I've liked this series from the beginning, and now that it is on re-runs at the time of writing, what better a chance to reminisce of these more than a decade old shows? First of all, Mitch Pileggi is hilarious as a completely straight-faced narrator, who, in all shows, keeps spouting out slimy, sexist comments on the Masked Magician's lady assistants. This is funny because he's only voicing out aloud the thoughts of the male audience, preventing them from concentrating on spotting the ways the tricks are made. I guess the magicians then are almost always handsome men to distract the women in the audience.
Okay, this show is good, because it reveals the myriad ways illusions are achieved: sleight of hand, innovative gadgets, and most importantly, lots and lots and lots of demanding practice to be able to pull of the tricks that require timing and flexibility. You *really* have to respect the amount of work that goes into the complex illusions. And you really have to hit yourself on the forehead and shout "D'oh!" when you can't believe how simple some of the tricks really are and you haven't figured them out. BUT the reveal of the final trick is the best of all, because it reveals that the practitioners of such "tricks" are only charlatans. Any trick where the audience is all the magician's assistants or can only be performed on TV, is a CHEAT and shames the whole craft. Performers of cheat tricks should be put inside a barrel and promptly dropped into the Niagara. There is a certain "illusionist" who has an episode of "Supernatural" with title that includes his name. I couldn't put it better than that title.
Okay, this show is good, because it reveals the myriad ways illusions are achieved: sleight of hand, innovative gadgets, and most importantly, lots and lots and lots of demanding practice to be able to pull of the tricks that require timing and flexibility. You *really* have to respect the amount of work that goes into the complex illusions. And you really have to hit yourself on the forehead and shout "D'oh!" when you can't believe how simple some of the tricks really are and you haven't figured them out. BUT the reveal of the final trick is the best of all, because it reveals that the practitioners of such "tricks" are only charlatans. Any trick where the audience is all the magician's assistants or can only be performed on TV, is a CHEAT and shames the whole craft. Performers of cheat tricks should be put inside a barrel and promptly dropped into the Niagara. There is a certain "illusionist" who has an episode of "Supernatural" with title that includes his name. I couldn't put it better than that title.
