I was at a company picnic at Blue Bayou Water Park. To relive my childhood, I decided to stay and watch a magic show behind that blue slide I was afraid to go on until I was 13.

The magician started off with a few semi-impressive yo-yo tricks before getting to the real magic. During his act, children kept getting up and trying to sabotage his tricks. They would open boxes, look behind him and try to grab whatever he’s holding. The man repeatedly asked the parents to properly restrain their kids.

Before I go into another rant about bad parenting, I’ll get back on subject by pointing out that children no longer possess the ability to suspend belief. They’ve been jaded by people like me, who aspire to suck the mystery out of everything in life. Some say kids are just more curious these days, and that might be true. But we could be raising a generation of uncreative skeptics. Our realist ideals could be influencing kids to become cynics who insensitively rape all of life’s mystery, fun and emotion.

We could be raising a generation of journalists for God’s sake.

Magic was a big part of my childhood, and I was a nicer person when I believed in it. Magic made me want to question the unknown, but not refute it. And I wanted to believe that I could one day grow up to amaze people as much as Copperfield and others amazed me.

Seeing the secrets of stage magic revealed on national TV didn’t disillusion me; it simply forced me to move on to other interests. The tricks weren’t amazing, and none of them really required much talent. Overall, it ruined any hope of magic ever being impressive again. Stage magic was over, and the popularity of TV magic skyrocketed – which is why I’m writing this disorganized column.

Criss Angel. Uri Geller. “Phenomenon.”

I can’t watch this show anymore. I can’t see another person guess what was written on a big index card. I refuse to watch a man pretend to die or be possessed by a ghost while Raven-Symone gives the best performance of her career.

I don’t pretend to be an authority on the subject of performance magic, but I do know Criss Angel can’t levitate. I don’t think he can even make a live, unpaid audience believe he is levitating. I don’t believe one of the performers on “Phenomenon” can really stop his heart. I doubt that a single “magician” who has appeared on that show (and I emphasize the word “show”) can perform his act without the help of plants – paid actors who contribute to the disgusting fakery and pretend to be amazed by the rigged trick. I don’t believe any of it is a real performance, and I challenge someone to prove me wrong.

My mind has never been freaked by Criss Angel’s heavily edited TV show. The only thing about it that baffled me was the seemingly high ratings, and the fact that he received this horrible America’s-next-top-magician-idol debacle called “Phenomenon.”

A couple of weeks ago on “Phenomenon,” one of the contestants performed a “trick” where he pretended to be possessed by a ghost who knew the contents of a locked chest on the stage. After this horrible performance, Criss Angel chastised him, and rightfully so. The guy was obviously a fake.

Criss challenged the performer (and Uri Geller, too) to guess what was in the envelope he was holding. He offered them a large sum of his own money if they guessed correctly, and then a staged “fight” ensued. The host happily reiterated that we were watching a live show and none of this was planned. I’m sure.

But we all know what was in the envelope: none other than Criss Angel’s fat check from NBC.

Stop faking it. Stop pretending magic is not dead.

E-mail the author at Stephen@tigerweekly.com

Originally Published: Issue 587 - November 14, 2007

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Comments

  1. Magic has been through a lot. And Phenomenon is dreadful. And I feel much the same way you do. Even Copperfield’s current show is a shell of what it used to be. I still hold on to the faith that one day someone will bring it back, just like Copperfield did in the 80’s, and Mark Wilson did in the 60s and 70s. Criss Angel is not that person. But someone will do it.

    Jarret | 2007-11-14 - 03:26:29 PM (CDT)

  2. I think you have a problem. Criss will tell you anything he does has a perfect explination though. But really, phenomenon isn’t ’staged’, but it does have a lot of bad preformers and the guests are most likely acting. Magic is a great thing, and I still know a lot of kids who like it. Sure, they may try to prove it’s wrong, but they want to know the truth. Kids are more observent then we think they are and have their own ways to try and prove how things really are.

    Elizabeth | 2007-11-14 - 06:27:22 PM (CDT)

  3. I think Criss Angel has opened up a new generation of people to illusions. He performs in the middle of the street surrounded by his fans. I have seen him do it, and it’s not all editing tricks, trust me. He’s gifted. However, in today’s society where we are determined to debunk everything, to figure out every little trick done by every magician or illusionist, how can we expect magic to thrill us anymore? When you’re a child you look at these magicians in awe, because a part of you that still has a vast imagination believes that it’s possible to accomplish things like levitating. As we age, we lose that ability to believe, and then the magic dies. It’s sadly inevitable.

    Alissa | 2007-11-14 - 09:56:22 PM (CDT)

  4. I personally think he is an amazing artist. He tells it like it is. Not everyone is going to like Criss...and thats okay...more for us Loyals.

    A Loyal | 2007-11-14 - 10:43:53 PM (CDT)

  5. Personally, I agree with Stephen as usual. Criss Angel and that phenomenon show is a joke.

    Lork | 2007-11-14 - 01:19:29 AM (CDT)

  6. well you have a problem!!!!! i believe in magic and you cant make me not believe in it!!!!! i also believe in other things like the supernatural!!!!!!!
    Well all i know is Criss Angel CAN levetate!!!!!!!!! For one how does he get like 52 feet above Las Vegas blvd. with a 42.2 BILION candle power and not die!!!!! That would KILL you!!!!! And i have seen Criss Angel levetate when nothin was around!!!! not a helicopter or plane or anything!!!!! so i want you to tell me how he levetates!!!!!
    EMAIL me @ MariaAKraft@gmail.com to tell me the answer!!!!

    maria | 2007-11-15 - 09:32:05 PM (CDT)

  7. So apparently some of Stephen’s fans are nutcases.

    Wow. | 2007-11-15 - 09:44:07 PM (CDT)

  8. Totally agree with Stephen and I do wonder how long this paranormal magic style can stay popular-having said that though, clearly the producers of the show are doing a good job as rating are high and Criss angel is successfully continuing the "blane era" of magic..............its the age old debate of "anything that makes magic popular and fashionable again, must be good". Interesting to read though, thanks

    Sam Strange | 2007-11-17 - 05:53:16 AM (CDT)

  9. It’s these "revealed" shows that really get me annoyed.

    Eric | 2007-11-17 - 06:23:36 AM (CDT)

  10. You just need to see a great PERFORMER!
    There are too many amateurs on tv.
    The worst is Keith Barry.

    Paul Smith | 2007-11-17 - 07:43:37 AM (CDT)

  11. In fairness to Criss Angel, his background is in theatrical magic and is perfectly capable of performing quality illusions in front of genuine audiences. David Blaine remains the only really successful TV magician not to have first been a successful stage performer and his style revolved around going out of his way to not look like a traditional magician. Unfortunately by the time he was done a wandering weirdo mumbling "waa-aatch" in heavily edited TV bits had been shown to be a successful formula for televised magic and have been a part of network notes ever since.

    The problem now isn’t so much a lack of people doing decent magic as convincing people that it can possibly exist outside of their television screens, which can only be achieved by persuading them to switch off and go and see live shows. In an era of hundreds of TV channels delivering instant entertainment, most people would rather expend that effort in coming up with excuses not to bother.

    Helen Held | 2007-11-17 - 03:04:41 PM (CDT)

  12. I think that magic is very much alive and kicking, it’s TV magic that is well and truly dead. People like Criss Angel and shows like Phenomenon really do not represent where magic is at these days. Magic needs television like a fish needs a bicycle.
    Stephen, please don’t believe everything you see on TV, acts like the publicity seeking narcissist who calls himself Criss Angel are really not where it’s at. You just need to see a good performer and magic will light up your life once again.
    To compare TV magic to the magic that is entertaining people in the real world is like comparing porn to lovemaking, there is no contest.

    Moggy | 2007-11-17 - 04:49:30 PM (CDT)

  13. Criss doesn’t pretend that everything he does is real. He tells you up front, half of what he does IS an illusion. I don;t know him personally, but I do know people who know him and who have witnessed his feats of magic in person.

    What you see is what you get with him,(just as he would say to you if you were to ask him). Criss has brought magic into the new generation, and I will always be Loyal to him. Nothing anyone can say about him, whether it be about him being a fake or whatever, would change my mind either.

    Sure everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but unless you have witnessed him live, and seen something that proved he was a fake....don’t judge or debunk him (or any other magician in that case).

    A True Loyal To Criss Angel | 2007-11-17 - 10:15:59 PM (CDT)

  14. being a mentalist, theres nothing on phenomenon yet that i have seen that requires any paid actors at all. Thats not to say pre-show work may or may not have taken place. Most of phenomenon is average/slightly above average mentalism material. I still like watching it. As for your magician in the park being picked on by kids, he seriously needs audience management skills. Most likely one of the terrible magicians which have spawned since criss angel appeared on tv.

    Well the use of stooges, i dunno. I dont agree or disagree with the use of them, for me theres no point in doing magic if u dont have a audience. However Criss does have a audience, its the TV audience as opposed to the spectator. The spectator is not the audience hence the use of stooges is valid? i dunno...

    a mentalist | 2007-11-18 - 06:01:22 AM (CDT)

  15. Criss Angel is a magician...as much as i am a scholar...he plays one on television, and i am currently playing one in school. You want to see real magic, watch Gallager make applesauce in a fraction of a second. Now that’s magic.

    Brotherman | 2007-11-18 - 02:51:52 PM (CDT)

  16. You should try to catch David Williamson, Bill Herz, Mac King, Bill Malone, Lennert Green, Rick Merrill, Mike Caveney, Tina Lennert, Juan Tamariz, Luis de Matos, Chris Power, Guy Hollingworth, John Carney, Dave Brown etc, etc, etc... Five minutes watching any of the above and you might change your mind. Get off your sofa, you won’t find the magic in the world in that rectangular box in the corner of your room.

    JJ (Jay Jason) | 2007-11-19 - 12:05:34 PM (CDT)

  17. Derren Brown anyone?

    Lodious | 2007-11-21 - 05:17:54 PM (CDT)

  18. Hey Stephen, I know why you don’t believe in magic. It’s because when you bend over in the mens room you know where all those "magic wands" are really disappearing to! It’s no doubt not the same type of "knob" you really like but your TV does have one. Change the channel Jakass! Or better yet ask your husband to do it.

    zodiac | 2007-12-07 - 09:12:18 AM (CDT)

  19. Maybe you’re just depressed due to menopause Stephine. Ask ask your Gynaecologist to check your hormone levels. Most likely a little estrogen will snap you right out of it.

    Doogie Howser, M.D. | 2007-12-07 - 09:34:33 AM (CDT)

  20. Wtf at those last two comments. High school insults.

    Idiots | 2007-12-07 - 04:57:20 PM (CDT)

  21. if you want real wow magic you have got to see paranormalist ken meaux of louisiana, nuff said.

    charlie nobles | 2008-03-24 - 01:48:50 PM (CDT)

  22. I have seen him on tv, he was a magician ventriloquist and is now a horror show host as one of the last spookshow magicians, he does amazing mentalism type stuff in person, not on tv

    bernie s. | 2008-03-24 - 01:52:21 PM (CDT)

  23. I had to search a while to find out who the hell is this so called "ken meaux" , well lo and behold , he is an obscure tv horror show host, and some say he is a magician with an alligator puppet performing under another ’title’ like boudin-i like the cajun sausage and houdini sound alike. One more thing, I heard he is a practicing psychic, is that the same as your ’mentalism?’

    Charlie Nobles | 2008-04-07 - 01:52:53 PM (CDT)

  24. you are not right . i know some people triy to do magic and cant . but criss angel is not that kind of porson he triys to do better then he has ever don oll the time and he always dose. we oll love criss angel . expacoley me.

    leanna nicole terry | 2008-05-01 - 03:08:40 PM (CDT)

  25. you are not right about this you only shay that becouse you loved magic and somewone did not know how to do magice and tride it did not work do you think that criss angel whoud have went this fare in this if he wose not a real mugishon . yes some things arnt oll real he well evon tell you that we oll love Criss Angel. espasoley me so stop being like that you are only makeing you feel wors and olso making other people lousing ther deam . he is a good person for you to look up to. olwas triying to make live fun. and make you wonder how we love criss angel !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love you criss.

    leanna nicole terry | 2008-05-01 - 03:22:48 PM (CDT)

  26. Give me a break! You watch the "so called" madren day fakes? Find someone who does real magic! ANY magic you see on tv is fake. LIVE WITH IT! Go to the real world and see people steal knowladge or something!

    You really think I’m putting my name here?! | 2008-07-14 - 11:43:25 PM (CDT)

  27. ken meaux has resumed readings

    ken meaux | 2008-12-05 - 01:30:04 PM (CDT)
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