- [Dean Cain] 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.
(electronic guitar music)
(applause)
- Hello everyone I'm Dean Cain
and welcome to Masters of Illusion.
Right now, for the first time on this show,
I am going to reveal to you the secret to how our
Masters of Illusion performed their fantastic feats.
I know I'm not supposed to do it, but are you ready?
(applause)
You alright. You sure?
I have no idea. Because it must be magic!
I try to figure it out...
- Dean, Dean, I got a trick for you.
- And ladies and gentlemen, Murray SawChuck.
- How you guys doing?
(applause)
How's it going?
- Good. I just...
- I though I'd swallow a sword for you.
Just for you. You wanna see it?
- Uh... That's dangerous.
- It is very dangerous.
Do not try this at home, all right?
Here we go. Watch.
(upbeat jazz music plays)
- No.
No.
That's not okay.
(applause)
- You wanna give it a shot?
- Oh, ah...
(Murray laughs)
- All right, maybe I can do that one.
(applause)
I'm always excited to bring this next performer
on the stage.
I'll be watching as closely as the audience
and everyone at home.
Here's Naathan Phan.
(applause)
- Hello everybody!
You know, sometimes magic is art,
sometimes it's a puzzle, sometimes it's entertainment.
Tonight I hope to be able to do all three for you
using this martini glass, this bag
and this packet of teal playing cards.
(audience laughs)
We need a playing card from the deck at random,
so we'll go ahead and grab the jack of hearts here,
and I'm gonna need someone at random from the audience.
Someone preferably who enjoys having a drink.
Who here likes to drink. Raise your hand.
We have, oh, you right over here.
What's your name?
- Esmeralda.
- Esmeralda. Now I can either write your name on this card,
Esmeralda, or you can give me the name of your
favorite drinking buddy.
(audience laughs)
- Aurelia.
- Aurelia? So that's A U R E L I A?
- Yeah!
- I'm gonna write Aurelia
nice and big and bold on that card, there.
We are gonna try to do something using the glass
and this card.
And first we're gonna start by folding this in half.
(glass rattles on table)
Sit. Stay. Good boy.
(audience laughs)
Fold this in half one more time.
Excellent. And now to create a cool
and unique puzzle,
art entertainment piece using
this here, and this here.
Now you remember those puzzles used to get those
metal puzzles you'd get as a child.
And you always wanted to know how to get
the things together or how to get them off, right?
Well, obviously you never wanted other people to
see exactly how it works.
So I must protect my secret as well, but I assure you
that this is going to leave quite the impression on you.
I think that's all it takes.
(upbeat jazz music continues)
I want to see that this
is Aurelia's card linked on to here.
Now I want you to do me a favor.
Aurelia, can you just pull on that and
see that I haven't like torn a corner,
and it's just like the the pure force of it is...
That's really legitimately on there.
Well, I hope that I've created a puzzle
that you can now keep as a piece of art,
but hopefully it'll entertain you as well.
That is for you to keep forevermore.
That's for you Aurelia. Oh, I'm sorry, Esmeralda!
And you can share it with Aurelia
next time you have a drink.
Thank you very much!
(applause)
(upbeat jazz music crescendos)
- Teleportation is a hypothesis that has
yet to be proven,
until now.
Let's welcome to the stage Eric Jones.
(applause)
- I wanna show you all something really interesting
with a couple of old coins.
This is a really old illusion with some of the
simplest props on the planet.
Not only am I using these four coins,
I will also use
an empty pocket.
And you're gonna see it, very simply.
First thing I'm gonna do is allow some gravity to happen.
(audience laughs)
I'm gonna turn the pocket right side in.
And here's the idea, folks.
The idea is that one at a time, you'll see
the four coins as I've rendered them invisible,
toss them into the air and they will land in the pocket.
Beginning with this one.
(coins clink)
One, two, three, four.
(upbeat electronic music)
Hold on.
(audience cheers)
(electronic music intensifies)
Thank you.
(audience laughs and cheers)
Thank you.
Now see, I know it doesn't look like much
but three coins left to go.
Meaning of course, inside of the pocket is the first.
One coin here.
I'll place this coin into the pocket.
You notice I do have a microphone.
The microphone is so that you can hear
(coins clinking)
the sound of silver.
(coins clinking)
One, two, three, four.
(coin clatters on the ground)
Did you hear that? It was subtle but effective.
(applause)
That means that there are two coins
that have left to go.
Two coins that have gone.
We'll try it again.
And things are gonna get more difficult as we travel across.
Two down.
(coins clink)
Two, one.
One.
(coin clatters on the ground)
Did you hear that?
(applause)
Which means that here inside of the pocket
just happened to be one, two and three little coins.
(applause)
Gonna turn the pocket inside out one more time,
placing all three coins into the pocket.
Nice and slow so that you can't miss anything.
The last one always the most difficult.
Watch as closely as you can.
(coin clatters on the ground)
Which means that inside of the pocket
there just happens to be one, two, three,
and gravity, gravity, ladies and gentlemen.
(applause)
Thank you.
- [Dean Cain] Buckle up. We are in for a wild ride
with this next act from Ben Barnes, when we return.
(electric guitar music)
(applause)
(electric guitar music)
- Okay. I want you to go ahead and imagine
the best card trick you've ever seen.
Got it?
Good.
Because you're about to see a better one from Ben Barnes.
(upbeat electronic music)
(applause)
- We are going to play an imagination game.
Now the great thing about imagination games
is you can't lose.
In one minute everyone here and at home
will be amazed because of what the four of you
are about to do.
Now, in addition to using your imaginations
we're also going to use this pack of playing cards.
I'm going to hold onto the queens
but I'm gonna give you the pack.
And I want you to take about a quarter
of the cards off the top and pass them
all the way down to the end of the row.
Or you can walk 'em down to the end of the row.
(Ben and the audience laugh)
No, that's okay. That's okay.
Now take about a third of those cards and
hand them down to the gentleman.
And then take half of the cards you have
and give 'em to our friend next to you.
And you have a quarter.
Now I'm gonna give each of you one of the queens,
put it right in there for you.
Hello. I'm gonna give you one of the queens as well.
(suspenseful music intensifies)
Hello, sir. You take a queen.
And then lastly, you get a queen.
And from this moment on I won't touch those cards.
Go ahead and push those cards square with...
you guys already did it. Fantastic. Great!
This is great!
All right, now we're going to play the game.
I won't touch the cards.
I'm gonna come back down by you.
And I want all of you to raise your right index finger
into the air, just like I am.
Mine. Lower them very slowly onto the top of the cards.
Great. In a moment, I'm going to snap my fingers.
When I snap my fingers, I want you to raise
those fingers back up, do it now.
And imagine, just imagine that stuck
to your fingers are your queens.
Just imagine that.
And look, if you look closely using the lens
of your imagination, you can even see it.
Can you see it?
- No.
(all laugh)
- Use your imagination. Can you see it?
- Yeah.
- Much better, much better.
(audience laughs)
When I say go, I want you to point to any one
of the three people next to you
and the moment you do it that queen
would jump from your finger to theirs.
Go.
And so there's no confusion, who did you point to?
Her right there?
Okay, perfect. Perfect.
Now you take one step back, one step back
and you get to do the same thing.
When I say, go point to anyone you want.
Go.
who did you go to?
To her? All right.
So you're skipping him and going to her, right?
- Yep.
- Okay. Take one step back.
All right.
She skipped you, take one step back.
(audience laughs)
And what I want you to do is lower your finger
onto the top of the cards, like that, and don't move.
Now, these three people claimed to have very
powerful imaginations.
Let's see just how powerful they are.
I want you to flip your cards over,
all of them, turn all of them over.
And if your queens are gone, if they've disappeared
give me your cards.
Go ahead. Look through them.
(audience laughing)
Gone?
Gone.
(applause)
Now you put your finger on top, yes?
One by one, deal them face down into my hand.
One, two, three, four.
Turn your cards over, look for the queens.
And that's because they were on top.
There's the queen of clubs, the queen of hearts,
the queen of spades and the queen of diamonds.
(audience cheers and applauds)
That's the power of imagination.
Thank you. Thank you!
(applause continues)
- [Dean Cain] Pay close attention.
We would hate for you to miss this next illusion
from Ed Alonzo.
When we return.
(electric guitar music)
- With this magician, things are never quite what they seem.
Our very own Master of Illusion, Ed Alonzo.
(applause)
(playful jazz music begins)
(applause continues)
(jazz music continues)
(applause)
(jazz music continues)
(jazz music crescendos)
(drum roll)
(applause)
(jazz music begins again)
(applause)
(jazz music crescendos)
(Ed laughs)
- This next performer might just have superpowers,
because it seems like he can read minds.
Here's Eric Eaton.
(applause)
- So I have my four volunteers here from the audience.
And tonight we are actually going to go on a date.
I'm a magician, so I haven't had a date in 20 years
and I need you guys to help me come up with ideas.
How's that sound? Good?
So I have this clipboard here.
One for you, one for you, one for you and one for you.
If I can get you guys to think of a date idea
and write it down for me. Do not let me see it.
(suspenseful electronic music)
You guys good?
Perfect. Take it off the board If you haven't already
and now fold it and fold it again.
All right, If I can get you to put your card into that bag
your card into that bag, your card into that bag
and your card into that bag.
In the meantime, I'll go ahead and take this from you.
Take this from you. Take this from you.
Perfect. Look, you're catching on!
We learn quick here.
All right, now, can I get you guys to give the bags
to the man here?
And if I can get you to shuffle those bags,
So I don't know whose bag goes to who?
Just mix 'em up well for me.
(suspenseful electronic music)
What I'm gonna do is I'm gonna take one bag at a time.
And right here, we are going to take this one
and open it up.
The first date we have is trip to Italy.
You sir, you look like someone who would
like to go to Italy, am I correct?
- I would. Yes.
- Everyone give him a round of applause.
(applause)
Next we have go to an escape room.
This is someone that clearly gets lost easily
and needs help finding their way out.
(audience laughs)
Let's see, looking around.
Good. Good.
You seem quiet, do you like to go to escape rooms, ma'am?
Everyone give her a round of applause.
(applause)
That leaves us with two left.
Let's see, we'll go ahead and open both.
This first one says a walk on the beach.
Someone likes to get their tan on.
And cooking class.
All right, cooking class and walk on the beach.
That leaves me with you two.
Do you guys both like to eat?
Do you guys both like to swim?
(audience laughs)
Yes. All right. That didn't help.
(audience laughs)
Let's see and judging by the look of these,
you seem to get me mom vibes.
Did you pick cooking class?
- I did.
- Perfect. And did you pick walk on the beach?
- Yeah.
- Everyone give 'em a round of applause!
(applause)
- Thank you.
(applause continues)
- [Dean Cain] Get ready for a grand illusion
like you've never seen before.
From Robert Ramirez when we return.
(electric guitar music)
(applause)
- Now it's time for the always funny and equally exciting,
Oh, and did I mention talented?
Robert Ramirez.
(upbeat music begins)
- Welcome! Welcome! What is your name?
- My name is Daniel.
- Daniel? Very nice to meet you. And I am Robert.
Daniel with a volunteer from the audience
and you're gonna help me out with this very simple trick.
We have a paper bag.
I'd like to open the paper bag, look in the paper bag.
Make sure there's nothing in the paper bag.
So really look in there. Really open the bag.
Yes. Reach in there with your hand.
Make sure there's no like magnets.
This is key 'cause you are the eyes and the hands
of the audience at the moment.
Okay. He's being very polite, but it really
just is a paper bag.
It really is a paper bag.
He's on very good behavior.
52 cards. 52 cards.
Will you shuffle those cards for me?
Shuffle those cards for me?
You're gonna kind of do all the work here.
I'm not gonna do any of it.
So I'm gonna blindfold myself, and the best way
to do that is with one of these.
Not for the bottom half of my face,
for the upper half of my face.
(audience laughs)
Like that.
All right, you shuffled the cards, yes?
- Yeah.
- I want you to cut about a third of the cards
and I'll take the rest of them from you.
Okay. It's terrifying when you can't see.
And you're gonna take three cards out,
and I'll take the rest of the cards.
- Good?
- Perfect. This is terrifying.
Are these cards face down right now?
- They are down.
- Okay, perfect. So if I do this, you can see them?
- Yes.
- Perfect, so you can see that random cards.
Now you shuffled the cards
(Robert chuckles)
- I almost couldn't find the bag.
You shuffled the cards and then you pick three random cards.
Is that correct?
- I did.
- All right, you're gonna show the audience one at a time.
Hold on.
You're gonna show the audience one at a time, each card,
and then you're gonna drop it into the bag one at a time.
So show the first card. Show the first card to everybody
so they can see and then drop it in the bag.
Is it in the bag?
- Yes.
- Okay. First card's in the bag.
Second card! Show the second card!
Everyone sees the second card! Show the second card!
Remember you can memorize the first card or the second card,
It's up to you.
Second card in the bag?
- Yes.
- Oh yeah. Perfect. Perfect. Perfect.
Okay. Third card! Third card show everybody,
show everyone the last card. Last card.
Place it in the bag. Is it in the bag?
- It's in the bag.
- Great. So did you memorize at least one of those cards?
- I did.
- Okay, good. Good.
All right, I've taken the bag.
You take the bag cause people think that I'm
holding onto the cards.
You take and you shake the bag shake it,
shake it to your heart's content.
(audience laughs)
As long as none of the carts fall out, we're good.
Are they good?
- We're good.
- Okay. I'm gonna take the blindfold off.
(chime music)
(audience laughs)
- It's bright.
- Yeah. I feel like...
(groans)
I'm alright. I'm alright. Just need new eyes.
All right, here we go.
The goal is, I'm gonna try to reach in the bag.
I'm gonna try to find out all three cards
as fast as I can even though
a: I didn't see any of the cards that you shuffled,
b: I didn't see what stack you cut off of,
and 3: I didn't see any of the cards from the three
that you picked, as well.
So there's a bunch of cards in here, three of the cards
that you picked and you have some of them memorized.
So, I'm gonna reach and try to find them
as quickly as possible.
Here we go. Okay. Here we go.
(Robert humming to himself)
Yeah, okay. That one's good.
This one.
(audience laughs)
- All right. And... all right.
That's two, I just need one more.
I just need one more. Okay. Okay.
Perfect. Perfect.
There's all of the rest of the cards.
So that's because I have three, three cards here.
Three cards here.
All right, If I get it, uproarious applause
to make sure that I got it.
First card is the ace of clubs.
Is that one of 'em, the ace of clubs?
Yes? Ace of clubs?
(applause)
Joker? Was the joker the second card?
The third and final card, the only card left in the bag,
should be the ace of diamonds!
Is that the third and final?
Yes!
(uproarious applause)
Daniel!
(energetic electronic music)
(uproarious applause continues)
- Well, that's our show for now.
We have lots more magic coming up in the next edition
of Masters of Illusion. Don't you miss it!
Till then, I'm Dean Cain.
Thank you for watching.
(audience cheers and applauds)
Thank you guys!
(applause continues)