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[Chris Lockwood]

A few years ago there was a series of TV specials in which a masked magician did various illusions, then showed how each one was done. This really angered the other magicians, or at least that was the story the public was told.

Now he's back. There's a weekly series on Monday nights with the same format and magician (I think) as before. It's on a pseudo-network called MyTV. It's called "Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed."

I find it interesting to guess how things are done and see how close I was, and even knowing how something is done, it can still be enjoyable to watch, since timing and showmanship and other things are still needed to make things work.

It was funny how the narrator hinted whose illusion they were doing- for one of them he kept saying how "freaky" it was or how "freaked out" you will be, which must be a reference to Criss Angel's Mindfreak.

I'm curious if the magic community is really upset about this or if that's just part of the hype. Some of the illusions have been around for many years and aren't hard to figure out or at least look up online or in books... so it seems to me that it's not that big a deal, since people who don't want to know don't have to watch, plus the better magicians are inventing their own illusions. But then I'm not a magician so these secrets being revealed don't hurt me.

I'd love to hear Tony Blake's opinion on this.

[Lisa Preston]

Magic and illusion has been around longer than anything. It holds it's appeal BECAUSE of it's mysterious ways. People love to see what appears to be impossible.

I think it's sad that someone wants to reverse-engineer an illusion only to expose it. Sure, it's interesting for a minute, but the magic is gone.

I'd hate it if someone put a show on Kid TV showing Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny as fakes to 5 year olds. Seems sorta similar to me.

[Chris Lockwood]

I'd hate it if someone put a show on Kid TV showing Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny as fakes to 5 year olds. Seems sorta similar to me.

But with magic, we know it's a trick. You know the saw didn't really go through the girl, even if you can't figure out exactly how it was done... it sounds like you would be someone who shouldn't watch the show since you wouldn't want to know.

Is a TV show like that really much different from a book that explains the same things?

That's a lot different from Santa.

[Lisa Preston]

I equate the guy doing the show as the 12 year old jerk of a big brother who wants to "destroy the illusion" just for the fun of it for his 5 year old little sister.

Now, I obviously don't believe in Santa any longer, but I remember the regret when I learned the truth. I remember WANTING to know the truth too, but was sad when the curtain was drawn back on the magic.

I can't imagine that people like Criss Angel would be thrilled by having their illusions "outed" - and I'd be surprised if some of the original ones aren't protected in some way. Tony might have a better insight there.

All in all, you're right - I wouldn't watch. I love magic.

[Joreymay]

Now he's back. There's a weekly series on Monday nights with the same format and magician (I think) as before. It's on a pseudo-network called MyTV. It's called "Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed."

Actually, the ones I have seen were just reruns of the earlier shows. And reruns of the reruns. That was the original name of the series.

There are some good things to be said for making some of the mechanics and principals better known. It does tend to foster innovation (to an extent). It also exposes new and potentially creative minds to the state of the art of a new venue (to them) for creativity.

Most magic is 80% showmanship and theater, 10% skill, and 10% mechanics. The showmanship was always there, out in the open. And just like artistry in copywriting and the like, it is easier to understand (superficially) than to perform. The skill is like any other skill - you work like hell to learn it, then practice continuously to perfect it. Without those elements, the mechanics (the only part the show really "revealed") are pretty much worthless. With those elements, the most simple and (in retrospect) obvious mechanics become magical. Even when you know for an absolute certainty how the trick is done, you can get enjoyably lost in the show and willingly suspend your disbelief - and knowledge - in service of that enjoyment.

I have seen some of the best do tricks that are spelled out in popular press "magic for beginners" books, and make them wonders. And I have seen some hacks reduce the most elegant mechanics to the excitement of a Ben Stein character's lecture.

Jorey
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[Chris Lockwood]

According to imdb, TV Guide, and the magazine ad for the show, these are new episodes:

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Inside-Magic-Biggest-19458.aspx?rss=keywords&partnerid=imdb&profileid=01

[Joreymay]

According to imdb, TV Guide, and the magazine ad for the show, these are new episodes:

Look again. IMDB dates the series to 1997. It was originally done for Fox network. Val Valentino (born Leonard Monatono) revealed his identity in the final episode of the show, but it was fairly widely known by the third episode. In response, much of the Magic community said "Who?" There would be no point in any subsequent season of the show to have him masked. He did retain the "Masked Magician" persona for his international tour, where he gained some popularity in Brazil and Japan. Unlike the stint on US TV, his appearences in Brazil and Japan spawned a popular range of merchandizing - from masks to magic kits.

The show is "new" to that station, and episodes that hadn't been aired there are called "new" on that basis. But the show, and the individual episodes of the show, are more than a decade old.

Jorey
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[Tony Blake]

Because I'm a magician/mentalist I won't comment on the new shows... let's just say that those of us in the magic community are not exactly ecstatic over this series... luckily what I do and how I do it won't be revealed... most professionals, unless they're doing "BIG" shows won't be hurt in the long run...

As for this series of show... Jorey, hate to tell you this, THESE ARE ALL NEW EPISODES... I know people that are involved in the current production of this series and they are still in production (although how long it will last we don't know as the ratings are dismal) -- these are NOT old episodes that were in the can...

Quick clue on why these are new episodes: a recent show focused on the magic and how-to of Criss Angel... Criss was not known 10 years ago, he has only been popular on a "mass" basis for only past 3 or so years... the exposures on the "Masked Magician" show were based on Criss' "Mindfreak" show on A&E which started 3 years ago and is currently on season 4...

Yes, there were several one-off 1-hour specials on Fox years ago, starring Val Valentino as the "Masked Magician" (I know Val, not a nice guy)... the current show are 13 NEW episodes specifically made for the MyNetworkTV network (which is owned by Fox)... they are produced by Valentino but he is not the current "Masked Magician"... assisting the exposer are a couple of current WWE Diva's Maria Kanellis and Eve Torres (WWE is another series that runs on MyNetworkTV)...

From the Wikipedia entry for "Breaking The Magicians Code":

"MyNetworkTV obtained the rights to air thirteen NEW specials in the US during fall of 2008. The new specials will have all new illusions never before shown in any of the other specials. The first episode aired on October 2nd. Subsequent episodes are scheduled every Monday after that. WWE Divas Maria Kanellis and Eve Torres appeared in the first episode." (emphasis mine)

Jorey, the reason you didn't see the CORRECT IMDB is because the name of the new series is: "Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed" -- click HERE to see the new IMDB entry for the series with details on who is involved (and all shows/named listed show 2008 as the production date)

Now... here is a "Masked Magician" spoof done by a friend, David Kay (Silly Billy) which I know you'll enjoy:

Success!!!

Tony Blake
The Masked Marketing Mindreader™
New Media/Content2.0™ Maven
Õ¿Õ¬

[Joreymay]

Then I stand corrected. All I know is that the one episode (supposedly) of that series that I saw on MYTV was a match for at least part of my tape of the third of the specials (I didn't compare the entire show). With one exception the old and the new were both called "Magic's Biggest Secrets Finally Revealed". In fact, the second of the newer series was called #5 of those specials. The first (the exception I mentioned) was "Secrets of Street Magicians Finally Revealed" - which, I understand (I haven't seen it) was the one with the Criss Angel bits. I did not think it was part of the MBSFR series.

Relevant to the original post, Val Valentino is not "back" as the Masked Magician. Fox wants nothing to do with him (and mutual acquaintances verify your description of him), and various sources verify that he is not involved in any specials beyond the first four.

Jorey
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[Tony Blake]

Jorey...

Actually Val Valentino is credited as the producer of episode #1... will he be back? Yes, later in the series he does make a return... how do I know this? Simple... I have an EXTREMELY close family member that is one of the producers on the show (against all my protestations)... I remember Val back when he did a dove & duck show appearing as an entré act at my late friend Jamal's "Body Shop", a strip club on Sunset Blvd. (this was before the current full-nude gynecological performances - back when strippers had an act, costumes and it was more burlesque than in-your-face gyrations)...

I haven't seen a single episode of the new series... have no interest (or time)... thank goodness I'm a mentalist/mindreader with a unique act, style and methodology... even with the exposure I still "kill," stun and amaze on stage...

Dr. Fez lives... 

Success!!!

Tony Blake
The Absolutely Mental Marketing Mindreader™
New Media/Content2.0™ Maven
Õ¿Õ¬

[Chris Lockwood]

Relevant to the original post, Val Valentino is not "back" as the Masked Magician. Fox wants nothing to do with him (and mutual acquaintances verify your description of him), and various sources verify that he is not involved in any specials beyond the first four.

I didn't mention any names- I said "masked magician". It's hard to tell if it's the same guy from before since... (wait for it) he's wearing a mask to conceal his identity!

It doesn't really matter who it is, as long as he can perform the illusions.

[Joreymay]

Actually Val Valentino is credited as the producer of episode #1... will he be back? Yes, later in the series he does make a return... how do I know this? Simple... I have an EXTREMELY close family member that is one of the producers on the show (against all my protestations)...

That puts your source closer to the member of my family who is one of my sources. Let's just say he works with his hands rather than shuffling paper. However, according to him (and his sources), that was Valentino's pound of flesh - he (arguably) holds key trademarks (US and international), and could have tied Fox up in court for years. They did not part on good terms after the fourth special.

I should have talked to him before posting to this thread the second time.

But all this is off the original topic. The specials are what they are. One can choose to see them as positive, negative, neither, or both. There is a hunger for "behind the scenes" and "how it works" entertainments, and (just like us) the marketing oriented decision makers at places like Fox will fill what they see as markets and capitalize on the eyeballs. There is no secret concerning what the specials are about, and people can choose to watch them or not based on that knowledge.

Jorey
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[Joetrevison]

He can't expose them all. There are many different ways of doing tricks.. The same trick differents ways. I know I once was a magician. Now it all marketing