An Interview with Criss Angel’s Beard
February 22, 2008
“I don’t care about what I look like at this point.”
“I didn’t get into this art form for money.”
“I don’t care whether I drive a Hyundai with 200,000 miles on it…”
These fascinating facts and more are revealed in a recent interview Criss Angel’s beard had with Robin Leach on his blog Vegas Luxe Life.
Another Angel Record Broken
February 15, 2008
Criss Angel is having a hard time keeping his world records from being broken. Another record of his was just broken - escaping from a straitjacket upside-down. However this time the record was broken by a 17 year-old kid.
According to The Seattle Times, Alan Smola (pictured here with Angel) escaped last Friday from a straitjacket in less than two minutes. By completing his dangerous stunt in about 1 minute and 50 seconds, he broke the record of 2 minutes and 3 seconds set by Criss Angel on the “Oprah” show May 7. Suspended upside down 15 feet in the air at the Mattawan (Mich.) High School gymnasium and shackled in chains by his ankles. Congratulations Alan!
Houdini performed the escape in about 5 minutes.
It’s important to note that escaping from a straitjacket is actually not very difficult and doing it upside-down makes the escape even easier. The most difficult part is making it look difficult. Houdini was a master showman and he was able to keep audiences in suspense for a long period of time. Houdini could escape very quickly, but chose to draw out the escape in order to build suspense.
We have faith that Angel can bounce back from this one and show that kid how the big boys do it.
Here’s an old clip of the real master.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITmfDmDLXQY[/youtube]
Showing up Houdini - not cool. Showing up Criss Angel - VERY COOL!
Criss Angel Spoofs David Blaine
February 14, 2008
This is a very funny video of Criss Angel impersonating David Blaine. Not quite as funny as the Blaine parodies (“What the eff David Blaine?”), but Angel nails it!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBkKCdvviK0[/youtube]
Celebracadabra & Magic On TV
February 4, 2008
While we do poke fun at Criss Angel a lot here, we have to ask how much impact his magic is having on the public perception of magic. While this isn’t a Criss bashing post (although some of you will see it as that) defenders of Angel will brag that Criss is responsible for making magic popular again.
Magic IS popular right now, but maybe not in a way you would think. Currently there are several national TV commercials running that use magic as a theme to promote the product. These include Ditech, Robatussin, Icy Hot, McDonald’s chicken nuggets and finally the Houdini corkscrew.
Where the argument of Angel’s influence in magic popularity comes into play is that all of these commercials portray the stereo-type magician and not a hipper “anti-magician” like Angel portrays himself. Angel appeals to a mostly younger demographic, and with the exception of McDonald’s, the other products wouldn’t appeal to a younger demographic.
So an argument could be made that Angel is responsible for making magic popular with a younger demographic and not the population in general.
You really have to give credit to both Angel & David Blaine because they have a harder time than either Doug Henning or David Copperfield in breaking through and staying out there. 30+ years ago when both of these guys were starting to gain popularity on TV there were only 3 networks, PBS and some local UHF stations. Cable TV was in it’s infancy and hardly anyone had it, so it was easier to get the public’s attention. Also, the concept of trick photography was different then than it is now where CGI is a factor.
Celebracadabra capitalizes on magic’s popularity by finding a niche audience (as Angel does) who likes magic, are a fan of a particular celebrity & will cheer them on through the competition and those who are looking for something unique in a reality/competition format.
With Phenomenon we learned a couple of things - Criss Angel can’t share the spotlight and needed to “one-up” all the contestants and the general public doesn’t want to watch an hour of “serious drama” magic routines. Mike Super had something the most of the others didn’t - an engaging personality who people could connect with and an Ellusionist 1800 Vintage Deck!
Fortunately Criss isn’t involved with Celebracadabra and the performers are not magicians, so they are bringing their own engaging personalities to the effects thereby creating an entertaining atmosphere. The general viewers of the show will come away with a higher regard for magic because they will have been entertained and the clever magicians will come away with some lessons in showmanship.
MimeFreak! MimeFreak!
February 2, 2008
Are you ready?
MimeFreak answers the question - “What if Criss Angel was inspired by Shields & Yarnell, instead of Doug Henning?”
Forget the parody - this is how some of us REALLY see Criss Angel.
Below is the first episode. Be sure to check out the other episodes of MimeFreak.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RL3dN4sXJfU[/youtube]
Finally - A Reason To Watch MindFreak…
February 1, 2008
And it ain’t Criss Angel.
Helen Salas (second from the right), former Miss Nevada USA, is one of the finalists in the Miss LAX contest. LAX, a nightclub in The Luxor Hotel, is one of Criss Angel’s haunts (hint - look for him there on Saturdays).
The weekly LAX bikini contest will eventually lead to one winner who will be announced in March
Salas is now one of the finalists, with the winner landing a grand prize of $50,000 and an appearance on illusionist Criss Angel’s TV show, “Mindfreak.”
Avast, ye maties - It’s MindFreak Monday
January 28, 2008
Ahoy, mindfreak magician Criss Angel kept mum about the two band-aids he had on the side o’ his now-bearded face when he hit the new Cathouse restaurant and loungerie at the Luxor. E’en the Coquette dancers couldn’t pry the secret from him as t’ if it was a stunt gone wrong, an accident, or gi’in’ up on the first attempt t’ sha’e off the beard, shiver me timbers!
Criss’ stylist has watched Pirates of the Caribbean one to many times. Criss, Cap’n Jack Sparrow called, he wants his pirate style back.
Can Criss Angel Go Old School?
January 24, 2008
Has Criss Angel set magic on television back 48 years?
In a recent newspaper interview in the Fresno Bee, pioneering illusionist Mark Wilson stated some strong comments about the current state of magic on television. In 1960, Mark Wilson had a challenge - to get a sponsored magic show on television. All the naysayers told him early on that magic would not work on television because the viewers would think it was TV trickery behind the illusions.
Wilson commented about Criss Angel, “He violates all the rules. Speaking as a professional magician, I will tell you that you cannot levitate from the top of one building to another without using television tricks. My fear is that using these kind of tricks will make it like before I began and people will start thinking that true magic can’t work on television,”
Angel has always denied the accusations of camera tricks and has said that every illusion can be duplicated in a live show.
Back in 1960, when Mark Wilson first started doing magic on TV, the show went out live. In the 70’s Doug Henning’s 1 hour magic specials went out live. How ’bout it Criss? Why not 1 half hour MindFreak done under these conditions:
1) The show goes on the air live
2) Shoot live in front of a studio audience
3) No trick photography or editing and preferably done in a single shot
4) No magic tricks that cannot be performed in a live situation
5) No stooges
It hasn’t been done in 30 years. It would be ground-breaking. It probably can’t be done by Criss Angel.
Criss Angel In Denial?
January 22, 2008
TheGauntlet.com is reporting that on Criss Angel’s official message board any mention of Matt Zane’s record-breaking suspension, the suspension that broke Criss Angel’s record, is deleted within minutes of posting.
“It doesn’t surprise me.” Says Zane “Not only did I outlast him in terms of length, I did it with only 4 hooks instead of 8. A lot of his fans wrote me and said it was impossible and there was no way I could last 6 hours. Well I did and now his fans have to admit that Criss isn’t number one concerning one of his stunts. That generated a lot of speculation on his site to whether or not Criss would try to beat me. I don’t think he is up for it and I believe he just wants this whole thing to go away.”
T-shirts can now be purchased which feature Zane suspending that read “Angel Killer” at http://www.zazzle.com/society1/products
Criss Angel - Homeless Chic
January 16, 2008
As we previously wrote, Criss Angel told the LA Times ““I don’t have time to shave. I’ve been really intensely training on my close-up stuff like cards and different effects.” No time to shave, however he does find time to go out clubbing at LAX and as shown in this photo from the other night, at The Cathouse, an erotic & exotic brothel-themed restaurant and ultra-lounge at The Luxor.
You can insert your own jokes if you’d like.
