Original subtitles

Illusion, the art of tricking the brain, distorting the senses, challenging

perception. You can't trust what you see, even with your own eyes. Meet the

Masters of Illusion.

Hello everybody, I'm Dean Cain and welcome to Masters of Illusion.

Now it's interesting how the mind interprets what it sees.

and only accepts what it believes.

So what happens when you see something that your mind is convinced cannot be

possible?

Are you ready to find out?

Okay.

One of the most famous photos of this generation was taken by an astronaut on

mission to the moon. It was called Earth Rising.

This is not it.

A closer look here reveals that this is a mosaic of many NASA photographs.

True magic is the sum of many parts.

Our illusionist tonight will challenge you to see the whole picture.

No one has ever said that the art of magic is evil.

As a matter of fact, our next magician believes it is quite the contrary, and

doesn't mind telling us just how difficult it can be.

Here is the always entertaining...

Nathan Pham.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you very much.

I'm going to let you in on a little tiny secret. It may not be that much of a

secret, but magic is hard.

So I decided to write a song about magic and how hard it is.

I'm realizing this would be easier with a pick. Hold on a second.

There we go.

Thank you.

Magic is hard. Magic is hard.

Magic is hard.

Magic is hard. Magic is hard. Magic is hard.

Thank you. There is more.

You spend all those years as an outcast and a loner. You strike out by yourself

as a small business owner. The tricks on top of your sleeve, they're sat on a

shelf, and as they gather dust, you must believe in yourself. It's the tricky

position, being a magician. You study just as long as a lawyer or physician,

there are no degrees from respected institutions.

For sleight of hand...

And big stage illusions, no, there is no Harvard or Juilliard. For training

doves and back palming cards, you want to get a credit on your CV.

You got to get your face up on the TV.

Get booked on a show like MOI. There's no camera tricks because we do it live.

No time for nerves or hand -wringing. And now you understand why I'm singing

that magic is hard. Magic is hard, yeah. Magic is hard.

Let me give you an example. I'm you sitting here in the front row. What's

name? Jessica.

It's lovely to meet you, Jessica.

Jessica, can you do me a favor and think of a number between

1 and 100? Yeah, Jessica, are you thinking of a number? Yes,

tell us all that number.

43. She's thinking of 43. Now, here's the deal. Before the show even

started, I wrote down a number and I...

Put it in an envelope, that envelope.

It's been sitting there this whole time. Would you all like to see what that

number is?

Magic is hard.

Thank you so much. I really appreciate that. And Jessica, as a little gesture

my appreciation, you get this very special ukulele pick.

It's very special. It's a limited edition ukulele pick. I'm serious. They

made 100 of them. Which one is that?

Limited edition, 43 of 100.

Sorry, did you say?

Can you hold that up? Can we get the camera? Show the camera. Show the

It says limited edition, 43 of 100.

Magic's still hot.

Our next performer is a young lady who distracts her subject with her

But beware, her magic is very deceiving.

Here is Ana de Guzman.

Sir, do you have your phone?

I do.

Can you take it out for us?

Check it out.

All right, this is your phone?

Perfect. Can you help me out, actually?

Can you unlock your phone for me, please?

I'm not looking. I'm not peeking. I have no spies.

Go ahead. You unlocked it?

Can you get into the calculator for us?

Sure, everybody?

Great.

Now hold it against your chest. Do you have a four or six digit passcode?

Hold it against yourself.

Make sure no one else is looking.

Four. Four is pretty easy.

Can you put in your birthday?

So mine's August 21st, so I would put in 821. So your birthday has a whole

number. Got it? Press the plus button once. Okay. And then add your four

path code.

Okay. When you're ready, equals it.

Does that number mean anything to you?

No. Are you sure?

Yeah. It could be like an address.

Yeah. Really? Yeah, actually, yeah. What address?

It's my uncle.

No way.

That's amazing.

Yeah.

Can you try to memorize that as best as possible? Even show it to someone else

to help you memorize it.

Okay. Clear it once.

Home button.

Can I see your phone?

Okay.

Let's see. How long do you think it'll take me to guess your path code?

Not that long.

Not that long. Okay.

Can you count up from zero to nine out loud, please?

One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight.

No. Sick?

The first number's sick?

It is.

Look again.

Can you count down for me, nine to zero?

Nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three.

Three? Yeah.

Second number's three?

Yeah.

Okay. Does anyone here know what your passcode is?

There's no way I can know what it is.

Can I see your finger? What finger do you use when you... This one?

You can actually match the track.

You see, like, where he normally presses it?

I think you'd go for another three.

Yeah.

And then a four, is that correct?

Yeah, it is.

Okay, we're going to lock the phone again.

You know when someone pinches you and leaves an indent on your hand?

Steve, you use the right or left thumb. Right.

Right? If you push your thumb up against someone else's, you could actually

transfer. their thumbprint just for a moment, and unlock their phone.

Next,

the amazing card wizardry of Richard Turner.

Our next performer is an inspiration

At age seven, he began losing his eyesight, but it never stopped him from

becoming one of the world's most skillful card technicians.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Richard Turner.

I want you to see I have a random deck of playing cards. We'll give it a

quick casino wash.

It really doesn't matter because what I'm going to do has no relevance to the

cards anyway.

What's your name? Shell. Okay, good.

I'm going to leave it face up. Pull out any random card.

Tell me when you have one.

I have one.

All right.

Hand me the card face up.

What's your card, Shell? Out loud.

Eight of hearts.

Watch the eight of hearts. You've got to understand what I do. I want the eight

of hearts. So what happens is I will deal cards around the table to the other

players. Only when I'm ready, I deal the eight of hearts.

Watch face up. Tell the card to sit there.

As the second card is dealt, we have to deal it as neatly and as if you're

dealing from the top.

And the first card dealt, not the eight of hearts.

Watch again. Watch again.

I'll deal it in slow motion.

Eight on top.

Super slow motion.

I hit the other players.

And only when I'm ready, I deal the eight of hearts.

Watch face up. See how the card stays as the second card is dealt.

Watch one -handed, one -handed. Now, when the eight is face down, when it's

down, you can't tell you've been swindled.

Isn't that fun?

That's called dealing with weapons.

Now, people think they can learn this in like five or ten easy years.

Not going to happen.

I've been working with cards.

I hate to admit this, but for over 58 years, I've made a living with cards

solely for over 40 years.

There was a period of time when I practiced 10 to 20 hours a day, seven

week, and I sustained that for 26 years straight.

And I'm going to show you what obsessive compulsive behavior can do for you too.

Michelle, do me a favor. Pick a number between 10 and 20 out loud.

15. 15. Watch. I'm going to try to cut with one hand 15 cards.

Can you count them out loud so everybody can hear? One, two.

3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10,

11, 12, 13, 14, 15.

Did we do a show?

We did it. We're on the road together.

Now that you understand what's happening, I'll do it again. Any number

But you don't want to say 52.

I hand them the deck and nobody cares.

Somebody in the audience, call out a number loud.

30 things.

36? I heard 36.

I heard that too. Okay, count them out loud, one on top of the other.

1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,

13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23,

24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36.

And we hope you all have fun, everybody. Thank you.

Here is a hilarious magician.

Just saying his name makes me laugh. I always look forward to his illusions

because I never know where he's going to take us.

So let's go on a ride with the very unpredictable Ed Alonzo.

Time for a card trick.

You love the card tricks, don't you? Now, these are bigger cards so that

everyone can see them in the theater.

But let's get someone up close to pick a card. All different cards.

I'm going to fan through the cards like this and then just reach in, touch

whatever card. This one here? Good. Take it out of there. Oh, you've got a

couple of them. Just take one.

Don't let me see it.

But hold it up so that all the people behind you can see that card. Perfect.

the people at home, put the card back into the deck wherever you like. There

go. Oh, nice. You just shoved it all the way in there. I'll never find it.

Okay, well, you pretty much ruined that one. I appreciate it.

You know, I wasn't intending on finding that card anyway.

Because I have something in this box.

that will locate the card in a strange way.

Inside is something very dangerous. The reason I know that is because it says so

right there.

Crazy beast that we're about to unleash.

Whoa!

Slowly, slowly remove.

Keep your seats.

Until now, it was only legend.

Ladies and gentlemen, what I have here is the world's only man -eating plant.

Smart teeth, huh?

Wisdom teeth.

All right, brace yourself.

Here we go.

Cards into the box.

I feel like a tooth fairy.

He's eating through the cards, ladies and gentlemen.

Whoops. Denture slip.

It's okay.

It's getting close. Whoa.

One card left.

What was the name of your card?

Four of diamonds.

The teeth just said that's correct.

It really is.

We'll be right back with a secret pick -hand of Eric Jones.

Our next magician is one of the best closed -up artists in the world. I can

never figure out what he's doing.

Manipulation takes a lot of practice. So watch as he dazzles our audience.

This is Eric Jones.

Hey, how are you? Good to meet you. I'm Eric. You are?

Christy. Christy and?

Max, brother. Max. Good to meet you. I love the beard. I'm working on mine.

What I wanted to do, guys, if it's okay, I wanted to share something

interesting. When I first got into magic, one of the first things that I

for was the superpower to be able to make money.

So I've been playing with a couple of things, and I hope you like it.

I know it doesn't look like much, but if I rub that little bit of nothing

between my fingers, I can create the illusion that it changes into a little

of money.

Now this is one really old Walking Liberty American half dollar. I happen

to notice you've got one here as well. I hope you don't mind if I reach over and

take it.

Now folks, this one you can see.

This one you have to see to believe.

But they always say the best things happen in three.

You'll notice right here, bro. Do me a favor.

Reach over.

What do you feel?

Nothing. A bicep. Bicep. Right. Watch.

Right about there.

Three. Easy.

So, thank you.

Don't you know what they say? They say easy come, easy go. Would you mind

opening your right hand?

Watch the top one.

If I was to take this coin and give it a little squeeze, you might feel the

moment.

We'll try it again.

Two left to go.

Would you mind opening your left hand? Watch.

One left to go. You can keep your hand open for just a second if you watch.

That leaves nothing but a dream.

Europe's favorite escape artist, T2, next.

Generations of magicians have attempted the Houdini water tank escape.

Well, tonight, from France, see if you can hold your breath along with the

amazing T2.

That's it for this edition of Masters of Illusion. We hope you'll join us next

time for more amazing magic.

Until then, I am Gene Kane.

Thank you for watching.

I'll do the next one.