(explosion blasting)
- [Presenter] 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."
(explosion blasting)
(audience cheering and applauding)
(upbeat rhythmic music)
- Are you ready
to be transported into a world of mystery and wonder?
(audience cheering)
Good.
I'm Dean Cain, and welcome to "Masters of Illusion."
(audience cheering)
Now, (laughing) the great thing about magic
is that it can let us take a glimpse into another world
where anything is possible.
- Dean, Dean, Dean, Dean! - It's a world...
Naathan Phan, how are you my friend?
We were just-
- Oh, I'm so sorry. (laughing)
- Just starting-
- I just wanna show you really quick trick.
I'm going to do the famous appearing dove trick,
are you ready?
- Appearing dove trick.
- The magic of watch this.
Boom, look at that!
- Dove!
- Huh? - I love it!
- Thank you, thank you. (audience laughing)
Here, hold on.
Here, hold this, hold this.
Watch this, you can actually do...
You can actually take this trick one step further
if you want.
Check this out, Dean.
- That's a real dove.
(audience applauding)
(rhythmic drumming music)
Wow.
- Thank you very much. Alright, I'm gonna take-
- Oh, you're gonna take that back?
- Do you want it?
- No, I'm good, I'm good. - Alright, alright.
Bye, everybody!
- (laughing) Naathan Phan, ladies and gentlemen.
(rhythmic drumming music continues)
(audience applauding)
That's the dove trick.
(rhythmic drumming music ending)
(audience applauding)
Sometimes, you wind up learning on the job.
This magician is going to take a little lesson on stage
with us all.
Here is Maxence Vire.
(upbeat rhythmic music)
(audience cheering and applauding)
- Hello, I'm really so happy to be here again.
And tonight, I will show you something.
I'm just back to the market and I buy this one,
"The Famous Rope Trick."
(audience laughing)
Do you love magic?
I love too.
I will show you The Famous Rope Trick.
Let's get inside.
So, we have a rope of course
because it's a famous rope trick.
And a scissor.
A scissor because...
I don't know why, but the scissor.
(audience laughing)
Oh yes, I know, because I will cut the rope.
Ladies and gentleman, The Famous Rope Trick.
(bright rhythmic music)
(audience laughing)
(scissors snipping)
(audience laughing)
(cymbals crashing)
(audience laughing)
(bright rhythmic music continues)
(Maxence laughing)
(audience laughing)
(bright rhythmic music continues)
(audience laughing)
(plastic crunching)
Sorry.
(audience laughing)
Oh, (laughing) okay.
(laughing) Sorry.
(audience laughing)
(Maxence laughing awkwardly)
(phone ringing)
(casual saxophone music)
- [Magic Trick Helpline] Hello,
you are on the free voice server of the cut rope trick.
- Yeah.
- [Magic Trick Helpline] After the beep,
you will be charged $50, plus the cost of a local call.
- No, no.
(helpline beeping)
(Maxence laughing)
- [Magic Trick Helpline] Congratulations,
and welcome to our Magic Trick Instructions Department.
In this kit,
you received a pair of scissors and a piece of white rope.
An extra rope is provided because we know that some of you
wrongly tried to cut before listening to these instructions.
(audience laughing)
Are you ready to become a great magician?
- Yeah, yeah, ready.
- [Magic Trick Helpline] To begin,
prove as naturally as possible the solidity of this rope.
(rope tightening)
(audience laughing)
Take care to bring attention to the fact
that it has two ends and a middle, it's very important.
(audience laughing)
With the scissors, cut the rope in two in the middle.
(scissors snipping)
Well, you now have two ropes that are the same length.
(audience laughing)
Distinctly show your audience
that you no longer have two, but four ends.
(casual saxophone music continues)
Mathematically,
there is no doubt that if you have four ends,
you also have two middles,
and therefore two ropes in your hands.
(casual saxophone music continues)
Grab the rightmost end
as you pass below the second to the left.
The third on the left passes over the fourth.
Then, the second comes back on the right
to pass between the one and the four,
which goes below the fourth.
The middle section passes into the other middle section,
and this one comes back on top.
Everything is placed in your right hand.
Did you understand correctly?
- No.
(audience laughing)
- [Magic Trick Helpline] Alright,
if you get lost in the instructions, just say "Return."
- Oh, return!
(instructions rewinding)
- [Magic Trick Helpline] You said return,
so you have a single rope again.
(audience cheering and applauding)
You can now remove the ends of the rope.
You just have a simple, endless ring.
(audience laughing and applauding)
Go take a good look.
Hard to find in the middle now, right?
This is not an illusion.
You can be proud of yourself.
(audience laughing)
Collect the ends and balance them on the rope ring.
Blow.
(Maxence blowing)
Spread your hands, smile, and take the victory break.
(victorious string music)
(audience cheering and applauding)
Congratulations, you are now a real magician.
- I'm the real magician!
- [Magic Trick Helpline] Now,
cut the rope again in two separate ends.
Now we are sure that you will manage without us.
We wish you much success in the future.
(audience laughing)
We thank you for your call,
and remember, a good magician never reveals these secrets.
Bye.
(dial tone beeping)
(audience laughing)
(scissors snipping)
(audience laughing)
(drum rolling)
(cymbal crashing)
(audience cheering and applauding)
(casual saxophone music returns)
(explosion blasting)
- [Dean] Next,
is your mind able to keep up with the antics of Reza?
(air whooshing)
(upbeat rhythmic music)
(upbeat rhythmic music returns)
(air whooshing)
- Perilous, precarious,
and precisely what you should never attempt at home.
Please welcome the one, the only, Reza.
(audience cheering)
- Thank you very much.
I'm looking for someone
who's interested in overcoming their fears
on this stage tonight.
(audience laughing)
The lady right over there, would you join me?
And would you all show her some love?
(audience applauding)
(deep tense music)
Nice to meet you.
What's your name?
- Kat.
- Kat, I'll have you step right behind this microphone, Kat,
get nice and close.
Take your left hand and place it on top of this box.
In a moment, you're gonna reach your hand inside this box
without knowing what is in there.
(audience laughing)
How do you feel about that, Kat?
- (laughing) I shouldn't have done it.
(audience laughing)
- Kat, before you do this,
what are you afraid of that could fit into a box this size?
It could be anything, what comes to mind?
- Like a spider? (laughing)
- A spider.
(audience laughing)
And what would a spider feel like,
if you reached in and you felt a spider?
Manifesting it just by thinking of it-
- Oh no, (laughing) I'm nervous.
- What would that spider feel like in one word, one word?
- Fuzzy.
Kat, slowly reach your hand inside this box.
No sudden movements, just nice and slow inside this box
while thinking of that spider.
You're gonna feel something inside the box.
Do you feel something?
- (laughing) Yes. - Do you feel something?
Is it alive, is it moving?
- Yes.
- It is moving. - It's moving.
- And what does it feel like?
(Kat screaming)
Remove your hand.
What does it feel like, Kat, what do you feel in this box?
Describe it in one word.
- Fuzzy.
- It's fuzzy.
(audience laughing)
And it's alive, it's moving? - Yes.
- Is it about the size of a tarantula?
- Oh my God.
- Is it, Kat, is it?
- Yeah.
- Do you wanna see what's in here?
- [Audience] Yeah!
(audience cheering and applauding)
- This is a brick.
This is a...
(Kat laughing)
It's a solid brick.
Would you like to examine this?
Check it out just to make sure.
It really is just...
Okay, here. (audience gasping)
Let's... Here, you check it out.
(audience laughing)
A solid brick?
- Yes.
- Nothing fuzzy, nothing spider like.
Interesting.
(Kat and audience laughing)
We'll place this right here, and have you, Kat,
place your hand back on top of the box.
(audience laughing)
(deep drumming music)
- Kat, do you have any other fears
that could fit into a box this size?
(audience laughing)
What comes to mind?
It could be anything.
- A snake.
- Yes.
- A snake.
That's a real fear of yours?
- Yes. (laughing)
- Okay.
Does that make you uncomfortable thinking about a snake,
and reaching your hand into a box,
on the off chance that you could manifest it
just by thinking of it?
Does that make you uncomfortable?
- Yeah.
- Yes, okay. (Kat laughing)
Let's go the other end of the spectrum.
Kat, what do you have with you somewhere tonight,
in like a purse or your pocket?
Any object that you have, it could be anything,
big or small, as long as it fits in this box.
Name anything that you have with you tonight, Kat?
- My cell phone.
- Your cell phone.
Kat, slowly reach your hand inside this box,
knowing that whatever you think of
feels like it's in this box.
Do you feel something?
- (laughing) Yeah.
- Remove your hand empty, remove your hand empty.
What do you feel in the box?
- (laughing) My phone.
(audience laughing)
- That is a miracle, you feel your phone.
Our brains, they play tricks on us.
How sure are you that this is your phone?
- (laughing) I'm pretty sure.
- You're pretty sure?
Why don't you look, is it yours?
Look, get close.
- Oh my God!
(audience gasping)
(deep tense music)
Oh my God!
(Kat screaming and laughing)
(deep tense music continues)
(audience applauding)
Keep it goin' for Kat!
(deep tense music swelling)
(audience applauding)
(explosion blasting)
- [Presenter] We'll be right back
with the super quick hands of Trino when we return.
(air whooshing)
(upbeat rhythmic music)
(upbeat rhythmic music returns)
(air whooshing)
- Magic has never been this much fun.
This performer is a true master of illusion,
bringing his unique blend of comedy and wizardry
to this very stage.
So let's give a big round of applause
to our very own, Trino.
(audience cheering and applauding)
- Thank you so much.
We have Bianca here, who's gonna help me out.
Bianca, I brought with me a collection of sorts,
things that I've found
while traveling around all over the place.
Check this out.
These are pins, little one-inch pins.
I like to pick these out while I travel,
just as a nice little memento of where I go.
See, this is Wonder Bash, there's some ice cream in here,
that's from a ventriloquist convention,
there's a little puppy.
There's all sorts of different things in here.
Bianca, we're gonna take all these pins,
throw them inside this container,
and you're gonna give them a shuffle.
So you'll help me grab some?
- Yeah. (laughing) - Alright.
We'll throw those into here.
(pins clicking)
(bright pensive music)
Alright.
Good.
Bianca, I'm gonna cap this and I'm gonna hand it to you.
I want you to put one hand on top
and one hand on the bottom.
Can you do that?
- Yeah. - That work?
Alright.
One hand on top, one hand on the bottom,
and you're gonna hold that out in front of you.
Give it a shake, give it a shuffle, mix it up.
Perfect.
That's good, Bianca.
Whenever you feel like that's shuffled enough,
just say you're good.
(pins shuffling)
- I'm good.
- A good mix, alright.
(audience laughing)
Bianca, I'm going to uncap that.
You're gonna hold it above your head
and pull just one pin out without looking, okay?
- Okay. - Alright, here we go.
I'm gonna uncap, you hold it up.
Hold it above your head there
and grab just one pin outta there.
(pensive rhythmic music)
Alright, you look at it, don't show me.
I'll recap this.
(Trino shaking pins)
Bianca, go ahead and show the camera.
I'll look away.
(pensive rhythmic music descending)
Good?
- Yup.
- Alright.
Bianca, go ahead and drop that back inside there.
We're gonna shuffle it one more time.
(Trino shaking pins)
Alright, here we go.
We got a cloth.
Check this out, we're gonna fold this up,
and I'm going to make all of these pins vanish
besides the one that you selected.
(deep pensive music)
(pins clicking)
All of those in, just like that.
Watch.
(deep pensive music continues)
(Trino shaking pins)
Can you hear 'em?
- Yes.
(Trino shaking pins)
- One, two, three,
they're all gone. (pins tumbling)
(audience laughing)
Sometimes, magic doesn't always go the way you want it to.
That's okay,
that's why you always have some insurance on the trick.
But check this out, there's one pin, one pin only,
right on the back here.
And that would be the pink donut pin that you selected.
Was that it, Bianca?
That was it?
(audience applauding)
Do you like donuts?
- Yeah, I do actually.
- You do like donuts?
I actually brought somethin' here.
Check this out, Bianca, look right here.
- (laughing) Oh.
- That's a pink donut.
That's for you.
Everybody, keep it goin' for Bianca.
(audience applauding)
Thank you so much.
(explosion blasting)
- [Presenter] When we return,
an impossible prediction by Dan Sperry.
Next.
(air whooshing)
(upbeat rhythmic music)
(upbeat rhythmic music returns)
(air whooshing)
(audience cheering and applauding)
- Get ready to enter the world of dark magic and mystery,
where nothing is quite as it seems.
He has a style all his own,
with illusions that will leave you gasping in amazement.
So please, put your hands together for Dan Sperry.
(audience cheering and applauding)
- Hey, magic show!
Thanks, Dean!
Whoo, Dean!
Alright, whatever.
Alright, here's the thing, here's a little envelope.
It is sealed, impenetrially...
Impenetrably, sorry, the exorcism didn't work.
With this little impenetrable piece of little, tiny thread.
(Dan laughing)
Here, hold onto that.
Don't screw around with it,
we're gonna get back to it in a moment.
But right now, we are all gonna attempt something together,
an experiment with just three of you.
But I'm not going to choose who participates,
instead, you are going to choose each other.
It's a card trick, but not a normal card trick.
Inside this bag is a different kinda deck of cards,
it is a tarot deck.
There's actually 70-something playing cards
inside a deck of tarot cards.
So for example, you have the high priestess,
whatever that is.
There's also lots of different ones (laughing)
like the wheel, I don't know what that is.
The magician, whatever it is, there's lots of different ones
that you could potentially land on.
I'm gonna turn my back,
toss this deck randomly to one of you.
Once you randomly catch this deck,
you're gonna hold it in your hand like this.
Take your thumb, and at the bottom,
you're just gonna lift and take a peek
at the name of that random tarot card that has chosen you.
So here it comes, on the count of three.
Don't let it hit anybody in the head.
On the count of three, keep the rubber band on it,
so the cards don't explode everywhere.
One, two, three.
Somebody grab the deck!
Who's got it?
You got it!
What's your name, lady?
- Jordan.
- Jordan, what is your zodiac sign, do you know it?
- Scorpio.
- Scorpio, interesting.
Take a peek, let me know when you have one.
Don't let anybody else see it,
just keep that card to you in your mind.
You got it?
- Yeah.
- Randomly, and carefully, and gently toss that deck
to anybody here in the audience on the count of three.
Heads up, folks, here it comes!
One, two, three, go for it, Jordan!
You got it, you got it.
Pink coat, pink jacket, what's your name?
- Sarah.
- [Dan Sperry] Sarah.
Sarah, do you know your zodiac sign?
- Yeah, it's a Libra.
- It's a Libra.
So we have a Libra, a Scorpio.
Perfect.
Take a look at a card, you got one?
Once you have a card in your mind, close up the pack.
Sarah, as you like,
just gently toss or pass it to somebody at random.
One, two, three, go for it.
You can stand up, that's cool.
You got it.
Nice catch, thank you!
Who are you?
- Bianca.
- Bianca?
You're just gonna lift, take a peek at the bottom.
Bianca, do you know your zodiac side?
- Libra.
Two Libras, perfect.
Take a peek at a random one, keep it in your mind.
You got it?
Toss me the deck.
One, two, three, go for it.
Overhead, nice.
Alright, stand up, pink coat, you got it.
Bianca, stand up, you picked one!
Jennifer, stand up.
I don't care anymore.
Now, you guys have three cards in your mind.
I knew that because I knew.
Keep thinking of your three cards
over and over in your mind.
Don't say them out loud,
just keep them in your mind and listen to my voice.
I'm getting the moon, the three of cups, and the fool.
(gentle curious music)
You've chose the first one.
If I named the tarot card you're thinking of, sit down.
(gentle curious music continues)
Ooh.
(audience applauding)
Yeah, yeah, magic show!
Now here's the thing,
and you're thinkin' anybody could do that,
anybody could do that.
It's like any card trick,
you have a one in 52 chance, right?
Libra Sarah, if I named your card, you sit down.
(gentle curious music continues)
(audience laughing and applauding)
Two outta two, that's not bad!
No, no, but not good enough, not good enough!
I get it, not good enough, two outta two,
so we have to dial it up to 11.
This is now the third tarot card.
This is three outta three.
This is a one in 70-somethin' chance,
which actually makes it
more like a one in 1,800,000,000 chance
of getting all three correct!
But randomly being able to read your mind,
if I was just guessing, that would virtually be impossible!
This is where Bianca,
if I said the tarot card that picked you,
the one you're thinking of, do me a favor and sit down.
Magic show! (audience applauding)
But wait, not only that,
if you remember before this even started,
I actually handed out an envelope
that you've been holding this whole time,
other pink jacket lady.
(audience laughing)
Has anybody messed with that?
Has anybody come and tried to swap it?
No.
Hand me the envelope.
Sealed, impenetrably by this little piece of tiny thread.
But if I unwind it,
you'll see that inside this envelope is a piece of paper.
On that piece of paper is a prediction that I wrote down,
that's been sealed before this even started.
It has three tarot cards on it, and those three tarot cards
are the moon, the fool, and the three of cups.
Magic show!
(audience cheering and applauding)
That's impossible!
Magic show!
(audience applauding)
(air whooshing)
(upbeat rhythmic music)
- Well, thank you so much
for joining us on this incredible ride
through the world of magic and mystery.
We hope you've enjoyed the show
as much as we've enjoyed putting it all together for you.
I'm Dean Cain,
and I'll see you next time on "Masters of Illusion."
(audience cheering and applauding)
Well done!