Any show that has Uri Geller at the helm should be immediately made suspect–especially when it purports to search for legitimate mentalists who try to convince people that they have real powers. The way NBC’s promoted this new reality game show (or is it a fake magic show?)–you’re supposed to believe that judges Criss Angel and Uri Geller will find…yesireebob, the next phenomenon. But let’s hold the psychic phone here. We have some interesting and bizarre situations on this show that I’ve been trying to figure out and need to be addressed to a national audience who seem to be fascinated with this concept. The first major credibility gap with the show is Uri Geller himself who long ago (on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson in the early 1970’s) was basically exposed as merely a magician and not someone with real mental powers as he consistently maintains to this day. And the second incongruity is Criss Angel’s open proclamation on the first show that he doesn’t even want to be in the same room with someone who claims to have real special powers.
Because this show already has a creepy and mysterious vibe to it–I had to do a little research to find out how this show got on the NBC prime-time schedule. Most probably know from press releases that it originates from a similar show produced by Uri Geller last year in Israel called “The Successor.” In that, Geller tried to find a new mentalist who could (potentially) take his place in the spotlight. What the public didn’t know here in America is that Geller had some non-punned tricks up his sleeve to prevent anybody from usurping his cape. As he always does, he claimed he’d try to defy physics and make something move live on the show by his sheer will. This time, it was a compass that he attempted to move by the power of his mind. Unfortunate yet again for Geller–more observant viewers (with likely hi-def TV) caught a tiny magnet attached to his thumb. But don’t worry folks…Geller understands that people easily forget. Two generations have gone by since he was thwarted on “The Tonight Show”–and he rebuilt his stardom right after when people conveniently tucked away that incident.
Don’t get me wrong here (and you probably already have): I still believe that many aspects of extra-sensory perception and telekinesis exist. I’m not a member of Skeptic Magazine or those general skeptic groups who put every little thing down related to the mysteries and abilities of the mind. What I am against is those who claim to have special abilities when they clearly don’t. Uri Geller has never really proven that he truly has special extra-sensory perception and telekinetic abilities. That famous “Tonight Show” appearance in the 1970’s more or less brought down his spoon-bending bit Geller became famous from back then. Days before the show, Johnny Carson consulted with renowned magician/skeptic “The Amazing Randi” (yeah, I know, guffaw now before going on)…and Randi (James his real first name) suggested bringing in a whole different set of spoons rather than letting Geller bring in his own set. Randi said that Geller merely prepped his own spoons before a show so they’d bend easier during his routine. When Geller was confronted on the show with a whole different set of spoons–he froze up and claimed his powers weren’t up to par that night. Carson didn’t outright bash him on the air, so you can say that it left room there for people to still wonder. For those in the know, it was plainly obvious.
With all that well-documented background–why did Criss Angel agree to host this show with Uri Geller? If only Geller would admit that what he does is just trickery and technique people (with some extra practice) can do themselves–there wouldn’t be this strange vibe on the show I’m getting that’s loaded with contradictions. You have to wonder now whether Angel just did the show to use it as a base to promote himself and his “Mindfreak” show/DVD’s. I give props to Angel, though, for reminding people that the mentalist tricks he does (plus his human endurance stunts) merely use practical technique that only some can do well. His heated argument on the second week of “Phenomenon” with a later-eliminated performer claiming to have special mental powers gives credence to his stance to blow away all phonies. Angel was also indirectly referring to Geller that night. So why is he afraid to go after Uri Geller individually?
Uri Geller has friends in high places…
If you see some of the powerful people on Geller’s friends list–it would probably give a person pause to openly criticize the man on a national TV show. It seems perplexing that people in powerful positions would still befriend Geller after all the years of suspect things exposing him as faking his powers. Nevertheless, Geller managed to build himself into a mega pop culture figure with the magnetism to attract attention and make associations easily. He’s also a litigious type of person who’s had more lawsuits against those trying to bring him down than you can count. His superstar power managed to get videos of his thumb magnet on Israel’s “The Successor” taken off of Youtube earlier this year if you can imagine. Now that’s power of a different sort, ladies and gentlemen. He nonetheless became embroiled in some recent legal trouble for going over the heads of the copyright holders of the video to get them removed from Youtube. Geller knows how to remove evidence of his deceptions via the convenient method of time or actual public record.
It has to be noted, too, that Geller seems to have found other outlets for his creativity lately (utilizing art design as well as, yes, freelance writing!) after a lot of scientists and previous fans have long-ago had it with his deceptions. “Phenomenon”, though, has to be considered another attempt for him to convince the American public that he has some kind of special ability and get him back to the forefront of all the hard-working mentalists out there. Fortunately, in a few mind-reading tricks he’s done on “Phenomenon” so far–he hasn’t directly stated that what he was doing was real…or trickery either. Has he finally changed–or maybe just staying neutral for the moment?
Saying you’re just a magician will set you free–and people will still really, really like you…
Out of all the contestants who’ve performed on “Phenomenon” by the time of this writing–only three put the title of “Mentalist/Illusionist” in their title. How interesting it is then that two out of those three have already been eliminated by the time of Week Three. Of course, it’s all in the presentation, but all the rest of the performers claim to be straight-ahead mentalists with real powers. All of them have survived except for “Paranormalist” Jim Callahan (who had the heated argument with Criss Angel), the disturbing Jim Karol and Uri Geller wannabe Ehud Segev. What I continue to get perplexed over is why some of these guys can’t just consider what they’re doing art rather than desperately trying to be liked by claiming they’re truly reading minds and doing other mental gymnastic wonders. If you’ve ever studied even the most basic mental trick technique–many of the routines used on the show use some of the simplest methods you can imagine…while also using complex ones. Much of that is power of suggestion or pre-manipulation of something.
If you’ve ever seen the Amazing Kreskin at work–you’ll see all those techniques used the most effectively of anybody from the past to today. He’s managed to convince people he has special powers, despite him fortunately never claiming to the flock he’s gifted. Well, he’s given some hints on rare occasions that he may have some kind of special power–which goes to show that the temptation is too great. That grandiloquent God Effect is too dangerously tempting for some of those performing mentalists who perform so well, it enables them to take an easy step up on a pedestal.
The reality is that magic is still a viable art form–and doing psychological tricks that play with people’s minds are some of the most popular things a performer can do with an audience. There’s nothing wrong with admitting that it’s only a trick–because learning to master the powers of suggestion isn’t easy at all to learn. In that regard, you can say that mentalists do have stand-alone abilities rather than powers. Being extra sensitive to your environment is essential in being an effective magician who does mentalist routines. If you are, it’s amazing what you can pick up from people who you’ve never even met.
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So who will ultimately win “Phenomenon?” I don’t personally care who–but I’m getting the impression that one of those guys who claims they have special powers will win. Consider this a warning letter to those of you not familiar with Uri Geller’s history–that history might repeat itself…if Uri Geller just stepping in again and taking his old crown. I guarantee that all the routines you’ll see on “Phenomenon” this season (and the next if it has another) are all the result of technique you can learn if you’re willing to spend hours and hours of time on it.
What’s that? I don’t need to be a mentalist to suddenly hear you blurt that you wouldn’t even spend half that time learning those techniques. It’s too bad that the art of those special skills gets bogged down in these “Phenomenon” performers by convincing people it’s something else entirely.
