- 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".
(lively music)
(audience cheering)
Hello, everyone.
I'm Dean Cain.
Welcome to "Masters of Illusion".
Physics.
It is said that the laws of physics cannot be broken.
See, the laws of physics don't define what's possible.
What's possible defines the laws of physics,
right?
That said, I'm pretty sure our masters can
at least bend the laws of physics quite well.
Let's see if you agree as we get into it with our-
- Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean!
Wait, I have an emergency.
Sorry, everybody.
- Adam Wiley has an emergency, ladies and gentlemen.
(audience applauds)
Right at the beginning of the show?
- Right at the beginning.
It's a very big emergency.
Should I use the blue deck of cards
or the red deck of cards?
- You could use either one.
You only had one when you came out here.
- I understand,
but I need help
because I could use the blue deck of cards
or the red deck of cards.
Which one do you think?
- Something tells me the red one
'cause it keeps showing up.
- Oh, great. I'll do that.
Thanks, Dean.
Bye - Thank you.
(audience applauding)
Sometimes things don't always go according to plan,
but we have a magician
who can always have things end in his favor.
Here's none other than Jon LaChance.
(upbeat music)
(audience cheering)
- Well, we have a wonderful volunteer here.
What is your name?
- Jennifer. - Jennifer.
Now Jennifer, one of the hardest things about going out
to the restaurant is trying to figure
out what you're gonna have to drink.
So I came up a little game.
It's a drink menu,
and on the inside we have different drinks.
We have wine.
We have coffee, a Mudslide.
Have you ever a Mudslide before?
No?
Okay.
A Mai Tai, those are pretty good.
Now, Jennifer, what I want you to do
is I want you to take this book,
open it up to any of them.
Open it right up.
Okay. I don't wanna see it.
Have you ever had this before?
- Mhm.
- Okay. And show it to the cameras.
(upbeat drum music)
Close it up.
For the first time,
what was the drink you selected?
- Orange juice.
Absolutely amazing.
Look at this.
This bag that's been sitting here the whole entire time.
It's cola. (chuckles)
(audience laughs)
You know, that's okay.
If we actually do this, we'll just rename it, okay?
(audience laughs)
Orange juice.
And we'll slap that on the side.
Just like that we have orange juice.
That is your drink of choice, right?
(audience applauds)
No, no.
See, we're not there yet, so snap my fingers.
Still a sealed can, right?
Look at this.
(drum cymbal intensifies)
(can cracks)
Watch.
Inside there's actually orange juice.
- Oh my God!
(audience cheers)
(upbeat music)
(audience applauding)
- It's time for a deceptive and fast-paced act,
so pay close attention.
You don't wanna miss anything from Murray SawChuck.
(upbeat electronic music)
(audience cheering)
- How are you guys doing?
I'm here with my dear friend, David.
We've brought him up from the audience.
David, thanks for helping me out.
As a magician, we gotta do a card trick.
That's what magicians do, all right?
So we're doing a card trick, David.
All right, so here's what we're gonna do.
Take some cards.
I got 52, all right?
I'm gonna rifle through them,
you say stop whenever you wish, okay?
(cards clicking)
- Stop. - Not there.
(audience laughs)
So serious.
Take the card, have a look at it.
Memorize it, don't forget it.
Look at it. You know what it is?
Show the audience.
Make sure they can see it as well.
Also, David, take the pen, sign the front
of the card, your name.
Sign your name in the front
so we can identify that we know it's the only card
that we're gonna be using today.
I'll take back the pen.
Thank you, sir.
And say stop whenever you wish.
(cards clicking)
- [David] Stop.
- Put the card down.
You know what it is?
- Yeah. - You sure?
Yeah. Audience, you got that?
Yes? Yes?
All right.
Now, we're gonna try something
a little bit different, all right?
I'm gonna try to find your card in mid air.
I'm gonna throw the cards in the air,
try to find it just outta the.
You ready?
Mix 'em up.
Give 'em a really good shuffle for me.
Shuffle shuffle, mix mix.
- I don't know how to shuffle.
- Perfect. I don't know how to magic.
That's two of us, huh?
(audience laughing)
Let me see that for a second.
- How's this? - Yeah.
Boy, you really don't know how to shuffle.
Good for you.
You ready?
I'm gonna reach in the air, grab the card,
gonna be your card, right?
Here we go, ready?
Here we go.
Watch, one, two, three.
(cards pattering)
Your card is
the King of Clubs.
It's not.
What's your card?
- Two of Hearts.
- Two of Hearts?
Maybe next time.
Let's do another trick.
(audience laughing)
Magicians always do tricks with cell phones.
You got a cell phone?
Perfect.
- Yeah.
- Sure. (laughing)
That's your cell phone?
- Yeah.
- Wow. Nice.
I did not see that coming, David.
You mind if I use it?
- Don't mind.
- Okay, great.
I got a baseball cap here.
Wow. David, you're shocking me.
So I'm gonna put the phone right in there like that.
Go like this, I'm gonna turn the phone
into something very magical.
One, two, three, bam.
(object clanking)
Oh no.
(audience laughs)
Here you go.
You're welcome.
That's all I got.
Let's have a party.
Here.
I feel bad about this.
Here, I'm gonna give you this right here.
There you go.
We'll give you some of these.
A tin and tin.
See, there you go.
Look at that.
You're all set for the rest of your life.
It's a lot cheaper, trust me.
You don't look that impressed.
Let's have a party.
Here, check this out.
David, right?
- Yes. - Yeah. Watch this.
(lighter clicks)
Look at that!
Cool, huh?
Isn't that great?
Let's have a party.
Have that here.
Balloon there for you, got a balloon right here.
Balloon right there, one right there.
Now, David, it's up to you.
You have a totally free selection.
Any balloon you wanna change it's totally up to you.
It does not matter whatever balloon you want to use.
It does not matter.
(audience laughing)
Whatever one you want.
So what kind of balloon you want?
Which balloon do you want, David?
Any balloon you want, David.
It's your choice.
- Take the yellow.
- The yellow, good choice.
That's really good. Perfect.
(balloon pops)
You're back in the game, girl.
(audience applauding)
Is that your phone?
Let's check it out.
At least you got your phone back, right?
- Yeah.
- Hey, random question though, just before you leave,
what was the card that you'd chosen, that you signed?
- Two of Hearts.
- Two of Hearts? - Yes.
- Take your phone.
Take the cover off it.
See that card?
Have a look at it.
Yours?
Show the audience.
Is that your card?
- Yeah.
- Yeah?
Take care, guys.
- Buckle up.
We are in for a wild ride
with this next act
from The Clairvoyants
when we return.
(lively rock music)
Soothsayers, telepathists, channelers,
and oracles are all apt descriptions
for our pair of performers.
But you can call them, all the way from Luxembourg,
The Clairvoyants.
(upbeat electronic music)
(audience cheering)
- Thank you very much.
- Thank you so much.
We are the Clairvoyants.
- But before we start, I need to write something down.
- Okay.
- Yes, I got it.
(upbeat drum music)
I need to take a seat and cover my eyes.
- Okay, so Amelie will not be able to see anything.
When we started, we lived in a small apartment,
and we only had some jelly beans
on the table like this one.
You know jelly beans, yes?
They come in all flavors and colors.
And tonight we have some volunteers here on stage.
I will start with you.
What is your first name?
- Valeria.
- Valeria, do me a favor.
Take out any jelly bean.
Totally up to you, any one.
Cool.
Eat it.
Yes.
(audience laughs)
- This one tastes very sweet, but it's nothing like fruit.
No, this one tastes like bubble gum.
You chose the pink jelly bean.
- Does it taste like bubble gum?
Is it the pink one? - It is bubble gum.
(audience clapping)
- Thank you so much, Valeria.
Your applause, thank you.
Sir, what is your name?
- Eric.
- Eric, you can decide on a dream flavor for a jelly bean.
You can go crazy, Eric.
Whatever you like.
- Hot dog.
- Hot dog. Really?
A hot dog jelly bean?
- Yeah.
- Thank you so much, Eric.
You can take your seat.
That's it.
Yeah. Thank you, Eric.
Your applause.
(audience applauding)
Hot dog.
Can you come with me?
What is your first name?
- Sadie.
- Sadie, you are the lucky one tonight.
- Yes, because you can take as many jelly beans as you like.
- And we'll make it random.
So I will give you this glass.
I will give you the scoop.
Do me a favor.
Take scoops inside the glass.
Totally up to you.
One, two, three, four.
Go crazy.
But if you like, you can also put single ones in there.
You put some back, whatever you prefer.
- Got it.
- Are you happy with that? - Yes.
- You want add one or give one back?
- I'll add one.
- Just one, just in case.
Okay, you're happy with that?
Do me a favor.
Take the glass, cover it with both hands,
and focus on the jelly beans.
- Okay.
Oh.
Sadie, I do believe that you took quite a lot.
- [Thommy] Cool. Please, how many are there?
- I have the feeling you really like jelly beans.
It can be one or two off,
but I believe there are exactly 46 jelly beans
inside this glass.
- 46 inside this glass.
Is that correct?
- We'll have to see.
- You don't know, right?
How should we?
But I have an idea.
I have a tray with me.
Just follow me right here into center of the stage.
Amelie, you said how many?
- 46.
Do me a favor. Come over here.
Take the jelly beans.
For the very first time, put them onto the tray.
(jelly beans clinking)
- Put them all on one side.
You can hand me the glass.
- There's nothing in my hands, right?
Take an eye.
I take two by two and count with me.
- [All] Two, four,
six,
eight,
10,
12,
14,
16,
18,
20,
22,
24,
26,
28,
30,
32,
34,
36,
38,
40.
- And now all together, one by one.
- [All] 41,
42,
43,
44,
45,
46 jelly beans!
(audience applauding)
- Thank you so much.
But there is still something I need to show you, Sadie
and all of our audience.
- You remember I asked Eric
for any flavor and you said hot dog, right?
- Eric, believe it or not,
but I knew that you will choose
hot dog jelly beans.
- Thank you so much, Sadie.
You can get back to your seat,
and we are the Clairvoyants.
Thank you.
(audience cheering)
- Thank you.
(audience applauding)
- Pay close attention.
We would hate for you to miss this next illusion
from Eric Buss.
(lively rock music)
This performer has the ability to bring life
to ordinary objects.
Pay close attention to Eric Buss.
(audience cheering)
- Thank you.
Thank you so much.
So when I'm not performing,
I am in my workshop building things,
and when I have an old piece of duct tape,
I don't throw it away like I'm some sort of monster.
No, I smoosh it into a ball.
Then I add to it over time.
It gets bigger and bigger.
Has anyone else made a tape ball before?
Yes. Cool.
Congratulations for being awesome.
As for everyone else,
what are you waiting for?
Make some tape balls, people.
(audience laughing)
My duct tape ball is so large.
My duct tape ball is in charge.
My duct tape ball could sink a barge.
My duct tape ball,
(cymbals crash)
her name is Marge.
(audience laughs)
Marge is quite often a little sticky.
If you're not expecting it,
it can be icky.
She's not a perfect sphere,
but I'm not picky.
She's quite tricky.
We'll show you a quickie.
(upbeat hip hop music)
Does she stick to the cloth or is she floating?
She dances around,
and I do her gloating.
Made of only glue, fibers, and silver coating,
she was the largest, according to the voting.
She's a heavy ball,
but she moves with ease.
She peeks and hides, a bit of a tease.
First she's there, then she flees.
She'll do it again, just say please.
(audience laughing)
Tricky moves, gray sheen.
She's got it all.
She's not an ordinary type of duct tape ball.
She'll fly up high,
not afraid to fall.
She feels safe,
cuddling her shawl.
Watch as she slides down her beautiful hankie.
She feels safe when she's got her red blankie.
Always in a good mood, never cranky.
Made in the USA, a proud Yankee.
(audience laughs)
But too much acrobatics
and she gets tired.
Don't overthink what's just transpired.
She wants you to feel inspired.
Just let her know that she is desired.
She hopes you enjoyed her concert tonight.
Your love will help her fly like a kite.
Your applause will help her soar to new heights
as she flies off into the night!
(audience cheering)
Thank you.
(audience applauding)
- Get ready for a grand illusion
like you've never seen before.
Here is Joshua Jay.
(upbeat rock music)
- All right
I'm excited to be here,
and I'm here with a new friend from our studio audience.
Your name is?
- Alicia.
Alicia, they are now using science
to help develop magic tricks.
And there's this amazing study that came out of California.
And I wanted to run this by you
and for you guys at home as well.
They showed the same magic trick
to two groups of people, right?
And it's important you understand it's the same trick
for both groups.
And for the first group, they said
"We'll give you $100
if you can tell us how the trick is done."
For the second group, they said,
"Tell us how the trick is done."
So my question for you, Alicia,
and for you guys at home is,
which group do you think guessed more accurately?
The money group,
the people they gave $100 to,
or the guessers?
What do you think?
- The people they gave $100 to.
- The people they gave $100 to?
So I thought the same thing.
I was like, "If you're gonna give somebody $100,
they're not gonna be polite anymore.
They're just gonna watch you, and burn you,
and try and figure it out."
- Yeah.
- But it turns out,
the data shows that the guessers were more accurate.
The statisticians think that this is because
they're less distracted by the money.
So, Alicia I thought, right here on this stage,
we would put it to the test.
I am going to give you a chance to win $100
if you can correctly guess how this trick is done.
And I'll even tell you what the trick is.
The trick is that I'm going to make
four coins disappear.
Now, these are real coins.
Take a look at one,
make sure that they are as they seem.
(audience laughs)
Good.
I will keep the money
isolated before we begin
so that you can keep an eye on it here,
and I will not touch it again.
Here we go.
(upbeat electronic music)
God, they're watching so close.
(audience laughing)
(coin clinks)
And you didn't just see the coin go into my fist,
you actually heard it as well.
(coin clinks)
At this point, Alicia,
this is when everybody starts to go,
"I don't know what happened, but it's already done."
But look, it's not done at all.
There really are just the three coins.
I haven't done it yet.
You can give a touch, make sure that they,
yeah just touch one.
That's good, and set it down.
And here we go.
(upbeat music)
(coins clink)
All four coins.
Now at this point, you start to get a little distracted
by the money,
but you can't be too distracted by the money.
And I have news for you.
It's already too late
because I changed the game.
Now the coins have become the money.
There's nothing to win
(audience applauds)
because where the money was supposed to be over here
are now
all four
coins.
(audience cheering)
- Buckle up.
We are in for a wild ride from Naathan Phan,
when we return.
(lively rock music)
And finally, to wrap up the show
we have the wonderfully talented Naathan Phan.
(audience cheering)
- Thank you so much.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
One of the most famous magic effects
of all time was performed
by Harry Houdini with the Water Torture Cell escape.
Now, not a lot of people know this,
but he eventually built his way up that.
He started with something much simpler,
a stunt that we are going to recreate tonight
using this right here.
One, two, three, four panels of plexiglass,
which we've put into place, we'll bungee together,
and then we're going to escape from.
Well, when I say we I don't mean me actually,
because I can only do this in about a minute and 40 seconds.
Houdini's best time was 22 seconds,
but this lovely lady over here, Kanoe Mann,
a very good friend of mine.
She's been doing magic longer than I have.
She can do this in less than 12 seconds.
Would you like to see her escape
from this in less than 12 seconds?
Yes?
(audience applauding)
Hop on in, Kanoe.
So here's what's gonna happen.
We are gonna lock her in with this last piece
of glass here.
Top.
There we go.
Fantastic, we strap that in,
and to make sure that she can't escape
through the top or the bottom,
we are going to bungee together closed
every
single
side of this.
Now, like I said, Houdini's best time was somewhere
in the 20ish seconds.
Kanoe and I, when we were rehearsing earlier today,
she's used to get
I think you can get it less than 12 seconds today, I think.
So, if anybody in the audience wants to time them
see how long this takes you are welcome to.
Hopefully, we're gonna be breaking a world record today.
All right.
Kanoe, are you all set?
Here we go.
Let's see.
If you've got your timers out,
here we go.
Let's see how long it takes for her to escape.
And one, two, and time.
(audience cheering)
Time.
How did we do on that, Kanoe?
We set a new record?
Everyone, Kanoe Mann!
(audience cheering)
Now let me out.
Thank you.
Don't forget the locks.
There we are.
Put that there now.
Excellent.
One again, everyone, Kanoe Mann.
Thank you so much!
(upbeat music)
- Well, that's all the magic we have time for this time,
but there's plenty more next time.
We hope you'll join us again.
Until then, I'm Dean Cain.
See ya.
(audience cheering)
(upbeat music)