I just wanted to let everyone know that I sat through a full double episode (one hour) of Criss Angel-Mind Freak tonight. After all of the hype, talk, and everything else, I finally caught it just as it was about to come on; so I got comfortable and hoped for the best. Now, everything to do with Houdini's grave aside (because we all know how I feel about that little stunt), I am going to be brutally honest here....are you ready? Here it goes: I really thought that it was going to be a lot better than it was. The people who were talking smack about this show were not exagerating...in fact, it was much worse than the posts described.

Needless to say, I was not impressed. As a matter of fact, I almost had to watch a David Blaine special to get the "taste out of my mouth", (so to speak). I really thought that I would at least like him better than Blain but, this was NOT the case.

There was some talk from one of Criss's people about Criss having "powers"...now, we all know that this is not true or he would be on James Randi's door step to collect the $1,000,000.00 prize that his founation offers to anyone who can prove that they have "powers".....(you know, the same $1,000,000.00 that John Edwards doesn't "need"). LOL! But, if Criss TRULY has these "powers", then I would like to have him use these "powers" to return to me the hour of my life that I wasted by watching his show. I know now that I will never get that hour of my life back, and I have to accept it and get back on with my life.

One cool thing did happen while I was watching this show...they showed that "Poser Mobile" commercial during the break and I had a good laugh!

Mike

The quote was along the lines of "Does Criss Angel have powers, he may have powers but he does not have Psychic Powers,"

I know, I spoke them. Powers to entertain, powers to bring ratings up for A&E, powers of observation, yes, but please do not put words in my mouth, I would never, ever imply he or anyone I know has psychic powers. Please pay attention to what is said, and not what you want to hear for your own agenda and please do not take my words out of context.

Respectfully

I watched the episode last night and heard Banachek's comment. I was impressed with his comment at the time. I understood the context because I have read other posts and comments by Banachek here. Though, it is interesting what people think they hear!

Folks, we seem to be very critical of other magicians.

I saw a show that seemed designed to get the average person talking about magic. I saw a show that would leave people puzzled, perplexed, maybe intimidated.
I saw a show that would appeal to a wide audience.
I saw a show designed for television.

Plus I saw great friendships and camaraderie between a variety of magicians. I saw magicians helping magicians.

Hats off to those involved. Magic is in the air! Let's seize the opportunity to spread our own magic and entertainment.

Cheers - El Lamo

I thought Banachek's comment was very clever, since I immediately understood what he meant. I enjoyed the episode.

I'm going to say the same thing here that I have said about David Blaine. You don't have to like Criss Angel to enjoy the benefits he brings to magic and magicians. You may or may not like his style. This forum is a good place to discuss that. But when you get out into the world of the Muggles, don't knock him. He is making people aware of magic again. That's a good thing.

That's a real good thing. Anybody that benefits magic in the eyes of the audience gets my vote, too. And I never speak poorly of them to others. Speaking poorly of them...that doesn't benefit magic. I like them both.

I wonder how he is affecting business at magic shops? Back when "The Magician" staring Bill Bixby was on as a weekly series, I noticed our local shop was wall to wall people the following saturday morning as people clamoured to learn magic or maybe buy something they had seen that week.

Of course that was a kinder and gentler time when your choice of television stations was about five and the internet was just a bunch of university geeks talking to one another.

Frank Tougas

Dude(s), the shows ben going great, but the sports like commentary is the one thing I have a problem with.

It's awesome seeing Luke and Banachek on tv, but the some times lack of editing skills on A & E's part is creepy at best.

Examples:
Yes Criss has a sensitivity that he never knew he had.
I know he can escape. I'm sure of it.

Top notch effects. Especially liked seeing a variant of Luke's psychological poker which he showed me probably a week before filming. And the magic is astonishing.

I do believe that they need a new director and editor.

I wish he would do more magic, I stay up late to watch 1 or 2 tricks???
Does anybody know how the ratings are, is it only magicians watching?
And I do agree , like him or not he's helping magic.

I must admit that Criss Angel's program isn't my style...but I admire his dedication to the art, his originality, his professionalism and his success...which came about through very hard work and a very unique vision. David Blaine isn't my cup o' tea, either...but, the man rocks his target audiences. How can you argue with that? Would I be excited about meeting either in person? Probably not...but, this in no way diminishes my admiration for their individual accomplishments.

My opinion: It's a little crass and immature to trash someone who is appearing regularly on national television while our accomplishments are limited to hometown or living room appearances.

By the by, I've read several of Criss' interviews. He seems like a very intelligent, open and likable person...a good guy. I applaud that image above all else.

Skip

I still as yet don't have to worry at all about this cause I've yet to encounter anyone who has even heard about this guy, let alone see one of his shows.
Have they spent any money on advertising?

No one even mentions his shows at our magic club.

Dear Mr. Banachek,

That is a very fine spin; but your fellow "psychic entertainers", and I am sure you yourself, know exactly how that line will be taken by the intended audience. If you are honest, you know that is why it was selected.

After all, as I have questioned them about before, why is it important to swear not to tell that none of you have powers (of a psychic nature) to join the PEA?

During the show, pretend to be as you wish. When the show is over it is time for pretense to end.

Unless the show is not the point....

Banachek, you know very well what was intened by the "powers" comment. You are not dealing with a layperson or an idiot here, so please do not insult my intelligence. I have been a performer for over 13 years and you are not going to pull the ol' "jedi mind trick" on me.

I have heard people who claim that Blain has sold his soul to the Devil in exchange for his "powers" and it is obvious that you guys are trying to give Criss that same image. Well, in case you didn't know....David didn't sell his soul to be able to do that stupid 3" levitation. After all, why sell your soul when you can buy the trick for $29.95 (plus shipping) at any on-line magic shop? Besides, my Dad didn't want his soul anyway. LOL!

I am well aware of how people in this racket #1, play on words, #2, don't give ALL of the info up front, and #3, just plain out-n-out lie. For example, when David Copperfield has a policeman search him before one of his "escapes", he will bring this guy out and ask him, (David)"Did you search me?" (cop)"Yep." (David)"Did you find anything unusual?" (cop)"Nope." (David)"Thank you." Now, was this line of questioning fair and honest? What was implied with the questions? Was there any vital info purposly left out? Well, let's find out.

Was David searched?....yep. Did the cop find anything unusual? Ah-ha! Define unusual.....Hmmmm, would it be unusual for someone who is about to perform an escape from handcuffs and a safe, that has the door chained and padlocked shut, to have a handcuff key, padlock key, lock picks (although David probably doesn't know a tension wrench from a tension headache *LOL!*) and whatever else it might take to escape from this situation? I think that finding these tools would not be in the least bit unusual. So, did he find anything unusual? Nope.....(well, technicaly). Question: What was the immpression David was trying to give? Answer: He was trying to give the audience the immpression that he had nothing with him except the clothes on his back. Did he leave out any important info? Yep, he left out a lot of stuff. You are not stupid, you know exactly what went on here.....he implied something that was meant to be taken one way, but if he was called out, he could try to play the lawyer game, "Well, technicaly that's not exactly what was said." Leave the double talk for the lawyers and used car salesmen. I would almost have more respect for you guys if you took the "option #3" and just out-n-out lied to everyone and said, "Yes, he does have powers!" And then you could have blown it off here by saying, "Yeah, we said it! So what?!! It was all a ploy to sell the show!"

I am not a child....don't try to play me for one. I understand that you work for this guy and you have to defend him and the show. I really do understand that. However, if Criss dropped you told you that he didn't need you anymore, then you would be right here backing me up with an "Amen!" after every post that I make about him. The show is not very good, that is a fact. It is not just that I don't like Criss himself; who knows, he might be a terrific guy outside of TV and he and I might become best of friends with him if we were ever to meet (who knows?). Also, it's not that I am still mad about the HOUDINI grave stunt he pulled either. The fact of the matter is: The show stinks!.....that was the general point of this post in the first place! I could argue the "play on words" thing all day long, but I would just end up wasting more of my time in the same fashion that I did last night, when I watched the show.

Mike

Ah, shoot. Banachek, looks like I'm getting fired off the show. Clearly I have no idea what I'm doing. Been nice working with you. Think I'll go jump off a bridge. Sigh.

:: Sits on sidewalk with tin cup and dark sunglasses ::

For someone who's been doing magic for 13 years you do not sound very professional.

I've seen a little advertising, but not much. Since he hasn't been on "real" television, just the cable network, he isn't drawing much attention. He is keeping a lot of people working, though.


Posted: Sep 10, 2005 1:51am
-----------------------------------------------
Mark:

You are making assumptions about Banachek that are not necessarily true. I won't elaborate.

Michael:

You should have a better understanding of theatre than that. Magic is theatre, pure and simple.

How would you feel if you were attending a performance of Hamlet, and the lead actor came out and said "Hello, ladies and gentlemen, my name is Richard Burton. Well, it's not actually Richard Burton, it's a Welsh name that most of you probably couldn't pronounce, so I changed it. Anyway, tonight's presentation is Shakespeare's Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Actually, Shakespeare didn't come up with the original story. He pinched it. But he did a fine job of writing some excellent lines.

"Now, this really isn't Denmark. And this stage set is not really a castle. It's not even stone. It's painted timber. In fact, this wall is actually canvas. Look. See how it wiggles when I touch it? The tech crew did a really nice job of painting this stuff up.

"I hope you enjoy the play."

Regarding the second line first, you clearly don't understand fact from opinion. If you're going to go after Banachek for "play on word naughtiness" then at least live up to your own standards. You don't like the show. Fine. You hate the show. Fine. You think the show stinks. Fine. Calling your opinions facts, on the other hand, is just a brash display of egotism, not to mention an incorrect use of the word "fact."

As for the first sentence... What the heck is wrong with you??! Here, I'll use your technique and make a pretend Copperfield show that should satisfy your bizarre needs for entertainment.

David Copperfield: Did you search me?
Cop: Yeah.
DC: Find anything unsuual?
Cop: Yeah. A key and a lockpick set.
DC: How right you are. Now pretend to lock me in and I'll go through the motions of an escape. The audience will be enthralled.

I'll also change the patter of my next card trick. "Now, after all that shuffling, I still know exactly where your card is. In fact, I palmed it off 5 minutes ago and it's sitting in my pocket, ready to produce at a moment's notice."

I honestly could care less whether you like the show or not, you are entitled to your opinion. Now, when you can prove to me that the TV shows you make are better than what you see out there, then I'll actually take your criticisms seriously.

Sigh. Why do I waste my typing.

Michael

You really sound very unproffessional, 13 years, you would think you would know that magic is all about illusion.
It appears as if you are dying to bash people for being good at what they do.
As a mentalist, play on words is a key part. As a magician you should be appreciating the thinking that has gone into these kinds of lines for the audiences benefit.

Steve Dela

Michael, one last time then I quit as I have better things to do, how clearer can one be when one says "Criss Angel does not have psychic powers." How clearer can one be when you hear my voice say and see me say on the show "I have never found anyone who has psychic powers." How clearer can it be when Criss on his own show states "I do not have psychic powers."

You obviously do not know my history. And obviously do not know my stance on things Psychic. I get into a lot of trouble in my business by friends and others because I use a heavy disclaimer in my shows and go out of my way to inform my audiences I am not psychic. During my show and not only before and after as someone else stated. There are many differening opinions within the PEA and that is as it should be, we all get along (Most of the time) for the betterment of our art, and to do so we try to understand each other and our stances. That does not mean to say we agree but we have respect for each other.

And come on, I don't have to defend Criss at all. He happens to be a friend as a result of who he is as person but I am not one to have blinded loyalty to anyone. I am hired for my expertise, not my loyalty to anyone to state otherwise is an insult.

However, I do not want to go down the track of defending myself. I do not have to. I just wanted to clear up your misstatement about what was said on the show as those who have not seen it would take your words to be as you stated them and not in the "out of context" arena they should be placed in. And not the "play on words" you chose to use if anyone is playing that game. I originally chose to believe you missed the actual verbage and only heard part of it and not the statement that "Criss does not have psychic powers." My mistake.

Banachek, I sent you a PM. Mike